Directive Principles of State Policy
The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are a set of principles enshrined in Part IV of the Constitution of India. They are not enforceable by any court, but the State is obliged to apply these principles in making laws. The DPSP are intended to guide the State in its policy-making and to ensure that the benefits of development reach all sections of society.
The DPSP were adopted from the Irish Constitution, which also has a similar set of principles. The DPSP were introduced in the Indian Constitution at the insistence of Jawaharlal Nehru, who believed that they were essential for the realization of a socialist pattern of society.
The DPSP are divided into three groups: economic, social, and political. The economic principles include the promotion of economic justice, the right to work, the right to education, and the right to health. The social principles include the promotion of social justice, the protection of weaker sections of society, and the promotion of communal harmony. The political principles include the promotion of democracy, the rule of law, and secularism.
The DPSP have been interpreted by the Supreme Court of India in a number of cases. In the case of Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, the Supreme Court held that the DPSP are fundamental to the governance of the country and that they cannot be amended by Parliament. In the case of Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, the Supreme Court held that the DPSP are enforceable through the writ jurisdiction of the High Courts and the Supreme Court.
The DPSP have had a significant impact on the development of Indian law and policy. They have been used to justify a number of landmark judgments by the Supreme Court, such as the right to education and the right to health. The DPSP have also been used to guide the State in its policy-making, such as in the development of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Right to Information Act.
The DPSP are a unique feature of the Indian Constitution. They are a set of principles that are intended to guide the State in its policy-making and to ensure that the benefits of development reach all sections of society. The DPSP have had a significant impact on the development of Indian law and policy, and they continue to play an important role in the governance of the country.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the Directive Principles of State Policy?
The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are a set of principles enshrined in Part IV of the Constitution of India. They are not enforceable by any court, but the State is obliged to apply these principles in making laws. The DPSP are intended to guide the State in its policy-making and to ensure that the benefits of development reach all sections of society.
- What are the main objectives of the DPSP?
The main objectives of the DPSP are to promote economic justice, social justice, and political justice. The DPSP also aim to promote the welfare of the people and to secure a social order in which justice, social, economic and political, shall inform all the institutions of the national life.
- How have the DPSP been interpreted by the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court has interpreted the DPSP as being fundamental to the governance of the country. The Court has held that the DPSP cannot be amended by Parliament and that they are enforceable through the writ jurisdiction of the High Courts and the Supreme Court.
- What has been the impact of the DPSP on Indian law and policy?
The DPSP have had a significant impact on the development of Indian law and policy. They have been used to justify a number of landmark judgments by the Supreme Court, such as the right to education and the right to health. The DPSP have also been used to guide the State in its policy-making, such as in the development of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Right to Information Act.
- What are the challenges to the implementation of the DPSP?
There are a number of challenges to the implementation of the DPSP. One challenge is that the DPSP are not enforceable by any court. This means that the State is not legally bound to implement them. Another challenge is that the DPSP are often vague and open-ended. This makes it difficult for the State to know how to implement them. Finally, the DPSP are often in conflict with each other. This makes it difficult for the State to prioritize them.
MCQs
- Which of the following is not a Directive Principle of State Policy?
(A) To secure a social order in which justice, social, economic and political, shall inform all the institutions of the national life.
(B) To promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting as effectively as it may a social order in which justice, social, economic and political, shall inform all the institutions of the national life.