The correct answer is: A. The heart of the Constitution.
Granville Austin was a British political scientist who specialized in Indian politics. He is best known for his book “The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation”. In this book, he describes the Directive Principles of State Policy and the Fundamental Rights as the “heart of the Constitution”.
The Directive Principles of State Policy are a set of principles that are intended to guide the government in its policymaking. They are not enforceable in court, but they are nevertheless considered to be fundamental to the governance of India. The Fundamental Rights are a set of rights that are guaranteed to all citizens of India. They are enforceable in court, and they provide a basic framework for the protection of individual liberty.
Austin argues that the Directive Principles and the Fundamental Rights are the “heart of the Constitution” because they represent the core values of the Indian nation. They are the foundation upon which the Indian state is built, and they provide a framework for the development of a just and equitable society.
The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the importance of the Directive Principles and the Fundamental Rights. The Directive Principles are not the “conscience of the Constitution” because they are not enforceable in court. The Fundamental Rights are not the “backbone of the Constitution” because they are not the foundation upon which the Indian state is built.