Concept and Nature of DPSPs
🌿 Understanding the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)
When we study the Constitution of India, we often divide it into two moral parts —
👉 Part III, which deals with Fundamental Rights — what the State cannot do to you, and
👉 Part IV, which contains Directive Principles of State Policy — what the State ought to do for you.
So, the Directive Principles are not about restrictions, but about directions.
They are like moral guidelines or goals that the government should keep in mind while making policies and laws.
📜 Origin and Background
The DPSPs are given in Part IV of the Constitution — Articles 36 to 51.
This idea was borrowed from the Irish Constitution (1937), which itself had borrowed it from the Spanish Constitution.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called them the “novel features” of the Indian Constitution — something unique and forward-looking.
Granville Austin, a famous constitutional expert, beautifully said that the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles together form the “Conscience of the Constitution” — meaning, they together represent the moral soul of our political system.
- Fundamental Rights → give us political democracy.
- Directive Principles → aim to achieve social and economic democracy.
Together, they complete the vision of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity mentioned in the Preamble.
🧩 Features of Directive Principles
Let’s now go one by one, simply explained:
1. Meaning of Directive Principles
The term “Directive Principles of State Policy” itself means — the ideals or guidelines that the State should direct its policies towards.
They are constitutional instructions for the government — whether it is Parliament, the State Legislatures, or local bodies.
Under Article 36, the term State has the same meaning as in Part III — that means it includes:
- Central and State Governments (both executive and legislative wings),
- Local authorities (like municipalities, panchayats), and
- All other public authorities.
So, every organ of the State is expected to keep these principles in mind.
2. Resemblance to “Instrument of Instructions”
Dr. Ambedkar compared DPSPs to the “Instrument of Instructions” in the Government of India Act, 1935.
Back then, the British Government used to issue certain guidelines to the Governors and Governor-General — telling them how to act in governance.
Similarly, our DPSPs are like instructions — but now, we as sovereign people give these instructions to our government.
The only difference is that earlier they were directions from the British to their officers, now they are directions from the people to their representatives.
3. Programme for a Modern Welfare State
The Directive Principles are a comprehensive socio-economic and political programme.
They aim to make India a welfare state, not a police state.
- A police state focuses only on maintaining law and order — like the colonial British government did.
- A welfare state focuses on the well-being of the people — ensuring justice, equality and dignity.
Thus, DPSPs are designed to build economic and social democracy in India.
4. Non-Justiciable Nature
One major feature — they are non-justiciable, i.e. not legally enforceable by the courts.
If the government fails to follow them, you cannot go to court to demand their implementation.
Yet, Article 37 clearly says:
“These principles are fundamental in the governance of the country, and it shall be the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws.”
So, even though they are not legally enforceable, they are morally binding. They give direction to policymaking.
5. Role in Judicial Interpretation
Although non-justiciable, the courts do consider DPSPs when testing whether a law is constitutional.
If a law aims to implement a Directive Principle, the Court often upholds it as reasonable — even if it seems to restrict a Fundamental Right (especially Articles 14 or 19).
👉 For example: If a law aims to reduce economic inequality (a Directive Principle), and someone says it violates their right to property — the Court may still uphold the law in the public interest.
Thus, DPSPs serve as a guiding light even in judicial interpretation.
🧭 Classification of Directive Principles
The Constitution itself doesn’t classify them, but scholars have grouped them into three categories based on their nature:
- Socialistic Principles
- Gandhian Principles
- Liberal–Intellectual Principles
Let’s explore them.
1. Socialistic Principles
These reflect the ideology of socialism — they aim at economic and social equality, justice, and welfare.
They guide the State to:
- Article 38: Promote the welfare of people through a just social order and minimize inequalities in income, status, and opportunities.
- Article 39: Secure adequate livelihood for all, fair distribution of wealth, prevent concentration of resources, ensure equal pay for equal work, protect health of workers and children, and prevent exploitation.
- Article 39A: Provide free legal aid and ensure equal justice for the poor.
- Article 41: Guarantee right to work, education, and public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness, or disability.
- Article 42: Ensure humane work conditions and maternity relief.
- Article 43: Provide living wage, decent standard of life, and social/cultural opportunities for all workers.
- Article 43A: Encourage workers’ participation in management of industries.
- Article 47: Raise nutrition levels, living standards, and public health.
👉 In short, these aim to create economic and social democracy in India.
2. Gandhian Principles
These are inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy — his vision of rural reconstruction, self-sufficiency, and upliftment of the poor.
They direct the State to:
- Article 40: Organise village panchayats as self-governing units.
- Article 43: Promote cottage industries in rural areas.
- Article 43B: Encourage co-operative societies.
- Article 46: Promote the educational and economic interests of SCs, STs, and other weaker sections; protect them from exploitation.
- Article 47: Prohibit consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs injurious to health.
- Article 48: Prohibit cow slaughter and improve the breeds of cattle.
👉 Essentially, Gandhian DPSPs seek to build Gram Swaraj — Gandhi’s dream of self-reliant villages and moral society.
3. Liberal–Intellectual Principles
These are based on liberalism — emphasizing individual dignity, humanism, and international peace.
They guide the State to:
- Article 44: Secure a Uniform Civil Code for all citizens.
- Article 45: Provide early childhood care and education for all children up to six years.
- Article 48: Organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern lines.
- Article 48A: Protect and improve the environment, forests, and wildlife.
- Article 49: Protect monuments and cultural heritage.
- Article 50: Separate the judiciary from the executive.
- Article 51: Promote international peace, respect for international law, and peaceful dispute resolution.
👉 These principles project India as a progressive, modern, and peace-loving State.
✨ In Summary
- Fundamental Rights = legally enforceable individual freedoms.
- Directive Principles = moral-political duties of the State.
Together, they make India’s democracy not just political, but also social and economic.
If Fundamental Rights are the heart of the Constitution, the Directive Principles are its soul — both essential, both inseparable.