Question map
Other than the Fundamental Rights, which of the following parts of the Constitution of India reflect/reflects the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) ? 1. Preamble 2. Directive Principles of State Policy 3. Fundamental Duties Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 4 (1, 2 and 3). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document that outlines fundamental rights and freedoms, many of which are mirrored across various sections of the Indian Constitution beyond Part III.
- Preamble: It reflects the UDHR’s spirit by emphasizing Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, aligning with Article 1 of the UDHR which states all humans are born free and equal in dignity.
- Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV): Articles 39 (Right to livelihood), 41 (Right to work/education), and 42 (Just conditions of work) directly correspond to UDHR Articles 22, 23, and 26 regarding social security and economic rights.
- Fundamental Duties (Part IV-A): Article 29(1) of the UDHR explicitly mentions that "everyone has duties to the community," which is the core philosophy behind the Fundamental Duties added by the 42nd Amendment.
Since the UDHR encompasses civil, political, economic, and social rights, its principles are comprehensively integrated into the Preamble, DPSPs, and Fundamental Duties alike.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a classic 'Applied Polity' question. You won't find a single sentence in Laxmikanth saying 'UDHR maps to Preamble, DPSP, and Duties'. Instead, you must understand the *nature* of UDHR (it covers civil, political, and socio-economic spheres) and map them to the Indian Constitution's corresponding parts. It tests conceptual breadth, not rote memory.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Does the Preamble of the Constitution of India, apart from the Fundamental Rights, reflect the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)?
- Statement 2: Do the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution of India, apart from the Fundamental Rights, reflect the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)?
- Statement 3: Do the Fundamental Duties in the Constitution of India, apart from the Fundamental Rights, reflect the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)?
- States the Constitution 'reflects the inspiring ideals' and specifically mentions 'dignity of the individual', a core UDHR value.
- Explicitly notes the impact of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on drafting the Constitution's Part III (Fundamental Rights), implying broader UDHR influence on constitutional text and values.
- Confirms the Constituent Assembly had the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) before completing the drafting of the Fundamental Rights chapter in 1949.
- Shows UDHR was considered during constitutional drafting, supporting the inference that its principles could inform the Preamble as well as Part III.
- Notes that 'human dignity' appears in the UDHR's Preamble and Article 1, a principle echoed in India's constitutional language.
- States UDHR principles are given 'utmost weightage while interpreting human rights all over the world', supporting their influence on constitutional values such as the Preamble.
Explains that the Preamble secures equality, liberty and justice and breaks down equality into civic, political and economic dimensions — themes central to many human-rights instruments.
A student can compare these named values with UDHR articles on equality, liberty and social/economic rights to judge conceptual overlap.
States that the Preamble talks of securing equality, liberty and justice and that Fundamental Rights put this promise into effect, showing the Preamble expresses normative human-rights aims.
One can map Preamble aims to UDHR principles (e.g., dignity, freedoms) to assess similarity beyond the text of Part III.
Notes the Objectives Resolution as the concise introduction to the spirit of the Constitution and links it to the Preamble and Fundamental Rights, indicating shared origins of stated objectives.
A student could trace the Objectives Resolution language against UDHR precepts (post‑WWII international consensus) to infer influence or parallelism.
Highlights that Fundamental Rights were adopted to safeguard individual liberty and to ensure social, economic and political justice along with Directive Principles — broad categories also addressed by the UDHR.
Use these listed categories (individual liberty; social/economic/political justice) to compare with UDHR’s civil/political and economic/social rights catalogue.
Contains a question list about which objectives are embodied in the Preamble (liberty of thought, expression, belief), indicating Preamble enumerates specific freedoms similar to UDHR freedoms.
A student could list the specific freedoms mentioned here and check their counterparts in UDHR articles to evaluate correspondence.
- Explicitly links Directive Principles to international economic, social and cultural rights (ICESCR), indicating DP reflect international human-rights norms beyond just Fundamental Rights.
- Says courts should interpret Fundamental Rights in light of Directive Principles, showing DP serve as a vehicle for international-rights principles within the Constitution.
- States that the UDHR (1948) had already been adopted by the time the Constituent Assembly drafted the Indian Constitution, implying UDHR principles could have influenced constitutional provisions including the Directive Principles.
- Frames a comparative study between Fundamental Rights and the UDHR, suggesting linkage between India's constitutional norms and the UDHR.
- Identifies a comparative study of the UDHR and the Indian Constitution that lists both Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles, indicating DP are considered alongside FR when comparing to the UDHR.
- Signals that Directive Principles form part of the constitutional response to human-rights norms represented by the UDHR.
Says the Directive Principles idea was borrowed from other constitutions (Irish, Spanish), implying transnational constitutional borrowing which could include international human rights ideas.
A student could check those source constitutions and the UDHR to see if similar social-rights language was circulating internationally and influenced Part IV.
States DPSPs list societal goals and certain rights individuals should enjoy apart from Fundamental Rights, showing DPSPs address rights-like social and economic aims.
One could list specific DPSPs (e.g., education, welfare) and compare them with UDHR provisions on social/economic/cultural rights to judge overlap.
Classifies DPSPs as socialist, Gandhian and liberal–intellectual and says they promote social and economic democracy and a welfare state — categories that map onto UDHR's social and economic rights emphasis.
Using the UDHR text a student can test whether UDHR articles on social security, work, and standard of living align with DPSP categories.
Highlights the role of certain DPSPs (Article 45 on education) and the judiciary's role in harmonising DPSPs with Fundamental Rights, indicating DPSPs include specific social-rights goals (e.g., education).
A student could compare the DPSP on education with UDHR articles concerning the right to education to assess similarity.
Notes Article 37 declares DPSPs 'fundamental in the governance of the country' even if non‑justiciable, signalling intent to realize social rights through state policy rather than court enforcement.
A student might use this to argue DPSPs operationalize social-rights principles akin to UDHR through policy mechanisms and then check specific DPSP provisions against UDHR rights.
States that Fundamental Duties were inspired by the Constitution of the erstwhile USSR, indicating their source may differ from UDHR origins.
A student could compare the USSR constitutional duties' content with UDHR language to assess similarity or divergence.
Lists the specific duties (respect for Constitution, promote brotherhood, preserve cultural heritage etc.), providing concrete items to compare with UDHR themes (e.g., equality, cultural rights, fraternity).
Match each listed duty against relevant UDHR articles (e.g., non-discrimination, cultural rights, freedom of belief) to see overlap or gaps.
Notes that Fundamental Duties are said to be enforceable by law (Parliament may impose penalties), which is a structural/legal difference from the UDHR (a declaration, not a binding statute).
Use the legal/enforceable nature here to contrast UDHR's non-binding status and judge whether similarity in content implies similar legal force.
Explains the Constitution adopted Fundamental Rights to safeguard individual liberty and ensure social, economic and political justice—goals that echo UDHR's broad human-rights objectives.
Compare the goals and phrasing of Fundamental Rights and Duties with UDHR preamble/rights to see whether Duties complement UDHR-type aims.
Emphasizes Fundamental Rights as part of the Constitution's basic structure and links separation of powers to equality (Article 14), suggesting constitutional priorities against which Duties can be read.
A student could test whether Fundamental Duties reinforce or limit rights that reflect UDHR equality and liberty principles by seeing how courts balance duties vs rights.
- [THE VERDICT]: **Conceptual Trap**. Standard books cover FR and DPSP links, but 'Fundamental Duties' (Option 3) was the bouncer intended to trap students who think UDHR is only about 'Rights'.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: **Human Rights Evolution**. When studying Part III, IV, and IV-A, always ask: 'Which international treaty does this mirror?' (UDHR, ICCPR, ICESCR).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: **Map the UDHR Structure**: 1. UDHR Art 3-21 (Civil/Political) → **Fundamental Rights**. 2. UDHR Art 22-27 (Socio-Economic: Right to work, education, standard of living) → **DPSP**. 3. UDHR Art 29(1) ('Everyone has duties to the community...') → **Fundamental Duties**. 4. UDHR Preamble ('Dignity', 'Equality') → **Indian Preamble**.
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: **The 'Mother Document' Logic**. Treat the UDHR as the genesis file. Since the Indian Constitution was drafted (1946-49) while UDHR was being finalized (1948), the overlap is structural. Do not isolate parts; view the Constitution as a single implementation of these universal values.
The Preamble expressly secures equality, liberty and justice as foundational objectives of the Constitution.
High-yield for UPSC because questions often ask about the normative content of the Preamble and its interpretive role; links constitutional philosophy to specific rights and policy aims. Mastering this helps answer comparative and source-origin questions on constitutional values.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 5: Preamble of the Constitution > 46('I Indian Polity > p. 46
- Democratic Politics-I. Political Science-Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS > 5.3 RIGHTS IN THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION > p. 79
The Objectives Resolution provided the spirit and content that informed the Preamble and linked it to the Constitution's broader aims.
Important for questions on constitutional history and intent (e.g., constituent assembly debates, sources of the Constitution). Understanding this helps explain why certain values appear in the Preamble and how they relate to later chapters like Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles.
- History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 8: Reconstruction of Post-colonial India > 8.2 Making of the Constitution > p. 105
The Preamble states broad goals while Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles operationalize and enforce those goals in complementary ways.
Crucial for constitutional law questions on scope and enforceability — especially interpretation of Preamble in judicial review and basic structure doctrine. Knowing this aids answers about how abstract constitutional promises translate into justiciable provisions and state policy.
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 8: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES > p. 92
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 8: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES > Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties IJl > p. 117
- History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 8: Reconstruction of Post-colonial India > 8.2 Making of the Constitution > p. 105
Directive Principles are non-justiciable and can conflict with justiciable Fundamental Rights, affecting how far they can give effect to international human rights norms.
High-yield for constitutional questions: explains differences in enforceability, frames landmark conflict cases and constitutional amendments, and helps answer questions on hierarchy and implementation of rights. Links to judicial review, amendment powers, and state policy-making.
- Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: RIGHTS IN THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION > Non-justiciable rights > p. 46
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > CONFLICT BETWEEN FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES > p. 114
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > SANCTION BEHIND DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES > p. 111
Directive Principles articulate goals for social and economic welfare and aim to establish a welfare state, which overlaps conceptually with socio-economic rights in international human rights instruments.
Essential for questions on rights beyond civil-political freedoms: helps explain policy measures (land reform, labour laws, welfare schemes), the state's duty to implement socio-economic objectives, and comparative analysis with international socio-economic rights.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 4: Salient Features of the Constitution > IDirective Principles of State Policy > p. 30
- Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: RIGHTS IN THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION > What do the Directive Principles contain? > p. 43
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY > p. 180
Directive Principles were adopted as a novel feature influenced by other constitutions and reflect the framers' broader constitutional philosophy, informing how international norms might be domestically incorporated.
Useful for questions on constitutional design and comparative influence: shows genesis of DPSPs, helps argue about domestic adaptation of foreign/international ideas, and supports analyses of constitutional intent and interpretation.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > Directive Principles of State Policy > p. 108
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > SANCTION BEHIND DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES > p. 111
Fundamental Duties were not in the original Constitution; they were added by the 42nd Amendment (1976) on Swaran Singh Committee recommendations and one more duty was added by the 86th Amendment (2002).
High-yield for UPSC because questions often ask about amendment history and constitutional evolution; links to study of major amendments, committees, and the political context of Emergency-era changes. Mastery helps answer mains/essay questions on constitutional reform and the timeline of Part IV-A (Article 51-A).
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 4: Salient Features of the Constitution > mi l Fundamental Duties > p. 31
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 10: Fundamental Duties > Fundamental Duties > p. 119
UDHR Article 29(1) is the 'Shadow Source' for Fundamental Duties. It states: 'Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.' This single line validates Option 3.
The 'Broadest Scope' Heuristic. The UDHR is a 'Universal' declaration drafted to cover the entire human condition. The Indian Constitution is a comprehensive document. When mapping a 'Universal' text to a 'Comprehensive' constitution, the overlap is usually maximal (All of the above). Unless a part is strictly procedural (like 'Elections' or 'Finance Commission'), philosophical parts (Preamble, Rights, Duties, Policy) will almost always align.
Mains GS-2 (Polity & IR): When writing answers on the 'Significance of Fundamental Duties', explicitly mention that they are not just Soviet-inspired but also find resonance in **UDHR Article 29**, legitimizing them as a global human rights norm, not just a socialist imposition.