Question map
With reference to the provisions contained in Part IV of the Constitution of India, which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. They shall be enforceable by courts. 2. They shall not be enforceable by any court. 3. The principles laid down in this part are to influence the making of laws by the State. Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 4 (2 and 3 only) based on the provisions of Article 37 of the Indian Constitution.
According to Article 37, the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) contained in Part IV are not enforceable by any court. This makes statement 1 incorrect and statement 2 correct. Unlike Fundamental Rights, a citizen cannot approach the judiciary to seek their implementation through writs.
However, the same Article explicitly declares that 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. This confirms that statement 3 is correct. The DPSP serves as a moral and political guide for the legislature and executive to ensure social and economic justice. Therefore, while they lack legal enforceability, they possess significant constitutional value in shaping national policy.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a non-negotiable 'Sitter'. It tests the foundational definition of DPSP found in Article 37. If you get this wrong, you are statistically out of the race because 95% of serious aspirants will mark this correctly in under 30 seconds.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Are the provisions in Part IV of the Constitution of India (Directive Principles of State Policy) enforceable by courts?
- Statement 2: Are the provisions in Part IV of the Constitution of India (Directive Principles of State Policy) not enforceable by any court (i.e., non-justiciable)?
- Statement 3: Are the principles laid down in Part IV of the Constitution of India (Directive Principles of State Policy) intended to influence the making of laws by the State?
- Explicitly states Directive Principles are not justiciable and are not enforceable by courts.
- Contrasts Directive Principles with Fundamental Rights to highlight non-enforceability.
- Says the Directive Principles are non-justiciable in nature and government cannot be compelled to implement them.
- Notes Article 37 makes them fundamental in governance but not enforceable, while courts may consider them when assessing constitutionality.
- Defines Part IV (Articles 36β51) and states certain rights there shall not be enforceable by the courts like Fundamental Rights.
- Classifies Directives as goals the State should aim to secure but not judicially enforceable.
- Directly states that the Directive Principles in Part IV were not enforceable by any court and links this to Article 37.
- Presents the constitutional basis (Article 37) for treating these provisions as non-justiciable.
- Explicitly contrasts Directive Principles with Fundamental Rights, saying the former are non-justiciable and not enforceable by courts.
- Identifies Part IV as the location of these non-enforceable directives.
- Explains the framers' intent: Directive Principles impose moral/political obligations rather than legally enforceable duties.
- States that the framers made the Directive Principles non-justiciable and legally non-enforceable.
- Explicitly cites Article 37 saying the Directive Principles are 'fundamental in the governance of the country' and it is the duty of the State to apply them in making laws.
- Direct legal provision linking Part IV principles to legislative action by the State.
- Defines Directive Principles as ideals the State should keep in mind when formulating policies and enacting laws.
- Clarifies that 'State' includes legislative and executive organs, tying the directives to lawmaking authorities.
- Classifies some Directives as directions to the Legislature and the Executive on how the State should exercise legislative and executive powers.
- Frames the Directives as intended guidance for the manner of lawmaking and administration.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct lift from Laxmikanth Chapter 9 (Features of DPSP) and the bare text of Article 37.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The 'Nature of the Constitution'βspecifically the distinction between Justiciable Rights (Part III) and Non-Justiciable Duties of the State (Part IV).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Nature' triad: Part III (Justiciable), Part IV (Non-justiciable but Fundamental in governance), Part IV-A (Non-justiciable duties). Key Case Laws: Champakam Dorairajan (1951 - FR prevails), Golaknath (1967), Kesavananda Bharati (1973), Minerva Mills (1980 - Balance is basic structure). Amendments adding DPSPs: 42nd (39A, 43A, 48A), 44th (38 clause 2), 97th (43B).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not just memorize the list of Articles (36-51). UPSC consistently asks about the *utility* and *legal status* of these parts. Always read the first 2 pages of the Laxmikanth chapter (Features/Classification) with higher intensity than the articles themselves.
Directive Principles are constitutionally non-justiciable and not enforceable by the courts; Article 37 declares them fundamental in governance but not legally enforceable.
High-yield for UPSC: explains the basic legal status of Part IV and distinguishes Directive Principles from Fundamental Rights; connects to questions on constitutional duties, the limits of judicial review, and legislative policy-making. Mastery enables answers on enforceability, the role of Article 37, and state obligations.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > FEATURES OF THE DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES > p. 109
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 4: Salient Features of the Constitution > IDirective Principles of State Policy > p. 30
Courts cannot directly enforce Directive Principles but may consider them when upholding or interpreting laws that affect Fundamental Rights.
Crucial for doctrinal questions and case-law analyses: helps answer conflict-resolution scenarios, reasonableness tests under Articles 14/19, and instances where legislation is saved because it advances Directive Principles. Useful for essay and polity mains answers on balancing rights and policy goals.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > FEATURES OF THE DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES > p. 109
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > The Supreme Court of India in National Legal Services Authority v UOI, observed: > p. 186
Directive Principles impose a moral and political obligation on the State and rely primarily on public opinion and democratic accountability rather than judicial enforcement.
Important for conceptual and governance questions: explains why Directives were made non-justiciable, their role in policy formation, and their electoral/political enforcement mechanisms. Links to topics on welfare state ideals and legislative responsibility.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > SANCTION BEHIND DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES > p. 111
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > FEATURES OF THE DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES > p. 108
Directive Principles in Part IV are constitutionally non-enforceable in courts; Article 37 declares them non-justiciable.
High-yield for constitutional law questions distinguishing Fundamental Rights from Directive Principles; helps answer questions on enforceability, Articles of the Constitution, and the scope of judicial review. Links to topics on constitutional interpretation and the role of Articles 32/226 versus Article 37.
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 34: HOW THE CONSTITUTION HAS WORKED > INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA > p. 485
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 4: Salient Features of the Constitution > IDirective Principles of State Policy > p. 30
Directive Principles are 'fundamental in governance' and impose a duty on the State to apply them, even though they are not legally enforceable by courts.
Crucial for answering questions on legislative policy-making, constitutional duties of the State, and conflicts between policy directives and enforceable rights; connects to amendment history and balancing socio-economic reforms with Fundamental Rights.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > FEATURES OF THE DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES > p. 109
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 34: HOW THE CONSTITUTION HAS WORKED > INTRODUCTION TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA > p. 485
Although non-justiciable as such, courts may consider Directive Principles when assessing constitutionality and have sometimes issued directives to governments in proper cases.
Useful for questions on judicial activism, remedies, and inventive uses of constitutional provisions; explains how courts use Directive Principles in interpretation and occasional enforcement through directions rather than direct justiciability.
- Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > The Supreme Court of India in National Legal Services Authority v UOI, observed: > p. 186
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > FEATURES OF THE DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES > p. 109
Article 37 makes Directive Principles fundamental to governance and imposes on the State a duty to apply them in making laws.
High-yield constitutional provision: mastering Article 37 explains why non-justiciable principles still shape legislation. It links to questions on justiciability, legislative intent and constitutional interpretation, and helps answer essay and mains questions on the State's obligations under Part IV.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > SANCTION BEHIND DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES > p. 111
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > FEATURES OF THE DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES > p. 108
The 'Instrument of Instructions': The DPSP resembles the Instrument of Instructions enumerated in the Government of India Act of 1935. Also, while DPSP is non-justiciable, the 'Fundamental Duties' (Part IV-A) are also non-justiciable, but courts can use them to determine the constitutional validity of a law (just like DPSP).
The 'UCC Reality Check': If Statement 1 ('Enforceable by courts') were true, any citizen could sue the government today for not implementing the Uniform Civil Code (Article 44). Since we know UCC is not yet applicable and citizens cannot force it via writ, Statement 1 must be False. This eliminates options A and C immediately.
Mains GS-2 Link: DPSP is the blueprint for 'Welfare State' policies. Connect Article 47 (Nutrition/Public Health) to Ayushman Bharat/POSHAN Abhiyaan. Connect Article 41 (Right to Work) to MGNREGA. Connect Article 40 (Panchayats) to the 73rd Amendment. This transforms static Polity into dynamic Governance answers.