The Directive Principles of State Policy are guidelines for the government laid down in Part IV of the Indian Constitution. They were inspired by the Irish Constitution and UN Declaration of Human Rights. The principles are non-justiciable rights that are fundamental for governance. They include Gandhian Principles promoting education, employment and health, Social and Economic Principles ensuring livelihood and equality, and General Principles protecting the environment and international relations. While they are not enforceable in courts, the principles highlight national objectives and prescribe that national resources should benefit all.

1. Directive Principles ofDirective Principles of
State PolicyState Policy
Presented byPresented by
T.B.BHARATHIT.B.BHARATHI
Teacher in Social SciencesTeacher in Social Sciences
The Hyderabad Public SchoolThe Hyderabad Public School
KadapaKadapa

2. What are these?
These are the guidelines for the
government laid down in Part IV of
our Constitution.
The inspiration is derived from the
Irish Constitution and also from the
UN Declaration of Human Rights.

3. Their Nature
• They are non-
justiciable rights
of the people.
• They are
fundamental in
governance of
the country.
• If laws are made
to give effect to
the Directive
Principles, they
shall not be
invalid on the
ground that they
take away your
Fundamental
Rights.

4. Classification
Economic
Principles
General
Principles
Gandhian
Principles
Directive
Principles

5. Gandhian Principles
The State shall promote educational and
economic interests of the weaker sections
and SC’s and ST’s.
Prevent consumption of liquor and other
intoxicating drinks and improve the public
health.
Organize Village Panchayats.
To encourage cottage industries and to
provide employment in rural areas.
To improve agriculture and encourage animal
husbandry.
Free and compulsory education for all
children below 14 years.

6. Social and Economic Principles
• The State should ensure adequate means of
livelihood to its people.
• Fair distribution of Nation’s Wealth.
• Equal pay for men and women.
• Children to be protected against exploitation.
• To ensure right to work, right to education
and right to State assistance in case of
unemployment.
• The State is directed to provide a living wage
to its people.
• The State should ensure participation of
workers in the management of their factories.

7. General Principles
• According to the 42nd
Amendment Act, the
government should protect and improve
the environment and safe guard the forest
and wild life.
• Preserve and Protect the places and
things of National importance.

8. Few More
• Maintain just and honorable relations with
the Nations.
• Promote international Peace and Security.
• Foster respect for international law.
• Encourage settlement of disputes
peacefully.

9. Criticism
• They are vague and repetitive. (Adequate
means of livelihood, living wage etc.)
• They are not enforceable by any court.
They are like empty vessels.
• Article 31-C has made them totally
unclear.

10. Why to include?
• They highlight the National Objectives.
They tell us about the social and
economic programme of a modern
Welfare State.
• They prescribe that the material source of
the country should be used for the
common good.
• These principles will pull back the
revolutionary and push forward the
reactionary.

11. To Conclude,
• The Directive Principles have to conform to
and run as subsidiary to the chapter on
Fundamental Rights.
• The Supreme Court says that the general
welfare shall prevail over the individual right.
• Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
complement each other.
• “Together not individually, they form the core
of the Constitution. They together constitute
its true Conscience.”
Thank You