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The Directive Principle that directs the State to promote international peace and security, maintain just and honourable relations between nations, and encourage the settlement of international disputes by arbitration is:
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Answer: Option B — Article 51
Detailed Solution
Article 51, the last of the Directive Principles of State Policy, directs the State to endeavour to:
promote international peace and security;
maintain just and honourable relations between nations;
foster respect for international law and treaty obligations in the dealings of organised peoples with one another; and
encourage the settlement of international disputes by arbitration.
India's foreign policy and Article 51:
- Article 51 reflects the ideals of India's freedom struggle and of Jawaharlal Nehru, who wanted India to work for world peace.
- India followed the policy of non-alignment during the Cold War, keeping away from military blocs.
- The Panchsheel (five principles of peaceful coexistence) was agreed between India and China.
- India has been one of the largest contributors of soldiers to United Nations peacekeeping missions.
- India supports disarmament, and has opposed racial discrimination and colonialism.
International law in India:
- Parliament has the power to make laws to implement international treaties and agreements, even on state subjects.
- The courts have used international conventions to interpret Fundamental Rights, where there is no conflict with Indian law, as in the Vishaka case on sexual harassment at the workplace.
Classification:
Article 51 is classed among the liberal-intellectual principles of the Directive Principles.
The Fundamental Duties:
Article 51A, added by the 42nd Amendment (1976), lists the Fundamental Duties of citizens; it is a separate Part (Part IV-A), and should not be confused with Article 51.
Importance:
Article 51 shows that India's Constitution looks beyond the country's borders, and commits India to the cause of world peace and international cooperation.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Article 51A lists the Fundamental Duties; Article 49 deals with the protection of monuments; Article 48A with the environment.
Quick tip
Remember: Article 51 = promotion of international peace and security (last Directive Principle); Article 51A = Fundamental Duties.
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DPSP & Fundamental Duties — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of DPSP & Fundamental Duties, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV (Articles 36-51), borrowed from the Irish Constitution, and the Fundamental Duties in Part IV-A (Article 51A), added on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee by the 42nd Amendment in 1976. Questions often ask which article contains a directive (Article 44 on a uniform civil code, Article 40 on village panchayats, Article 45 on early childhood care), how DPSP differ from Fundamental Rights (they cannot be enforced in court), and how many Fundamental Duties there are now (eleven, after the 86th Amendment added the eleventh in 2002). Practise the DPSP and Fundamental Duties questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.