SSC
The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution were borrowed from the Constitution of:
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Answer: Option D — Ireland
Detailed Solution
The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are contained in Part IV of the Constitution, from Article 36 to Article 51. The idea was borrowed from the Irish Constitution of 1937, which in turn had taken it from the Spanish Constitution. Dr B.R. Ambedkar called the DPSPs "novel features" of the Indian Constitution.
The DPSPs are guidelines or instructions to the Central and state governments to keep in mind while making laws and policies. They aim to establish social and economic democracy and make India a welfare state. According to Article 37, they are not enforceable by any court (non-justiciable), but they are "fundamental in the governance of the country", and it is the duty of the State to apply them in making laws.
The DPSPs are often grouped into three types:
Socialistic principles: such as securing a social order for the welfare of the people (Article 38), equal pay for equal work (Article 39), free legal aid (Article 39A), the right to work and public assistance (Article 41), and a living wage for workers (Article 43).
Gandhian principles: such as village panchayats (Article 40), cottage industries (Article 43), prohibition of intoxicating drinks (Article 47) and prohibition of cow slaughter (Article 48).
Liberal-intellectual principles: such as a Uniform Civil Code (Article 44), early childhood care (Article 45), organising agriculture on modern lines (Article 48), protecting the environment (Article 48A), protecting monuments (Article 49), separating the judiciary from the executive (Article 50) and promoting international peace (Article 51).
The Supreme Court held in the Minerva Mills case (1980) that the Constitution rests on a balance between Fundamental Rights and the DPSPs.
The method of electing the President and the nomination of members to the Rajya Sabha were also borrowed from Ireland.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Canada gave the federal system with a strong Centre.
- ✗Good to know
- ✗The USA gave Fundamental Rights and judicial review.
- ✗The UK gave the parliamentary system and the rule of law.
Quick tip
Remember: Ireland = DPSP (Part IV, Articles 36-51), method of electing the President and nomination to the Rajya Sabha; DPSPs are non-justiciable (Article 37).
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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.