SSC
The Directive Principles of State Policy were described as the 'life-giving provisions of the Constitution' by:
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Answer: Option D — L.M. Singhvi
Detailed Solution
Singhvi. The jurist and constitutional expert Dr. L.M. Singhvi described the Directive Principles of State Policy as the "life-giving provisions of the Constitution".
His full description:
He said that the Directive Principles are the life-giving provisions of the Constitution, and that they constitute the stuff of the Constitution and its philosophy of social justice.
About Dr. L.M. Singhvi:
- Laxmi Mall Singhvi was an eminent lawyer, jurist and diplomat.
- He was a member of the Lok Sabha and later the Rajya Sabha.
- He served as India's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
- He chaired a committee in 1986 on the revitalisation of Panchayati Raj institutions, which recommended constitutional recognition for local self-government.
- He chaired the High Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora, whose report led to the celebration of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and the Overseas Citizenship of India scheme.
- He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan.
Other descriptions of the Directive Principles:
B.R. Ambedkar called them a "novel feature" of the Constitution.
Granville Austin said that the Directive Principles and Fundamental Rights together are the "conscience of the Constitution".
K.T. Shah compared them to a cheque on a bank, payable at the convenience of the bank.
Nature of the Directive Principles:
- They are listed in Part IV, Articles 36 to 51.
- They are non-justiciable, which means they cannot be enforced by courts.
- Article 37 says that they are fundamental in the governance of the country, and it is the duty of the State to apply them in making laws.
- Their source is the Irish Constitution.
Categories of Directive Principles:
- Socialistic principles, such as equal pay for equal work and the right to work.
- Gandhian principles, such as village panchayats, cottage industries and prohibition.
- Liberal-intellectual principles, such as a uniform civil code and separation of the judiciary from the executive.
Why not the other options?
B.R. Ambedkar called them a "novel feature".
Granville Austin called them part of the "conscience of the Constitution".
K.C. Wheare described the Indian Constitution as "quasi-federal".
Quick tip
Remember: DPSP = "life-giving provisions" (L.M. Singhvi); "novel feature" (Ambedkar); "conscience of the Constitution" (Austin, with FRs).
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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.