SSC
Which Directive Principle makes it a primary duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and to improve public health?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option A — Article 47
Detailed Solution
Article 47 says that the State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people, and the improvement of public health, as among its primary duties.
Prohibition:
- Article 47 also directs that the State shall, in particular, endeavour to bring about the prohibition of the consumption, except for medicinal purposes, of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.
- This part reflects Gandhi's ideas, and is classed among the Gandhian principles.
- Some states, such as Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland and Mizoram, have introduced prohibition of alcohol at different times.
Steps taken to implement Article 47:
- Nutrition: The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS, 1975), the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (now PM POSHAN), and the National Food Security Act (2013), which gives subsidised food grains to a large part of the population.
- POSHAN Abhiyaan (2018), the National Nutrition Mission, aims to reduce malnutrition, stunting and anaemia.
- Public health: The National Health Mission, the Ayushman Bharat scheme, immunisation programmes and the setting up of primary health centres.
- Standard of living: Schemes for housing, drinking water, sanitation (Swachh Bharat Mission) and rural employment.
The courts and Article 47:
The Supreme Court has read the right to health and nutrition into the right to life, and has used Article 47 to support it.
In the "right to food" case (PUCL v. Union of India), the Court issued orders for the implementation of food schemes, such as the Mid-Day Meal.
Importance:
- Malnutrition and poor health reduce the productivity of people and keep them in poverty.
- Article 47 recognises that the welfare of the people depends on good nutrition and health.
Classification:
Article 47 combines socialist ideas (nutrition, public health) with a Gandhian idea (prohibition).
Why not the other options?
- ✗Article 45 deals with early childhood care and education; Article 21A gives the Fundamental Right to education for children aged 6 to 14; Article 46 deals with the interests of the weaker sections.
Quick tip
Remember: Article 47 = nutrition, standard of living and public health as primary duties of the State; also prohibition of intoxicating drinks and harmful drugs.
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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.