Polity & Governance
Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties
GS Paper II
DPSP and Fundamental Duties — Quick Revision
One-page UPSC revision of Directive Principles (Articles 36–51) and Fundamental Duties (Article 51A): Article map, amendments, key cases and the eleven duties.
SyllabusGS II · Indian Constitution — historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
A last-week revision sheet for Parts IV and IVA.
The Map of Part IV
| Article | Directive |
|---|---|
| 36 | Definition of “State” (same as Article 12) |
| 37 | Non-justiciable but fundamental in governance |
| 38 | Social order based on justice; 38(2) minimise inequalities (44th) |
| 39 | (a) livelihood, (b) material resources, (c) no concentration of wealth, (d) equal pay, (e) workers’ health, (f) children |
| 39A | Equal justice and free legal aid (42nd) |
| 40 | Village panchayats |
| 41 | Right to work, education, public assistance |
| 42 | Just and humane conditions of work; maternity relief |
| 43 | Living wage; cottage industries |
| 43A | Workers’ participation in management (42nd) |
| 43B | Co-operative societies (97th) |
| 44 | Uniform civil code |
| 45 | Early childhood care and education below six (86th) |
| 46 | Interests of SCs, STs and weaker sections |
| 47 | Nutrition, standard of living, public health; prohibition |
| 48 | Scientific agriculture and animal husbandry; cattle protection |
| 48A | Environment, forests, wildlife (42nd) |
| 49 | Monuments of national importance |
| 50 | Separation of judiciary from executive |
| 51 | International peace and security |
Amendments to Remember
| Amendment | Change |
|---|---|
| 25th (1971) | Article 31C — protects laws under 39(b) and 39(c) from challenge under Arts 14, 19 (and 31) |
| 42nd (1976) | 39A, 43A, 48A added; 39(f) reworded; 31C extended to all DPSP; Part IVA (ten duties) |
| 44th (1978) | 38(2) added |
| 86th (2002) | Article 45 changed; Article 51A(k) added; Article 21A inserted |
| 97th (2011) | Article 43B added |
FR vs DPSP — Case Ladder
| Case | Holding |
|---|---|
| Champakam Dorairajan (1951) | DPSP subsidiary to FRs |
| Golaknath (1967) | FRs cannot be amended |
| Kesavananda Bharati (1973) | 31C upheld minus its bar on judicial review; basic structure doctrine |
| Minerva Mills (1980) | 42nd Amendment’s extension of 31C struck down; harmony is basic structure |
| Property Owners Association (2024) | Not every private resource is a “material resource of the community” under 39(b) |
Fundamental Duties — The Eleven
| Clause | Duty in brief |
|---|---|
| (a) | Abide by Constitution; respect Flag and Anthem |
| (b) | Follow ideals of the freedom struggle |
| (c) | Uphold sovereignty, unity, integrity |
| (d) | Defend the country; national service |
| (e) | Common brotherhood; dignity of women |
| (f) | Preserve composite culture |
| (g) | Protect environment; compassion for living creatures |
| (h) | Scientific temper, humanism, inquiry and reform |
| (i) | Safeguard public property; abjure violence |
| (j) | Strive towards excellence |
| (k) | Parents to educate children aged 6–14 (86th) |
High-yield facts
- DPSP idea from Ireland; Fundamental Duties from the USSR.
- Directives outside Part IV: 335, 350A, 351.
- Swaran Singh Committee (1976) recommended eight duties; ten were added.
- Verma Committee (1999) identified laws that already enforce some duties.
- No duty to vote or pay taxes in Article 51A.
Traps
Common confusions
- Uniform civil code is Article 44, not 45.
- Environment: 48A is a Directive; 51A(g) is a Duty.
- Article 43B (co-operatives) is from the 97th, not the 42nd, Amendment.
- Duties apply to citizens only.
Related Topics
- Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties
- DPSP and Fundamental Duties — practice questions
- Fundamental Rights — quick revision
- Amendment and the Basic Structure
- All quick revision sheets
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