Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties

🎯 Learning Objective

Compare the DPSP with Fundamental Rights and learn the Fundamental Duties.

💡 Concept

• The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are in Part IV (Articles 36–51) and are borrowed from Ireland.
• The DPSP are non-justiciable — not enforceable by the courts — but are fundamental in the governance of the country.
• Their aim is to establish a welfare state with social and economic democracy.
• Article 40 (organisation of village panchayats) and Article 44 (a Uniform Civil Code) are well-known Directive Principles.
• Fundamental Rights are justiciable and give political democracy, while the DPSP are non-justiciable and aim at socio-economic democracy.
• Fundamental Duties are in Part IV-A, under Article 51A, and were added by the 42nd Amendment (1976) on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee.
• Fundamental Duties were inspired by the erstwhile USSR (Soviet Constitution).
• There were originally ten Fundamental Duties; an eleventh (a parent's duty to provide education) was added by the 86th Amendment (2002), making eleven.

✏️ Easy Example

Q. Under which Article are the Fundamental Duties listed?

1. They were added by the 42nd Amendment in Part IV-A
2. They appear under Article 51A

Answer: Article 51A

🇮🇳 Real-Life Example

The DPSP guide big government schemes and laws, and questions like 'DPSP borrowed from which country' (Ireland) and 'which amendment added the Duties' (42nd) are exam regulars.

📝 Exam-Level Example

Q. The Fundamental Duties were added to the Constitution by which amendment?

1. They came on the Swaran Singh Committee's advice
2. They were added by the 42nd Amendment (1976)

Answer: 42nd Amendment (1976)

📝 Exam-Level Example

Q. Which key difference separates Fundamental Rights from the DPSP?

1. Fundamental Rights can be enforced in court
2. The DPSP are non-justiciable (not enforceable in court)

Answer: FRs are justiciable; DPSP are non-justiciable

🪄 Memory Trick

Rights are 'demandable' in court (justiciable); Directive Principles are only 'directions' (non-justiciable).

⚠️ Common Mistakes

• ❌ Thinking the DPSP are enforceable in court — they are non-justiciable.
• ❌ Confusing which amendment did what — the 42nd (1976) added the Duties; the 86th (2002) added the eleventh.

🏆 Exam Tips

• ✅ DPSP = Part IV, from Ireland, non-justiciable; Duties = Part IV-A, Article 51A, from USSR.
• ✅ Remember 42nd Amendment (1976) added both Fundamental Duties and the Preamble words.

📌 Summary

• DPSP = Part IV (Articles 36–51), from Ireland, non-justiciable
• FRs justiciable (political democracy); DPSP non-justiciable (socio-economic)
• Fundamental Duties = Part IV-A, Article 51A, added by 42nd Amendment
• Originally 10 duties; 11th added by the 86th Amendment (2002)