Why Directive Principles Were Included
Elders tell youngsters to study and care for health; but everything cannot be done on one day. Likewise guidelines have been given to the government.
Directive Principles are instructions in the Constitution about which subjects the government should give priority in its policies for people’s welfare. They are not binding in court.
Key idea 1 : Rights restrict the government — Fundamental rights restrict the powers of the government. For example the State shall not discriminate among citizens on the basis of caste, religion, race, language or sex; shall not deny equality before law and equal protection of law; shall not deprive anyone of life; shall not impose religious taxes.
Key idea 2 : Instructions to the State — The Constitution has also given express instructions to the State about what policies it should undertake. This guidance is about how to achieve the goals in the Preamble, hence they are called Directive Principles of State Policy. Each directive contains a subject for State policy.
Key idea 3 : Why not binding? — When independence came there was a great challenge of establishing order and smooth administration, removing poverty, backwardness and illiteracy and building the nation. India had to become a developed and progressive nation. The makers knew that implementing all policies at once would need a lot of resources. So they did not make them binding like fundamental rights; the government was expected to implement them slowly and steadily.
- Easy : What do rights put on the government? — Restrictions.
- Medium : Are directives binding? — No.
- Exam-type : Why not binding? — Resources needed.
In the figure: From challenges to people’s welfare.
Rights = limits on government; directives = direction for government.
Directives are not useless; they set the direction of government policy.
Memory clue: Limit = rights; direction = directives.
Spot the difference
| Point | Fundamental rights | Directive principles |
|---|---|---|
| What they do | Limit government | Guide government |
| Binding | Binding | Not binding |
Practice questions
- 1What are Directive Principles?
- 2State two restrictions on the government.
- 3Why are they called Directive Principles?
- 4What challenges were there after independence?
- 5Why are the directives not binding?
- 6How were they expected to be implemented?
- 7What more should the government do for students? List your demands.
- 8Write the difference between rights and directives.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Instructions on which subjects the government should prioritise for welfare.
- 2No discrimination on caste or religion; no religious tax.
- 3Because they direct how to achieve Preamble goals.
- 4Order, poverty, illiteracy and nation building.
- 5Implementing all policies together needs many resources.
- 6Slowly and steadily.
- 7E.g. toilets in schools, free books.
- 8Rights binding, directives not binding.
Important Directive Principles
Every family wants livelihood, equal pay and good health for all. The directives contain the same goals.
Important directives include subjects like livelihood, equal pay, health, environment, heritage protection, weaker sections’ development, public assistance and a uniform civil code.
Key idea 1 : Livelihood and equal pay — The State should secure adequate means of livelihood to all citizens without gender discrimination. Men and women should get equal pay for equal work. The State should secure improvement of public health. Equal pay for equal work puts into practice the constitutional value of equality.
Key idea 2 : Environment, heritage and weaker sections — The State should protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. It should protect monuments of historic interest and national importance. It should promote with special care the educational and economic interests of weaker sections, especially the Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
Key idea 3 : Public assistance and uniform civil code — The State should offer public assistance in unemployment, old age and sickness. The State should endeavour to secure a uniform civil code for the whole country. We cannot go to court if a directive is not implemented, but people can put pressure on the government in various ways to make policy. Promoting international peace and security is also a principle of foreign policy.
- Easy : Equal pay for equal work — to both men and women.
- Medium : Old-age pension — public assistance.
- Exam-type : Protecting forts — heritage directive.
In the figure: Some important directive principles.
The textbook lists these as ‘some important’ ones; many more directives are in the Constitution and teachers ask students to study them. (as per the textbook)
Eight subjects: livelihood, health, environment, heritage, weaker, aid, civil code.
The court may not order implementation; directives are not binding.
Memory clue: Same work = same pay.
Spot the difference
| Directive | Aim | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Equal pay | Equality | Same pay for men and women |
| Environment | Protecting nature | Forest protection |
| Public assistance | Security | Old-age pension |
Practice questions
- 1Which value does “equal pay for equal work” realise?
- 2What should the State do about health?
- 3What does the directive on environment say?
- 4Why should historic monuments be protected?
- 5Which directive is for weaker sections?
- 6In which situations should public assistance be given?
- 7Why do women get lower pay? Write your view.
- 8Why can we not go to court for these directives?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Equality.
- 2Secure improvement of public health.
- 3Protect environment, forests and wildlife.
- 4Because it is our history and heritage.
- 5Directive to promote weaker sections’ educational-economic interests.
- 6Unemployment, old age, sickness.
- 7Student’s own view; discrimination is one reason.
- 8Because they are not binding; but pressure can be applied.
Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
A coin has two sides; one is useless without the other. Rights and directives are complementary in the same way.
Fundamental rights and directive principles are two sides of the same coin. Rights give citizens the needed liberty and directives create an atmosphere conducive to the growth of democracy.
Key idea 1 : Two sides of a coin — Fundamental rights give citizens the most needed liberty while directives create an atmosphere conducive to the growth of democracy. Rights restrain the government from doing certain things while directives tell it to do certain things.
Key idea 2 : Difference in court — If fundamental rights are violated citizens can go to court. If directives are not implemented we cannot go to court. Yet people can put pressure on the government in various ways to make policies for these goals, e.g. discussion, petitions, rallies and elections.
Key idea 3 : Use of public facilities — Public toilets, clean water supply and vaccination of children improve health, cleanliness and education. Using them properly and maintaining them is the citizens’ task. This brings both rights and directives into reality.
- Easy : Can we go to court? — Yes for rights, no for directives.
- Medium : Vaccination relates to? — The health directive.
- Exam-type : What are rights and directives? — Two sides of a coin.
In the figure: Rights and directives complement each other.
What happened before the Champakam Dorairajan case? A Madras government order reserved seats in medical and engineering colleges by community. Champakam Dorairajan did not get a seat and went to court, saying the order broke her Fundamental Right.
What happened after the Champakam Dorairajan case? In 1951 the Supreme Court struck down the order and held that Fundamental Rights prevail over Directive Principles. Parliament soon passed the First Amendment (1951), adding Article 15(4) to allow special provisions for backward classes.
Rights = stop; directives = tell.
Directives are not less important than rights; they strengthen democracy in a different way.
Memory clue: Two sides = one coin.
Spot the difference
| Point | Fundamental rights | Directive principles |
|---|---|---|
| Court remedy | Available | Not available |
| Role | Give liberty | Nurture democracy |
| From government | Not to do certain things | To do certain things |
Practice questions
- 1Why are rights and directives called ‘two sides of the same coin’?
- 2What is the main difference between rights and directives?
- 3To whom can we go for infringement of rights?
- 4What can citizens do if directives are not implemented?
- 5How do public toilets affect health?
- 6What improvements are possible with clean water supply?
- 7Why is proper use of government facilities important?
- 8Write a table of differences between rights and directives.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Because together they strengthen democracy.
- 2Court available for rights but not for directives.
- 3The court.
- 4Apply pressure: discussion, petitions, voting.
- 5Disease reduces, cleanliness increases.
- 6Less disease and women save time.
- 7So facilities last and reach all.
- 8Student should prepare the table.
Fundamental Duties
If we spoil a school bench the next children find it hard to sit. Only if we do our duty do all get the facilities.
Fundamental duties are the responsibilities of citizens listed in the Constitution. In a democracy citizens must not only guard their rights but also fulfil duties.
Key idea 1 : Rights and duties — In a democracy citizens have a dual responsibility. They should be vigilant that their rights are not unfairly restricted and also fulfil some duties and responsibilities. The benefits of government schemes cannot reach all if citizens do not fulfil their duties. For example the government implements projects under the Swachh Bharat scheme but people too need to change habits that make public places dirty.
Key idea 2 : The eleven fundamental duties (1) — (1) Abide by the Constitution and respect the National Flag and National Anthem. (2) Cherish and follow the noble ideals that inspired our freedom struggle. (3) Uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. (4) Defend the country and render national service when called upon. (5) Promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood transcending diversities and renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women. (6) Value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.
Key idea 3 : The eleven fundamental duties (2) — (7) Protect and improve the natural environment and have compassion for living creatures. (8) Develop scientific temper, humanism and spirit of inquiry and reform. (9) Safeguard public property and abjure violence. (10) Strive towards excellence in individual and collective activity so the nation rises to higher levels. (11) A parent or guardian should provide opportunities of education to a child between six and fourteen. We can begin with small resolutions: sending boys and girls to school, using school facilities responsibly, joining festivals of all religions while avoiding pollution.
- Easy : Scribbling on a historic structure — breach of public property/heritage duty.
- Medium : Damaging a public bus — breach of public property duty.
- Exam-type : Throwing waste in a river — breach of environment duty.
In the figure: Four groups of duties.
What happened before Fundamental duties were added? When the Constitution came into force in 1950 it had citizens’ fundamental rights but no list of fundamental duties.
What happened after Fundamental duties were added? The 42nd Amendment of 1976 added ten fundamental duties to the Constitution. Later in 2002 an eleventh duty (about education of children aged six to fourteen) was added.
Duties 11; duty goes with a right.
Not doing duties does not end rights; but without duties facilities do not reach all.
Memory clue: Rights + duties = responsible citizen.
Spot the difference
| Duty | Example | If broken |
|---|---|---|
| Respect Constitution and Flag | Stand for the Anthem | Disrespect |
| Protect public property | Care for bus, benches | Vandalism |
| Protect environment | No waste in river | Pollution |
Practice questions
- 1What are fundamental duties?
- 2What is the dual responsibility of citizens in a democracy?
- 3Write any four fundamental duties.
- 4State the fundamental duty about environment.
- 5Why do you think duties were added in 1976?
- 6Which duty is broken by carving names on a historic structure?
- 7Whose responsibility is the education of 6-14 aged children?
- 8What resolutions will you make to keep a river clean?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Responsibilities of citizens listed in the Constitution.
- 2Guarding rights and fulfilling duties.
- 3Abide by the Constitution, respect the Flag, protect the environment, protect public property.
- 4Protect natural environment and have compassion for living creatures.
- 5So that citizens become conscious of responsibilities.
- 6Protection of public property and heritage.
- 7The parent or guardian.
- 8No waste in river, tell others, reduce plastic.