Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) and Fundamental Duties Notes for SSC Exams

The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) and the Fundamental Duties are favourite topics of SSC polity. The questions are direct: the Part and the Articles of the DPSP, the country from which they were taken, the Article of the Uniform Civil Code, the number of the fundamental duties and the Amendment that added them. These DPSP and Fundamental Duties notes for SSC give you all of these in simple tables, with 20 practice questions. Read them with the Fundamental Rights Notes, Important Constitutional Amendments Notes and Important Articles of the Indian Constitution notes.

What Are the Directive Principles of State Policy?

The Directive Principles are the guidelines given to the Central and the state governments for making the laws and the policies, so that a welfare state can be created in India. They are contained in Part IV (Articles 36 to 51) of the Constitution. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar called them the "novel features" of the Indian Constitution, and the Granville Austin called the fundamental rights and the DPSP "the conscience of the Constitution".

• The idea was taken from the Irish constitution (which had taken it from Spain).
• They are non-justiciable (Article 37): the courts cannot force the Government to follow them, but they are "fundamental in the governance of the country".
• They aim at social and economic democracy, while the fundamental rights aim at the political democracy.
• The Government of India Act 1935 had the "instrument of instructions" for the Governors, which is similar in the idea.

Types of the Directive Principles

Important Articles of Part IV (Quick List)

Remember: Article 44 = Uniform Civil Code, Article 40 = Panchayats, Article 48A = Environment, Article 50 = Judiciary and Article 51 = International Peace.

Fundamental Rights vs Directive Principles

• Champakam Dorairajan case (1951): the fundamental rights prevail over the DPSP.
• Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) and the Minerva Mills case (1980): the Fundamental Rights and the DPSP together form the "core of the Constitution"; harmony between them is a part of the basic structure.
• The 25th Amendment (1971) added Article 31C to give a priority to the Articles 39(b) and 39(c) over the fundamental rights.
• The 42nd Amendment (1976) added four new principles (Articles 39(f), 39A, 43A and 48A); the 44th Amendment (1978) added Article 38(2) for removing the inequality in income.
• DPSP outside Part IV: Article 335 (claims of the SCs and STs to the services), Article 350A (instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage) and Article 351 (the development of the Hindi language).

Fundamental Duties: Part IV-A and Article 51A

• The Fundamental Duties are in Part IV-A, Article 51A. They were added by the 42nd Amendment (1976) on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee (1976).
• Originally there were 10 duties, and the 11th duty was added by the 86th Amendment (2002).
• The idea was taken from the constitution of the USSR (Russia).
• The duties are for the citizens only and are non-justiciable (there is no legal punishment for not following them directly, although the Parliament can make a law for the same).
• The Part IV-A has only one Article.

1. To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem.
2. To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired the national struggle for freedom.
3. To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
4. To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so.
5. To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India, and to renounce the practices derogatory to the dignity of women.
6. To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.
7. To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.
8. To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
9. To safeguard the public property and to abjure violence.
10. To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity.
11. Who is a parent or guardian, to provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years (added in 2002).

Important Amendments and Cases Related to DPSP and Duties

A Uniform Civil Code (Article 44) is applied in the state of Goa (the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867), and the state of Uttarakhand passed a Uniform Civil Code law in 2024.

Easy Memory Methods for DPSP

• "SGL" = Socialistic, Gandhian and Liberal-intellectual: the three types of the DPSP.
• "40 = Village, 44 = UCC, 48A = Environment, 50 = Judiciary, 51 = Peace" are the five most asked Articles.
• The Articles that were added by the 42nd Amendment: 39A, 43A and 48A (and 39(f) as a clause).
• Fundamental Duties: remember "42, 51A, USSR, 11 (86th, 2002) and Swaran Singh".

Important Questions Explained

Question 1: In which Part of the Constitution are the Directive Principles given?
Answer: Part IV (Articles 36 to 51).

Question 2: From which country were the Directive Principles taken?
Answer: Ireland.

Question 3: Which Article provides for a Uniform Civil Code?
Answer: Article 44.

Question 4: Which Article provides for the separation of the judiciary from the executive?
Answer: Article 50.

Question 5: By which Amendment were the Fundamental Duties added?
Answer: The 42nd Amendment (1976).

Question 6: How many Fundamental Duties are there at present?
Answer: 11 (the 11th was added by the 86th Amendment in 2002).

Question 7: From which country were the Fundamental Duties taken?
Answer: The USSR (Soviet Union).

Quick Tips to Remember

• Learn the three types of the DPSP with two Articles each.
• Remember that the DPSP are non-justiciable (Article 37).
• Remember the Article numbers of the five most asked principles: 40, 44, 45, 48A and 50.
• Remember that the Fundamental Duties are only for the citizens, and the Fundamental Rights are for the citizens and also for some for the foreigners.
• Learn the table of the differences between the Fundamental Rights and the DPSP; it is asked every year.
• Revise the Amendments of the 42nd, 44th, 86th and 97th together.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Writing the source of the DPSP as the USA instead of Ireland.
• Confusing Part IV (DPSP) with Part IV-A (Fundamental Duties) and Part III (Fundamental Rights).
• Writing the number of duties as 10.
• Writing Article 45 as the right to education (it is Article 21A).
• Mixing the Gandhian principles with the socialistic principles.

Quick Revision Points

• DPSP: Part IV, Articles 36 to 51; Ireland; non-justiciable (Article 37).
• Types: socialistic, Gandhian, liberal-intellectual.
• Article 40 panchayats, 44 UCC, 45 early childhood, 48A environment, 50 judiciary, 51 peace.
• Fundamental Duties: Part IV-A, Article 51A; 42nd Amendment (1976); Swaran Singh Committee; USSR; 11 duties.
• 86th Amendment (2002): Article 21A and the 11th duty.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. In which Part are the DPSP given?
   Answer: Part IV (Articles 36 to 51).
2. Which Article says that the DPSP are not enforceable by the courts?
   Answer: Article 37 (Non-justiciable).
3. Which Article provides for the Uniform Civil Code?
   Answer: Article 44 (Liberal principle).
4. Which Article provides for the organisation of the village panchayats?
   Answer: Article 40 (Gandhian principle).
5. Which Article provides for the protection of the environment?
   Answer: Article 48A (42nd Amendment).
6. Which Article provides for the separation of the judiciary from the executive?
   Answer: Article 50 (Liberal principle).
7. Which Article provides for the promotion of the international peace?
   Answer: Article 51 (Last Article of Part IV).
8. Which Article provides for the equal justice and free legal aid?
   Answer: Article 39A (42nd Amendment).
9. Which Article provides for the cooperative societies?
   Answer: Article 43B (97th Amendment).
10. Which Article provides for the early childhood care?
    Answer: Article 45 (Below 6 years).
11. In which Part are the Fundamental Duties given?
    Answer: Part IV-A (Article 51A).
12. Which committee recommended the Fundamental Duties?
    Answer: Swaran Singh Committee (1976).
13. Which Amendment added the Fundamental Duties?
    Answer: The 42nd Amendment (1976).
14. How many Fundamental Duties are there?
    Answer: 11 (11th added in 2002).
15. Which Amendment added the 11th Fundamental Duty?
    Answer: The 86th Amendment (2002).
16. From which country were the Fundamental Duties taken?
    Answer: The USSR (Soviet constitution).
17. Which Article was added to give priority to Article 39(b) and (c)?
    Answer: Article 31C (25th Amendment).
18. Which case said that the fundamental rights prevail over the DPSP in 1951?
    Answer: Champakam Dorairajan case (State of Madras).
19. Which state has a Uniform Civil Code since long?
    Answer: Goa (Portuguese Civil Code).
20. Who called the DPSP "novel features" of the Constitution?
    Answer: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Drafting Committee).

How to Practise This Topic

1. Make three columns: socialistic, Gandhian and liberal, and put the Articles in them.
2. Learn the table of the differences between the Fundamental Rights and the DPSP.
3. Write the 11 Fundamental Duties in short and revise them the next day.
4. Attempt the practice questions without looking at the answers.
5. Solve the SSC practice papers and the previous year papers for the polity pattern.

Related Notes and Practice

• Fundamental Rights Notes
• Important Constitutional Amendments Notes
• Important Articles of the Indian Constitution
• Supreme Court, High Courts and Writs Notes
• Indian Polity Notes
• SSC practice papers

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Directive Principles of State Policy?

The DPSP are the guidelines in Part IV of the Constitution (Articles 36 to 51) that tell the Government how to make the laws and the policies to create a welfare state.

From which country was the idea of the DPSP taken?

The idea of the Directive Principles was taken from the Constitution of Ireland.

Are the DPSP enforceable by the courts?

No. According to Article 37, the DPSP are non-justiciable, which means that the courts cannot enforce them.

What are the three types of the DPSP?

They are the socialistic principles, the Gandhian principles and the liberal-intellectual principles.

Which Article of the Constitution is about the Uniform Civil Code?

Article 44 provides that the State shall try to secure a Uniform Civil Code for all the citizens.

What is the difference between the Fundamental Rights and the DPSP?

The Fundamental Rights are justiciable and protect the individual against the State, while the DPSP are non-justiciable and guide the State for the welfare of the society.

Where are the Fundamental Duties given in the Constitution?

The Fundamental Duties are given in Part IV-A, Article 51A of the Constitution.

Which Amendment added the Fundamental Duties?

The 42nd Amendment (1976) added the Fundamental Duties on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee.

How many Fundamental Duties are there?

There are 11 Fundamental Duties; the 11th duty was added by the 86th Amendment in 2002.

From where were the Fundamental Duties taken?

The idea of the Fundamental Duties was taken from the Constitution of the USSR.

How many questions come from the DPSP and Fundamental Duties in SSC exams?

Usually 1 or 2 questions come from this topic in each SSC exam.

How can I prepare the DPSP quickly?

Learn the three types with the Articles, remember the five most asked Articles and revise the table of differences with the Fundamental Rights.