GK Questions Indian Polity

Directive Principles of State Policy

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Q40. The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution are similar to the “Instruments of Instructions” enumerated in _________.

[DSSSB Assistant Superintendent, 12 July 2026, Shift 3]

  1. Indian Councils Act, 1909
  2. Government of India Act, 1919
  3. Government of India Act, 1947
  4. Government of India Act, 1935

Answer: (D) Government of India Act, 1935

Explanation: The Government of India Act, 1935 contained instruments of instructions guiding colonial governors. The Constitution transformed that idea into broader policy directions for elected governments. Directive Principles appear in Part IV and remain fundamental to governance despite being non-justiciable.

Q39. In which article of the Directive Principles of State Policy is the term “social welfare” primarily mentioned?

[RRB NTPC (Undergraduate) CBT-I, 14 June 2026, Shift 1]

  1. Article 41
  2. Article 42
  3. Article 38
  4. Article 40

Answer: (C) Article 38

Explanation: Article 38 directs the State to promote people’s welfare by securing a social order informed by social, economic and political justice. It also emphasises reducing inequalities. Article 41 concerns assistance, Article 42 working conditions and maternity relief, and Article 40 village panchayats.

Q38. Directive Principles collectively aim to achieve which ideals prominently declared in the Constitution’s Preamble?

[RRB NTPC (Undergraduate) CBT-I, 8 May 2026, Shift 1]

  1. Justice, liberty, equality, fraternity
  2. Unity, diversity and fraternity
  3. Sovereignty, security and hierarchy
  4. Property, privilege and hierarchy

Answer: (A) Justice, liberty, equality, fraternity

Explanation: The Preamble identifies justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as constitutional ideals. Directive Principles guide public policy towards their practical realisation, particularly through economic and social measures. They supplement enforceable Fundamental Rights by setting objectives for a welfare-oriented constitutional democracy.

Q37. According to L. M. Singhvi, what are the Directive Principles of State Policy considered as?

[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-I, 25 March 2026, Shift 1]

  1. Fundamental Rights
  2. Life-giving provisions of the Constitution
  3. Legal Rights
  4. Moral Rights

Answer: (B) Life-giving provisions of the Constitution

Explanation: L. M. Singhvi characterised Directive Principles as life-giving constitutional provisions because they animate the State’s social and economic responsibilities. Although individuals cannot ordinarily enforce these provisions directly in court, governments are expected to reflect them in laws and public welfare programmes.

Q36. What kind of justice do the Directive Principles of State Policy of the Indian Constitution mainly aim to achieve?

[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-I, 19 March 2026, Shift 2]

  1. All legal justice
  2. Religious justice
  3. Political justice
  4. Economic and social justice

Answer: (D) Economic and social justice

Explanation: Directive Principles especially seek social and economic justice by addressing poverty, unequal opportunities, working conditions and resource distribution. They guide the State towards substantive welfare, whereas enforceable Fundamental Rights principally protect individual liberties and constitutional guarantees against unlawful state action.

Q35. Which of the following Directive Principles is inspired by Gandhian philosophy?

[Delhi Police Constable (Executive), 19 December 2025, Shift 2]

  1. Article 40—Organisation of village panchayats
  2. Article 48A—Protection of environment
  3. Article 44—Uniform civil code
  4. Article 39—Equal pay for equal work

Answer: (A) Article 40—Organisation of village panchayats

Explanation: Article 40 reflects Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj, or locally empowered village self-government. It instructs the State to organise village panchayats and confer appropriate powers on them. Other listed directives pursue environmental protection, legal uniformity or distributive economic justice.

Q34. The concept of Uniform Civil Code is a part of which category of principles in the Indian Constitution?

[SSC CGL Tier-I, 15 September 2025, Shift 2]

  1. Fundamental Rights
  2. Fundamental Duties
  3. Directive Principles of State Policy
  4. Preamble objectives

Answer: (C) Directive Principles of State Policy

Explanation: Article 44, situated in Part IV, asks the State to endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code throughout India. It is a Directive Principle rather than an independently enforceable Fundamental Right. Its intended implementation concerns uniformity in matters of personal civil law.

Q33. Which of the following Directive Principles of State Policy was added by the Forty-fourth Amendment Act, 1978?

[RRB NTPC (Undergraduate) CBT-I, 11 August 2025, Shift 3]

  1. Protection and improvement of the environment and wildlife
  2. Provision for free legal aid to the poor
  3. Participation of workers in industrial management
  4. Reduction of inequalities in income and status among individuals and groups

Answer: (D) Reduction of inequalities in income and status among individuals and groups

Explanation: The Forty-fourth Amendment inserted Article 38(2), requiring the State to minimise inequalities in income, status, facilities and opportunities. The environmental, legal-aid and workers’ participation provisions were introduced earlier through the Forty-second Amendment Act of 1976.

Q32. Which Article of the Directive Principles of State Policy was added by the 97th Constitutional Amendment Act?

[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-I, 5 June 2025, Shift 1]

  1. Article 48A
  2. Article 43B
  3. Article 39A
  4. Article 43A

Answer: (B) Article 43B

Explanation: The Ninety-seventh Amendment inserted Article 43B to encourage voluntary formation, autonomous functioning, democratic control and professional management of co-operative societies. Article 48A concerns the environment, Article 39A legal aid and Article 43A participation of workers in industrial management.

Q31. Which of the following statements is/are correct as per the Constitution of India?
(1) The Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act added the Right to Education to the chapter of Directive Principles of State Policy.
(2) Right to Work and Right to Education are both Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy.

[UPSC CDS-I, General Studies, 13 April 2025]

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (D) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation: The Eighty-sixth Amendment inserted Article 21A, making education for children aged six to fourteen a Fundamental Right, while revising Article 45. Article 41 mentions work and education within State capacity; the right to work itself is not a Fundamental Right.

Q30. The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are listed under which Articles of the Constitution of India?

[SSC GD Constable, 17 February 2025, Shift 3]

  1. Articles 32–42
  2. Articles 36–51
  3. Articles 34–40
  4. Articles 33–45

Answer: (B) Articles 36–51

Explanation: Part IV of the Constitution contains Articles 36 through 51, covering the Directive Principles. These directions promote welfare and social justice and guide legislation. Article 37 clarifies that they are not directly enforceable in court but are fundamental in governance.

Q29. In which year was it inserted in the Constitution of India that the State shall secure free legal aid to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities?

[RPSC RAS Preliminary Examination, 2 February 2025]

  1. 1978
  2. 1976
  3. 1975
  4. 1979
  5. Question not attempted

Answer: (B) 1976

Explanation: Article 39A was introduced by the Forty-second Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976. It directs the State to ensure equal access to justice and provide free legal aid so that poverty or other disabilities do not prevent citizens from seeking legal remedies.

Q28. The Directive Principles of State Policy are influenced by which of the following?

[SSC MTS, 15 October 2024, Shift 1]

  1. Gandhian philosophy
  2. Rule of Law of England
  3. American Declaration of Independence
  4. French Declaration of Human Rights

Answer: (A) Gandhian philosophy

Explanation: Several Directive Principles embody Gandhian concerns such as village self-government, cottage industries and rural upliftment. The Directive Principles as a constitutional scheme were modelled primarily on Ireland, but their substantive objectives also draw upon Indian social reform and Gandhi’s philosophy.

Q27. How many Directive Principles of State Policy were added to the Indian Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976?

[SSC CGL Tier-I, 23 September 2024, Shift 3]

  1. Two
  2. Three
  3. Five
  4. Four

Answer: (D) Four

Explanation: The examination counts four affected directives: new Articles 39A, 43A and 48A, alongside the revised Article 39(f) concerning children. More precisely, three new numbered DPSP articles were inserted while an existing clause was amended. This distinction explains the answer.

Q26. With reference to Directive Principles of State Policy, consider:
(1) Article 37 provides that DPSPs are enforceable in High Courts only.
(2) Article 38 asks the State to minimise income inequalities.
(3) Article 39 supports equal pay for equal work for men and women.

Which statements are correct?

[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 9 July 2024, Shift 2]

  1. Only 1 and 3
  2. Only 2
  3. Only 1
  4. Only 2 and 3

Answer: (D) Only 2 and 3

Explanation: Article 37 explicitly makes DPSPs non-justiciable, so the first statement is false. Article 38 calls for reducing inequalities, and Article 39(d) supports equal pay for equal work for women and men. Accordingly, the second and third statements are correct.

Q25. Generally, Directive Principles are ________.

[SSC CPO Paper-I, 29 June 2024, Shift 1]

  1. Negative directions
  2. Arbitrary actions
  3. Positive directions
  4. Prohibitive in nature

Answer: (C) Positive directions

Explanation: Directive Principles are positive directions because they recommend actions governments should undertake to advance public welfare. They contrast with many Fundamental Rights, which restrain impermissible government conduct. Their non-justiciable status does not diminish their guiding role in legislation and administration.

Q24. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 fulfilled the ideals of which Article of Directive Principles of State Policy?

[SSC CPO Paper-I, 27 June 2024, Shift 1]

  1. Article 48
  2. Article 48A
  3. Article 49
  4. Article 47

Answer: (B) Article 48A

Explanation: Article 48A encourages the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife. Biodiversity conservation legislation advances these environmental aims. Article 48 instead concerns agriculture and animal husbandry, Article 49 monuments, and Article 47 public health and nutrition.

Q23. Which Article declares that the Directive Principles of State Policy are fundamental in governance and must guide the State in making laws?

[SSC Selection Post (Higher Secondary Level), 25 June 2024, Shift 4]

  1. Article 46
  2. Article 37
  3. Article 44
  4. Article 40

Answer: (B) Article 37

Explanation: Article 37 establishes the constitutional position of Directive Principles: courts cannot directly enforce them, yet they are fundamental to national governance. The same Article places responsibility on the State to apply these principles when formulating and enacting laws.

Q22. Which of the following is NOT a Directive Principle of State Policy mentioned in the Indian Constitution?

[SSC GD Constable, 1 March 2024, Shift 1]

  1. Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry
  2. Uniform civil code for citizens
  3. Separation of legislature from executive
  4. Promotion of international peace and security

Answer: (C) Separation of legislature from executive

Explanation: The Constitution explicitly directs agricultural organisation under Article 48, a uniform civil code under Article 44 and international peace under Article 51. Article 50 concerns separation of the judiciary from the executive, not separation of the legislature from the executive.

Q21. The Directive Principles of State Policy are explained in Part IV of the Indian Constitution. This system has been taken from the Constitution of which country?

[MPPSC State Services Prelims, General Studies Paper-I, 17 December 2023]

  1. Britain
  2. South Africa
  3. United States of America
  4. Ireland

Answer: (D) Ireland

Explanation: India adopted the model of non-justiciable Directive Principles from the Irish Constitution. Located in Part IV, they guide the State’s pursuit of social and economic welfare. They are not enforceable like Fundamental Rights but hold constitutional importance in policymaking.

Q20. Which Directive Principle of State Policy falls under socialistic principles?

[Delhi Police Constable (Executive), 21 November 2023, Shift 2]

  1. Protection of the environment and safeguarding forests and wildlife
  2. Prohibition of intoxicating drinks and drugs
  3. Equal pay for equal work for men and women
  4. Promotion of co-operative societies

Answer: (C) Equal pay for equal work for men and women

Explanation: Article 39(d) requires the State to direct policy towards equal pay for equal work for women and men. This is categorised as a socialist-oriented Directive Principle because it promotes economic fairness and seeks to reduce discrimination in remuneration.

Q19. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is associated with which Directive Principle of State Policy?

[SSC CHSL Tier-II, 2 November 2023, Shift 1]

  1. Promotion of co-operative societies
  2. Participation of workers in management of industries
  3. Duty to raise nutrition levels and improve public health
  4. Equal justice and free legal aid

Answer: (C) Duty to raise nutrition levels and improve public health

Explanation: Article 47 directs the State to raise nutrition levels, improve living standards and advance public health. PM-JAY supports access to hospital care for eligible beneficiaries and therefore reflects this welfare objective, rather than the directives regarding co-operatives, industrial participation or legal aid.

Q18. Match the Directive Principles with Articles:
A. Equal justice and free legal aid;
B. Protection of environment;
C. Right to work;
D. Protection of monuments.

I. Article 48A;
II. Article 39A;
III. Article 41;
IV. Article 49.

[RPSC RAS Preliminary Examination, 1 October 2023]

  1. A–I, B–III, C–IV, D–II
  2. A–II, B–I, C–III, D–IV
  3. A–III, B–I, C–IV, D–II
  4. A–II, B–III, C–I, D–IV

Answer: (B) A–II, B–I, C–III, D–IV

Explanation: Article 39A provides equal justice and free legal aid; Article 48A addresses the environment; Article 41 concerns work, education and public assistance; and Article 49 protects nationally important monuments. Matching these four constitutional provisions gives A–II, B–I, C–III, D–IV.

Q17. Which one of the following is NOT a part of Article 51 of the Constitution of India?

[UPSC CDS, General Knowledge, 16 April 2023]

  1. Promote international peace and security
  2. Maintain just and honourable relations between nations
  3. Use UN peacekeeping forces to resolve international disputes
  4. Encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration

Answer: (C) Use UN peacekeeping forces to resolve international disputes

Explanation: Article 51 directs India to promote peace, maintain honourable international relations, respect international law and encourage arbitration of disputes. It does not specifically mandate employing United Nations peacekeeping forces. The article is a non-justiciable Directive Principle in Part IV.

Q16. Which feature of the Constitution of India is borrowed from the Constitution of Ireland?

[RRB Group D, 2 September 2022, Shift 3]

  1. Single citizenship
  2. Rule of law
  3. Parliamentary system of government
  4. Directive Principles of State Policy

Answer: (D) Directive Principles of State Policy

Explanation: The Constitution borrowed Directive Principles from Ireland. In contrast, single citizenship, the parliamentary system and the rule-of-law tradition are associated with British constitutional influences. Directive Principles guide socio-economic policy but do not create directly enforceable individual entitlements.

Q15. Which Article instructs the State to organise village panchayats and give them powers to function as units of self-government?

[RRB Group D, 22 August 2022, Shift 3]

  1. Article 32
  2. Article 40
  3. Article 37
  4. Article 48

Answer: (B) Article 40

Explanation: Article 40 directs the State to organise village panchayats as effective self-governing units. It reflects Gandhian decentralisation and village empowerment. Constitutional amendments and panchayati-raj legislation later strengthened local government institutions, translating this original Directive Principle into administrative structures.

Q14. Article 39A of the Constitution deals with ________.

[WBCS Mains 2021, Official Paper-V, held May 2022]

  1. Equal justice and free legal aid
  2. Money Bills
  3. Separation of powers
  4. Checks and balances

Answer: (A) Equal justice and free legal aid

Explanation: Article 39A asks the State to secure justice on equal terms and provide free legal aid to people disadvantaged by economic or other disabilities. Introduced in 1976, it reinforces accessibility of the legal system and supports institutional legal-aid programmes.

Q13. Identify the correctly matched pair of a Directive Principle and its constitutional Article.

[RPSC RAS Prelims, 27 October 2021]

  1. Equal justice and free legal aid — Article 42
  2. Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry — Article 43
  3. Organisation of village panchayats — Article 41
  4. Equal pay for equal work for men and women — Article 39

Answer: (D) Equal pay for equal work for men and women — Article 39

Explanation: Equal pay for equal work appears in Article 39(d). Free legal aid belongs to Article 39A, agriculture and animal husbandry to Article 48, and village panchayats to Article 40. Checking the corresponding Article numbers identifies only the fourth matching pair.

Q12. Under the Indian Constitution, concentration of wealth is the violation of ________.

[UPSC CSE Prelims, General Studies Paper-I, 10 October 2021]

  1. Right to Equality
  2. Directive Principles of State Policy
  3. Right to Freedom
  4. Concept of Welfare

Answer: (B) Directive Principles of State Policy

Explanation: Article 39(c) directs the State to prevent the economic system from producing concentration of wealth and productive resources to the common detriment. This is an objective of the Directive Principles, which seek distributive justice rather than merely formal political equality.

Q11. In India, separation of the judiciary from the executive is enjoined by ________.

[UPSC CSE Prelims, General Studies Paper-I, 2020]

  1. The Preamble of the Constitution
  2. The Directive Principles of State Policy
  3. The Seventh Schedule
  4. Conventional practice

Answer: (B) The Directive Principles of State Policy

Explanation: Article 50 of the Directive Principles instructs the State to separate the judiciary from the executive in public services. This strengthens judicial independence and impartial administration. The Seventh Schedule instead distributes legislative subjects between the Union and the States.

Q10. Which Directive Principle receives preference over Fundamental Rights under Articles 14 and 19 through the protection in Article 31C?

[RPSC Second Grade Social Science, 17 February 2019]

  1. Living wage for workers
  2. Early childhood care and education below six years
  3. Environment and protection of wildlife
  4. Preventing concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment

Answer: (D) Preventing concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment

Explanation: Article 39(c) concerns preventing concentration of wealth, and Article 31C protects qualifying laws implementing Articles 39(b) and 39(c) against challenges under Articles 14 and 19, subject to constitutional limits. The other listed directives do not enjoy that particular protection.

Q9. The ideal of “Welfare State” in the Indian Constitution is enshrined in its ________.

[WBCS Preliminary Examination, 2019]

  1. Preamble
  2. Directive Principles of State Policy
  3. Fundamental Rights
  4. Seventh Schedule

Answer: (B) Directive Principles of State Policy

Explanation: Directive Principles envisage a welfare state committed to social security, fair economic opportunities and distributive justice. These goals appear across Part IV, especially Articles 38 and 39. Although not directly judicially enforceable, they furnish the constitutional agenda for welfare-oriented public policy.

Q8. For convenient study, Directive Principles of State Policy may be classified into which groups?

[UPPSC Civil Services Prelims, Official Paper-I, 2018]

  1. Socialist
  2. Liberal-intellectual
  3. Gandhian
  4. All of the above

Answer: (D) All of the above

Explanation: Commentators commonly group Directive Principles into socialist, Gandhian and liberal-intellectual categories according to their objectives. This grouping helps explain provisions relating to economic equality, village industries and institutions, and reform-oriented governance. It is a scholarly classification, not one written into Part IV.

Q7. Which one of the following is NOT part of the Directive Principles of State Policy under the Constitution of India?

[UPSC NDA-II, General Ability Test, 2018]

  1. Equal justice and free legal aid
  2. Protection of nationally important monuments and objects
  3. Protection of personal law
  4. Separation of judiciary from executive

Answer: (C) Protection of personal law

Explanation: Article 39A concerns legal aid, Article 49 protects national monuments and Article 50 requires separation of judiciary from executive. There is no Directive Principle mandating protection of existing personal laws; Article 44 instead directs the State to endeavour towards a Uniform Civil Code.

Q6. Which principle was added to the Directive Principles of State Policy by the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution?

[UPSC CSE Prelims, General Studies Paper-I, 2017]

  1. Equal pay for equal work for men and women
  2. Participation of workers in management of industries
  3. Right to work, education and public assistance
  4. Living wage and humane working conditions for workers

Answer: (B) Participation of workers in management of industries

Explanation: The Forty-second Amendment Act of 1976 inserted Article 43A, promoting workers’ participation in industrial management. Equal pay is under the original Article 39(d); assistance under Article 41 and living wages under Article 43 were already constitutional directives before 1976.

Q5. Consider the statements:
(1) Directive Principles spell out socio-economic democracy in the country.
(2) The provisions contained in these Principles are not enforceable by any court.

Which is/are correct?

[UPSC CSE Prelims, General Studies Paper-I, 23 August 2015]

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

Explanation: Both propositions accurately describe Directive Principles. They set out objectives for social and economic democracy, while Article 37 declares them unenforceable by courts. Nonetheless, they remain fundamental to governance and guide the State when enacting laws and designing policies.

Q4. In the Constitution of India, promotion of international peace and security is included in the ________.

[UPSC CSE Prelims, General Studies Paper-I, 24 August 2014]

  1. Preamble to the Constitution
  2. Directive Principles of State Policy
  3. Fundamental Duties
  4. Ninth Schedule

Answer: (B) Directive Principles of State Policy

Explanation: Article 51, placed within Part IV, directs India to promote international peace and security, maintain just international relations and encourage arbitration. It also promotes respect for international law. These foreign-policy directions are Directive Principles rather than Fundamental Duties or Preamble provisions.

Q3. The Instrument of Instructions contained in the Government of India Act, 1935 was incorporated into the Constitution of India in 1950 as ________.

[UPSC NDA-I, General Ability Test, 2009]

  1. Fundamental Rights
  2. Directive Principles of State Policy
  3. Fundamental Duties
  4. Emergency Provisions

Answer: (B) Directive Principles of State Policy

Explanation: The colonial Instrument of Instructions guided governors in exercising authority under the 1935 Act. The Constitution adapted the notion of governance directions into Part IV, setting out non-justiciable objectives for the State. Fundamental Duties, by comparison, entered the Constitution only in 1976.

Q2. The purpose of including Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution is to establish ________.

[UPSC CSE Prelims, General Studies Paper-I, 2002, Question 44]

  1. Political democracy
  2. Social democracy
  3. Gandhian democracy
  4. Social and economic democracy

Answer: (D) Social and economic democracy

Explanation: Directive Principles are designed to make democracy meaningful in society and the economy through welfare, equal opportunity and fair distribution of resources. Fundamental Rights chiefly protect legal and political liberty; Part IV extends the constitutional project toward social and economic justice.

Q1. Which Article of the Directive Principles of State Policy deals with promotion of international peace and security?

[UPSC CSE Prelims, General Studies Paper-I, 2002, Question 57]

  1. Article 51
  2. Article 48A
  3. Article 43A
  4. Article 41

Answer: (A) Article 51

Explanation: Article 51 directs the State to promote peace and security internationally, respect international law and encourage arbitration. Article 48A concerns environmental protection, Article 43A worker participation in industries, and Article 41 work, education and public assistance within State capacity.

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