List of Directive Principles

The Directive Principles of State Policy are enshrined in Part IV (Articles 36–51) of the Constitution of India. Although non-justiciable, these principles serve as guidelines for the State in the formulation of policies aimed at establishing a just society. Below is an enumerated list of these articles along with a brief explanation of the mandate of each:

• Article 36: Defines "State" to include all authorities and instrumentalities of government, making them subject to these principles.
• Article 37: Declares that the Directive Principles are non-justiciable, meaning they are not enforceable by any court, but they are fundamental in the governance of the country.
• Article 38: Directs the State to secure a social order in which justice—social, economic, and political—shall inform all institutions of national life.
• Article 39: Mandates that the State shall direct its policy toward securing for its citizens adequate means of livelihood, equal pay for equal work for both men and women, and the best use of natural resources while preventing the concentration of wealth.
• Article 40: Encourages the organization of village panchayats to promote decentralized planning and local self-government.
• Article 41: Aims to secure the right to work, education, and public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness, and disablement.
• Article 42: Ensures that just and humane conditions of work, a decent standard of life, and maternity relief are provided.
• Article 43: Promotes the formation of associations or cooperative societies to assist in the economic welfare of the people.
• Article 44: Directs the State to secure a Uniform Civil Code for all citizens, aiming to replace personal laws based on religious customs with a common set of rules governing every citizen.
• Article 45: (Originally) Provided for free and compulsory education for children; over time, its objectives have been elaborated upon by subsequent legislation such as the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act.
• Article 46: Promotes the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other weaker sections, and protects them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
• Article 47: Imposes a duty on the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health, thereby ensuring that the basic needs of the people are met.
• Article 48: Directs the State to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country; it also includes directives related to animal husbandry.
• Article 48A: Specifically mandates the protection and improvement of the environment, reflecting the increasing importance of ecological concerns.
• Article 49: Calls for the protection of monuments, places, and objects of national importance, ensuring that the cultural heritage of the country is preserved.
• Article 50: Advocates for the separation of the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State to ensure judicial independence.
• Article 51: Urges the State to promote international peace and security, maintain just and friendly relations with other states, and foster a spirit of cooperation among nations.

Together, these articles outline a comprehensive vision for the welfare of the people and guide the legislative and administrative actions of the State in the pursuit of social justice and national development.