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Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties

By ExamAtlas · 10/9/2026

Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties

Directive Principles (Part IV, Articles 36 to 51) guide the State in making laws but cannot be enforced in court. Fundamental Duties (Part IVA, Article 51A) list the duties of citizens. NTPC asks which article contains which directive, when duties were added, and how many there are.

1. Directive Principles

ArticleDirective
39(d)Equal pay for equal work for men and women
39AFree legal aid (added 1976)
40Organisation of village panchayats
41Right to work, education and public assistance
43Living wage; promotion of cottage industries in rural areas
43BPromotion of cooperative societies (added by the 97th Amendment, 2011)
44Uniform Civil Code
45Early childhood care and education below 6 years
47Raise nutrition; prohibition of intoxicating drinks
48Organise agriculture and animal husbandry; prohibit cow slaughter
48AProtect environment, forests and wildlife (added 1976)
50Separate judiciary from executive
51Promote international peace and security

Borrowed from the Irish Constitution; non-justiciable (Article 37)

Ambedkar called them "novel features" of the Constitution

2. Fundamental Duties

ItemFacts
Added by42nd Amendment, 1976, on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee
Article51A, Part IVA
Number10 originally; 11th (parents to provide education to children aged 6-14) added by the 86th Amendment, 2002
SourceFormer USSR
ExamplesRespect the Constitution, flag and anthem; protect the environment; develop scientific temper; safeguard public property

✗ Directive Principles can be enforced in court  |  ✓ They are non-justiciable (Article 37); Fundamental Rights are justiciable

✗ There are 10 Fundamental Duties  |  ✓ There are 11 since the 86th Amendment (2002)

हिंदी नोट: नीति निदेशक तत्व भाग IV (अनुच्छेद 36 से 51) में हैं और न्यायालय में लागू नहीं कराए जा सकते। मौलिक कर्तव्य 42वें संशोधन (1976) से स्वर्ण सिंह समिति की सिफ़ारिश पर अनुच्छेद 51A में जोड़े गए; अब इनकी संख्या 11 है।

Exam Pointer: Verified NTPC patterns: the DPSP article on cottage industries (September 2025 UG CBT-1) and the DPSP article added by the 97th Amendment on cooperatives (June 2025 Graduate CBT-1). Fundamental-duty questions are tagged syllabus-based.

Pariksha Pattern: Every Way NTPC Asks This Topic

Pattern 1: Article and directive

[PYQ: NTPC UG CBT-1 4-Sep-2025 Shift-1 | NTPC Graduate CBT-1 5-Jun-2025 Shift-1]

EXAM LEVEL

Q. Which article directs the State to promote cottage industries in rural areas?

Article 43.

Answer: Article 43

EXAMATLAS LEVEL

Q. Which DPSP article was added by the 97th Amendment, and what does it promote? Which article deals with the Uniform Civil Code?

Article 43B, promoting cooperative societies (2011). Article 44 deals with the Uniform Civil Code.

Answer: 43B, cooperatives; Article 44

Pattern 2: Nature and source of DPSP

[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]

EXAM LEVEL

Q. From which country's Constitution were the Directive Principles borrowed?

Ireland.

Answer: Ireland

EXAMATLAS LEVEL

Q. Which article says the Directive Principles are not enforceable by courts, and which article asks the State to separate the judiciary from the executive?

Article 37 and Article 50.

Answer: Article 37; Article 50

Pattern 3: Fundamental Duties: origin and number

[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]

EXAM LEVEL

Q. Which amendment added the Fundamental Duties?

The 42nd Amendment, 1976.

Answer: 42nd Amendment

EXAMATLAS LEVEL

Q. On whose recommendation were the duties added, how many are there now, and which duty was added last?

The Swaran Singh Committee. There are 11; the 11th, added by the 86th Amendment in 2002, asks parents to provide education to children aged 6 to 14.

Answer: Swaran Singh Committee; 11; education of children 6-14

Pattern 4: Environment and welfare provisions

[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]

EXAM LEVEL

Q. Which article provides for free legal aid?

Article 39A, added in 1976.

Answer: Article 39A

EXAMATLAS LEVEL

Q. Which DPSP article asks the State to protect the environment and wildlife, and which Fundamental Duty matches it?

Article 48A (added 1976). Article 51A(g) asks citizens to protect and improve the natural environment.

Answer: Article 48A; Article 51A(g)

60-Second Revision

  • DPSP: Part IV, Arts 36-51, from Ireland, non-justiciable (Art 37).
  • Art 40 panchayats, 43 cottage industries, 43B cooperatives, 44 UCC, 48A environment, 50 separation of judiciary.
  • FD: Part IVA, Art 51A, 42nd Amendment 1976, Swaran Singh Committee, now 11.

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