Question 1: Choose the appropriate option.
a) ______ grants equal wages to men and women for equal work.
i) The Equal Remuneration Act
ii) Equality Act
iii) Right to Education Act
iv) Right to Equal Wages
Answer: i) The Equal Remuneration Act
b) The principle that directs the state to provide just and humane working conditions for people ensures ______ justice for all.
i) socio-economic
ii) cultural
iii) political
iv) religious
Answer: i) socio-economic
c) Directive Principles act as a yardstick to measure the performance of the ______.
i) Chief Minister
ii) Panchayati Raj
iii) Government
iv) Prime Minister
Answer: iii) Government
Question 2: The following questions contain a statement of assertion (A) and a statement of reasoning (R). Mark the correct choices.
a)
- Assertion (A): The Directive Principles are not enforceable in courts.
- Reason (R): The Directive Principles only serve as guidelines for the state.
- Answer: i) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b)
- Assertion (A): The Directive Principles have no impact on governance.
- Reason (R): The organisation of village panchayats is a directive principle of state policy.
- Answer: iv) A is false but R is true.
Question 3: Match the columns.
| Column A | Column B |
| a) The state shall attempt to maintain honorable relations with other countries | i) Miscellaneous principle |
| b) The state shall try and promote the growth of cottage industries in rural areas | ii) Socialist principle |
| c) The state shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive | iii) Gandhian principle |
| d) The state shall take steps to ensure that wealth is not concentrated in the hands of a few individuals. | iv) Principles promoting international peace and security |
| Column A | Column B |
| a) The state shall attempt to maintain honorable relations with other countries | iv) Principles promoting international peace and security |
| b) The state shall try and promote the growth of cottage industries in rural areas | iii) Gandhian principle |
| c) The state shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive | i) Miscellaneous principle |
| d) The state shall take steps to ensure that wealth is not concentrated in the hands of a few individuals. | ii) Socialist principle |
Question 4: Answer the questions in 10 to 20 words.
a) What are Directive Principles of State Policy?
The Directive Principles of State Policy are a set of guidelines and principles laid down in the Indian Constitution. They are not enforceable by any court, but are fundamental to the country’s governance. It is the duty of the State to apply these principles when making laws. Their main aim is to create social and economic conditions under which citizens can lead a good and dignified life.
b) What do you know about the Minimum Wages Act?
The Minimum Wages Act is a key labour law in India established to prevent the exploitation of workers in unorganized sectors. It empowers the government to fix the minimum wages that employers must pay to skilled and unskilled labour. This ensures a basic standard of living for workers and provides them with economic security. The act is a direct implementation of the Directive Principles that advocate for a decent standard of life.
c) Why are the Directive Principles considered non-justiciable?
Directive Principles are considered non-justiciable because they are not legally enforceable by the courts. If a government fails to implement them, a citizen cannot approach a judge to force the state to act. The founders of the Constitution intended them as moral obligations for the government, not as legally binding rights. This allows the state the flexibility to implement them based on its financial and administrative capacity over time.
Question 5: Answer the questions in 50 to 70 words.
a) What do the Directive Principles of State Policy aim to achieve?
The Directive Principles of State Policy aim to establish a welfare state and create a just society in India. They provide a social and economic framework to guide the government in law-making and policy formulation. Their core objectives include securing social and economic democracy, reducing inequalities in income and status, and promoting the welfare of the people by ensuring adequate livelihood, equal pay, and humane working conditions. Ultimately, they seek to achieve a high quality of life for all citizens and realize the ideals of justice, liberty, and equality mentioned in the Preamble.
b) Discuss how the Right to Education contributes to the government’s objective of guaranteeing socioeconomic equality.
The Right to Education (RTE) Act is a powerful tool for achieving socio-economic equality. By making education free and compulsory for children aged 6-14, it removes the financial barrier that prevents underprivileged children from attending school. Education equips individuals with knowledge and skills, opening doors to better employment opportunities and higher incomes. This helps break the intergenerational cycle of poverty. When every child, regardless of their economic background, has access to quality education, it levels the playing field and empowers marginalized communities to participate equally in the nation’s social and economic progress.
c) Mention the Directive Principles that are inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophies.
Several Directive Principles are directly inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s vision for India. A key principle is the organization of Village Panchayats as units of self-governance, reflecting his belief in Gram Swaraj or village self-rule. Another is the promotion of cottage industries in rural areas to provide employment and make villages self-reliant. Furthermore, the principle that calls for prohibiting the consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs stems from his emphasis on personal and public health. Lastly, the duty to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife aligns with his philosophy of living in harmony with nature.
d) Mention four Directive Principles that aim to promote socio-economic equality.
Four key Directive Principles that actively promote socio-economic equality are: Firstly, the right to an adequate means of livelihood for all men and women, ensuring basic economic security. Secondly, the principle of equal pay for equal work for both men and women, which tackles gender-based wage discrimination. Thirdly, the directive that the ownership and control of material resources should be distributed to serve the common good, preventing the concentration of wealth. Finally, the provision of free legal aid to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen due to economic or other disabilities.
e) How have the Directive Principles emphasised on agriculture and the environment?
The Directive Principles provide a clear dual emphasis on boosting agricultural prosperity while mandating environmental protection. For agriculture, they direct the state to modernize agricultural and animal husbandry techniques to improve productivity and ensure food security, directly impacting rural livelihoods. Simultaneously, they impose a fundamental duty on the state to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the country’s forests and wildlife. This ensures that the pursuit of agricultural and economic development is balanced with ecological conservation, promoting sustainable development for the benefit of both present and future generations.
f) Differentiate between Directive Principles and Fundamental Rights.
The primary difference between Directive Principles and Fundamental Rights lies in their enforceability and purpose. Fundamental Rights are justiciable, meaning they are legally enforceable by courts, and any law violating them can be declared unconstitutional. They are designed to protect individual liberty from state interference. In contrast, Directive Principles are non-justiciable; they are moral and philosophical guidelines for the state to follow when making laws to establish a just society. While rights are about individual freedoms, principles are about collective welfare, and the courts cannot force the government to implement them.