Directive Principles of State Policy

The Directive Principles of State Policy are included in Part IV of the Constitution. The framers of the Constitution included them with a special purpose of bringing about social and economic equality. These principles give directions to the state for making laws and policies for the collective good of the people.

These Principles are non justiciable and are not enforceable by the Courts of law. But they are nevertheless fundamental to the governance of country.

For the sake of convenience, they were classified into four categories:

1. Socio-economic principles
2. Gandhian
3. International peace and Security
4. Miscellaneous

The Directive Principles lay stress on universalisation of education, abolition of child labour and improvement of the status of women. They provide a framework for establishing welfare state and achieving economic and social democracy.

There are important differences between the Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles. The former are justiciable and positive in nature. At the same time, there is close relationship between the two. They are equally important to bring social and economic democracy in practice. The Courts have been laying stress on the implementation of Directive Principles.