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DPSP and Fundamental Duties – UPSC GS2

This module of the GS Paper 2: Polity, Governance, Social Justice & IR course covers directive principles, their relationship with fundamental rights, and fundamental duties. It has 2 study lessons and a 16-question practice quiz. Free lessons can be read in full; premium lessons show a preview.

Lessons in this module

1. Directive Principles of State Policy (Articles 36–51)

Free 7 min

Part IV of the Constitution (Articles 36–51) contains the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP). They are borrowed from the Irish Constitution of 1937, which in turn took the idea from the Spanish Constitution. Dr…

2. Fundamental Rights versus Directive Principles; Fundamental Duties

Premium 7 min

Fundamental Rights (Part III) secure political democracy; Directive Principles (Part IV) aim at social and economic democracy. The first are negative obligations on the State and justiciable; the second are positive directions and non-justiciable. When…

 Module quiz: DPSP and Fundamental Duties (16 questions)

Maps & infographics in this module

Organisation chart dividing the Directive Principles into socialistic, Gandhian and liberal-intellectual groups with key Articles under each
The three-way grouping is a study aid; some Articles, such as 43 and 47, fit more than one group.
Table linking seven Directive Principles to the laws or amendments that implement them
Non-justiciable principles have shaped some of India's most important welfare laws.
Timeline of seven milestones in the relationship between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles from 1951 to 2024
The contest ended in a doctrine of harmony: neither Part has absolute primacy.
Six cards grouping the eleven Fundamental Duties by theme and noting their origin
Duties are non-justiciable but can be enforced through ordinary laws.

Frequently asked questions

Lessons: Directive Principles of State Policy (Articles 36–51); Fundamental Rights versus Directive Principles; Fundamental Duties.

Answer: Ireland. The Irish Constitution of 1937.

Answer: Article 37. Article 37.

Answer: Organisation of village panchayats. Article 40 is Gandhian.

Answer: 97th Amendment. 97th Amendment, 2011.

Related modules

Polity and the Constitution4 lessons
Constitution Making and Basic Features5 lessons
Fundamental Rights5 lessons
Union Executive4 lessons
Parliament3 lessons
Judiciary4 lessons
Federalism and Centre–State Relations5 lessons
State Government2 lessons
Local Government3 lessons
Constitutional Bodies and Elections4 lessons
Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-judicial Bodies3 lessons
Amendments and Basic Structure2 lessons
Governance2 lessons
Governance in Practice4 lessons
Social Justice2 lessons
Welfare of Vulnerable Sections3 lessons
Health, Education and Hunger3 lessons
International Relations2 lessons
India and its Neighbourhood5 lessons
India and the Major Powers4 lessons
India and the Wider World5 lessons

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