Who among the following described the Directive Principles of State Policy as the novel feature of the Constitution of India?
- A.Jawaharlal Nehru
- B.Rajendra Prasad
- C.S. N. Mukherjee
- D.B. R. Ambedkar
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B. R. Ambedkar. Dr Ambedkar, chairman of the Drafting Committee, described the Directive Principles as a "novel feature" of the Constitution. He also compared them to the Instrument of Instructions that the Government of India Act, 1935 issued to the Governor-General and the Governors, with one difference: under the Constitution the instructions are addressed to the government by the people, not by a colonial power.
Jawaharlal Nehru moved the Objectives Resolution and shaped the Preamble, but this description is not his. Dr Rajendra Prasad was the President of the Constituent Assembly. S.N. Mukherjee was the Chief Draftsman of the Constitution in the Assembly, the official who put its provisions into legal language, which makes him a clever distractor. Other famous descriptions are worth pairing with their authors: K.T. Shah called the Directive Principles "a cheque on a bank, payable at the convenience of the bank", and T.T. Krishnamachari called them "a veritable dustbin of sentiments".
Read the full article: Directive Principles of State Policy (Articles 36–51): Notes and PYQs
Practice Questions
View allWhich of the following are enumerated in Part IV of the Indian Constitution, from Articles 36 to 51?
- A.Fundamental Rights
- B.Fundamental Duties
- C.Directive Principles of State Policy
- D.the Union
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Part IV of the Constitution, Articles 36 to 51, contains the Directive Principles: the goals the State should pursue in making laws and policies, such as a living wage, free legal aid, village panchayats and a Uniform Civil Code.
Read the full explanation →Which Article of the Indian Constitution states the following? ‘Directive Principles of State Policy are fundamental in the governance of the country and it shall be the duty of the state to apply these principles in making laws.’
- A.Article 40
- B.Article 30
- C.Article 35
- D.Article 37
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It says two things at once: the provisions of Part IV "shall not be enforceable by any court", but the principles laid down in it are "nevertheless fundamental in the governance of the country and it shall be the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws".
Read the full explanation →Equal pay for equal work is ensured under which Article?
- A.Article 39(d)
- B.Article 43
- C.Article 42
- D.Article 39(a)
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Article 39 lists several principles the State should direct its policy towards, and clause (d) asks it to secure equal pay for equal work for both men and women.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following articles promotes equal justice and free legal aid for all the citizens?
- A.39A
- B.43A
- C.48A
- D.32A
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Article 39A asks the State to ensure that the legal system promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity, and in particular to provide free legal aid, so that no citizen is denied justice because of economic or other disabilities.
Read the full explanation →Article 40 of the Indian constitution is related with ___________
- A.Organization of village panchayats
- B.Free and compulsory education
- C.Free housing to the poor
- D.Free medical aid to the citizen
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Article 40 asks the State to take steps to organise village panchayats and to give them the powers and authority they need to function as units of self-government.
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