Question

What is one of the most distinctive features of the Directive Principles of State Policy of the Indian Constitution?

• A. Legally enforceable mandates
• B. Aspirational guidelines for governance
• C. Absolute constitutional guarantees
• D. Permanent governmental obligations

Hint:

Remember the key difference: Fundamental Rights are justiciable (enforceable by courts) and act as negative obligations on the state (what the state cannot do). DPSPs are non-justiciable and act as positive obligations on the state (what the state should do).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), contained in Part IV of the Indian Constitution, are guidelines for the governments at the central and state levels. They represent the socio-economic goals that the framers of the Constitution wanted the state to strive for.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the features:

(A) Legally enforceable mandates: This is the most distinctive feature of Fundamental Rights (Part III), not DPSPs. Article 37 of the Constitution explicitly states that the provisions of Part IV "shall not be enforceable by any court."
(B) Aspirational guidelines for governance: This is the correct description. The DPSPs are a set of ideals and aspirations that the State should aim to achieve to establish a just society. They are not legally binding but are considered "fundamental in the governance of the country" (Article 37).
(C) Absolute constitutional guarantees: This is incorrect. They are not guarantees in the legal sense, as they cannot be enforced in a court of law.
(D) Permanent governmental obligations: While they are a moral obligation on the government, the term 'permanent' can be misleading. They are guiding principles, and their implementation depends on the resources and political will of the government of the day. "Aspirational guidelines" is a more accurate description of their nature.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The most distinctive feature of the DPSPs is that they are non-justiciable (not legally enforceable) yet fundamental guidelines for governance, making them aspirational in nature.