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Answers to textbook exercises

Prepared by: learnloophq@gmail.com

Chapter: 13. Directive Principles Of State Policy

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Exercises

A. Fill in the blanks.

The _______________ which all governments are expected to follow for the _______________ of the people are known as Directive Principles of State Policy.
guidelines, welfare
The Directive Principles contain a list of important _______________ and _______________ rights which the framers of the Constitution wanted every Indian to enjoy.
economic, social
To establish economic equality in the country, the government is directed to ensure a _______________ and _______________ distribution of the _______________ and _______________ resources of the country.
fair, equitable, wealth, material
The government is directed to promote _______________ industries in villages and prohibit the _______________ of cattle according to the Gandhian Principles.
cottage, slaughter
Free and compulsory _______________ for all children between 6 and 14 years has been made a Fundamental Right.
education
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B. Match the following.

Directive Principles of State Policy
© guidelines for the government
adequate means of livelihood for all citizens
(e) Principles promoting economic equality
establish village panchayats
(d) Gandhian Principles
promote international peace and security
(b) General Principles
free legal aid to needy citizens
(a) Promotion of justice
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C. Choose the correct answer.

After 200 years of foreign rule, the Indian economy was strong/stable/ruined.
ruined
The Directive Principles can be classified into three/four/five categories.
three
Some of the ideas of B. R. Ambedkar/Jawaharlal Nehru/Mahatma Gandhi were included as Directive Principles.
Mahatma Gandhi
One of the Gandhian Principles/General Principles/Principles promoting economic equality directs the government to prevent the consumption of intoxicating drinks and other harmful drugs.
Gandhian Principles
The Directive Principles ask the government to provide free legal aid/economic help/housing to needy citizens so that justice is promoted.
free legal aid
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D. State whether the following are true or false. Rewrite the false statements correctly.

The framers of our Constitution had a dream of a welfare state.
True
The provision of free and compulsory education to all children up to the age of 14 is a General Principle.
False. The provision of free and compulsory education to all children up to the age of 14 is a Gandhian Principle.
The Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy are the same.
False. Fundamental Rights are justiciable (enforceable in court), whereas Directive Principles of State Policy are non-justiciable guidelines for the government.
If you are deprived of your Fundamental Rights, you can go to the High Court or the Supreme Court to seek the protection and enforcement of your rights.
True
India has achieved the goal of a welfare state.
False. Although much progress has been made, India is still far from achieving the full goal of a welfare state.
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E. My mixed bag

Give the differences between the following. (a) Gandhian Principles and General Principles
Difference: Gandhian Principles are focused on social and economic development based on Mahatma Gandhi’s vision (such as promoting cottage industries, establishing village panchayats, and preventing the consumption of intoxicating drinks). General Principles are focused on broader matters regarding justice, protection of the environment, safeguarding monuments, and conducting peaceful foreign policy.
(b) Constitutional Law and Directive Principles
Difference: Constitutional Laws are legally binding and enforceable rules of the country. In contrast, Directive Principles are non-justiciable guidelines within the Constitution that all governments are expected to follow while making laws, but they cannot be legally enforced in a court of law.
Read the statements below and choose the correct option. (A) Assertion: A citizen cannot go to the court if they do not get a job. (B) Reason: Fundamental Rights are unjustifiable. (a) (A) is true, but (B) is false. (b) (A) and (B) are both false. © (A) and (B) are both true, but (B) contradicts (A) (d) (A) and (B) are both true, and (B) is the correct reason for (A)
(a) (A) is true, but (B) is false. (Note: Assertion A is true because the right to work is a Directive Principle, which is non-justiciable. Reason B is false because Fundamental Rights are actually justiciable, not unjustifiable/non-justiciable).
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F. Answer the following questions in one or two words/sentences.

Define a welfare state.
A welfare state is a country where citizens are guaranteed a healthy standard of living, equal opportunities, full employment, and a fair distribution of wealth.
What are Directive Principles of State Policy?
Directive Principles of State Policy are guidelines laid down in the Constitution that the central, state, and local governments are expected to follow to ensure the welfare of the people.
Mention the categories into which Directive Principles can be classified.
They can be broadly classified into three categories: Principles promoting economic equality, Gandhian Principles, and General Principles.
Mention any one Directive Principle that seeks to promote economic equality between men and women.
Equal pay for equal work for both men and women.
What is the significance of the Right to Education Act of 2009?
The Right to Education Act of 2009 made free and compulsory education for all children between the ages of 6 and 14 a Fundamental Right under Article 21A of the Constitution.
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G. Give reasons for the following.

Why can you not seek justice in a court of law if the government does not give you a job?
The right to work falls under the Directive Principles of State Policy, which are non-justiciable. This means they are guidelines for the government and cannot be legally enforced in a court of law.
Why is the Right to Education Act important?
The Right to Education Act is important because it legally guarantees free and compulsory education to children aged 6 to 14, ensuring basic educational access for all, which is essential to reduce inequality and build a skilled population.
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H. Answer the following questions briefly.

Why did the framers of the Constitution not establish a welfare state in India in 1949? What steps were taken to help future governments to achieve the goal of a welfare state?
In 1949, India had just emerged from 200 years of exploitative British rule, which had ruined the country’s economy and left it with limited resources. To help future governments, the framers laid down a set of guiding goals in the Constitution—the Directive Principles of State Policy—for future administrations to follow as the economy grew stronger.
State one Directive Principle with regard to each of the following: (a) wealth and material resources (b) weaker sections of society © foreign affairs.
(a) Wealth and material resources: Ensure fair and equitable distribution of the country’s wealth and material resources for the common good.
(b) Weaker sections of society: Promote the educational and economic interests of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other weaker sections.
© Foreign affairs: Promote international peace and security, and maintain just and honorable relations with other countries.
Mention two Directive Principles with reference to each of the following: (a) development of villages (b) health.
(a) Development of villages: (1) Promote cottage industries in villages. (2) Establish village panchayats.
(b) Health: (1) Improve the level of nutrition and general health of the people. (2) Prevent the consumption of intoxicating drinks and harmful drugs.
Mention the category under which the following principles are classified: (a) a decent standard of living and leisure (b) prevention of the slaughter of cattle © protection of the environment. Explain why the principles are important.
(a) A decent standard of living and leisure: Classified under Principles promoting economic equality. This is important because it ensures workers are not exploited and have the resources and rest required for a healthy, dignified life.
(b) Prevention of the slaughter of cattle: Classified under Gandhian Principles. This is important to modernize agriculture, safeguard animal husbandry, and protect the rural economy.
© Protection of the environment: Classified under General Principles. This is important to preserve biodiversity, safeguard forests and wildlife, and ensure a healthy, sustainable ecosystem for future generations.
Compare and contrast the Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy.
Comparison (Similarity): Both aim to protect the rights of citizens and ensure the social, economic, and political progress of the nation.
Contrast (Difference): Fundamental Rights are justiciable, meaning citizens can go directly to a court of law if these rights are violated. Directive Principles are non-justiciable, meaning they are non-enforceable policy guidelines that the government is expected, but not legally bound, to implement.
Briefly discuss the efforts made by various governments to implement the Directive Principles of State Policy.
Governments have made significant efforts, including:
Enacting the Right to Education Act (2009) to make primary education a Fundamental Right.
Implementing welfare and educational assistance schemes for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and weaker sections.
Enacting laws to guarantee equal pay for equal work for both men and women.
Distributing land to poor, landless farmers through land reform laws.
Launching various national employment schemes.
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I. Source-based questions

1. Picture study:

(a) Identify the person in the picture.
Mahatma Gandhi (b) Mention any two of his ideas that were included in the Directive Principles of State Policy.
(1) Establishing village panchayats. (2) Promoting cottage industries in villages. © What does the term Directive Principles of State Policy mean?
They are guidelines laid down in the Constitution for central, state, and local governments to follow while framing policies for the welfare of citizens. (d) Mention one important difference between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles.
Fundamental Rights are justiciable (enforceable in court), whereas Directive Principles are non-justiciable (cannot be enforced in court).

2. Read and answer:

(a) Which Fundamental Right was based on this article?
The Right to Education (Article 21A), enacted through the Right to Education Act of 2009. (b) What are some policies that the government has taken to make sure that this Directive Principle is followed?
The government passed the Right to Education Act of 2009, established free government primary schools, and implemented support programs like mid-day meal schemes to encourage school enrollment. © How successful do you think the government has been in implementing this in their State Policy? Give reasons for your answer.
The government has been highly successful in creating a strong legal foundation, resulting in high primary school enrollment rates. However, challenges persist in terms of providing equal quality of education, adequate infrastructure, and retaining students in underprivileged rural areas, indicating that complete implementation is still a work in progress.
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In-Text Questions & Activities

Warm Up! (Page 132)

Question: British economic policies had, over a period of 200 years, deliberately and systematically exploited and drained India’s wealth and reduced it to a vast economic wasteland. What would be one of the primary responsibilities of the newly formed Indian government to remedy the situation?
Answer: One of the primary responsibilities would be to rebuild the ruined economy, eradicate poverty, and establish a welfare state that guarantees a healthy standard of living, equal opportunities, and an equitable distribution of wealth.

HOTS (Page 132)

Question: Why do you think it is important to have a fair distribution of wealth?
Answer: A fair distribution of wealth is important to prevent economic inequality, ensure that all citizens have access to basic survival needs (like food, health, and education), and prevent the concentration of resources in a few hands, which helps maintain social stability and peace.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Page 133)

Question: Can you name some policies taken up by your state government towards the achievement of this goal [Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being]?
Answer: State governments implement policies such as setting up Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in rural areas, offering free immunization programs for children, providing subsidized food grains through the Public Distribution System (PDS), and offering state-sponsored health insurance schemes for low-income families.

Know Your Sources (Page 133)

Question: What instrument did Gandhiji use to show the importance of cottage industry?
Answer: Gandhiji used the Charkha (spinning wheel) to demonstrate the power of self-reliance, local labor, and cottage industries.

Think and Answer (Page 134)

Question: The Fundamental Rights are guaranteed to all citizens of the country. What is the relevance of the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression to an unemployed, hungry, homeless man on the street?
Answer: While the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression is essential in a democracy, it holds little practical value for someone struggling to survive. Without meeting basic economic rights—such as food, shelter, and a living wage—political freedoms cannot be fully utilized or appreciated by a citizen.

Values and Life Skills (Page 135)

Question: The Right to Education Act of 2009 makes education a Fundamental Right of every Indian child between 6 and 14 years of age. Why do you think it was made a Fundamental Right of every child? Do you agree it was important?
Answer: Making education a Fundamental Right makes it legally binding and enforceable, meaning the state is legally obliged to provide it, and citizens can approach court if it is denied. Yes, it was highly important because basic education is the primary tool to combat poverty, reduce inequality, and empower children to build a secure future.

Discuss (Page 135)

Question: More than 75 years have passed since the British left India, which is now emerging as a major global economic power. However, the Indian government has not yet been able to guarantee the right to work and a decent standard of living to every Indian. Why?
Answer: This is due to a combination of factors, including rapid population growth, vast socio-economic disparities, limited state resources to provide direct unemployment support to everyone, and challenges in the implementation of welfare policies across a massive, diverse nation.
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