Previous Year Question
Which new DPSP (Directive Principle of State Policy) was added to the Constitution through the 42nd Amendment?
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
The Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976 inserted Article 39A, which deals with Equal Justice and Free Legal Aid.
Article 39A requires the State to ensure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity. It further requires the State to provide free legal aid through suitable legislation, schemes or other means so that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen because of economic or other disabilities. The official Constitution notes that Article 39A was inserted by Section 8 of the 42nd Amendment and came into force on 3 January 1977.
The 42nd Amendment also inserted Article 43A — participation of workers in the management of industries and Article 48A — protection and improvement of the environment and safeguarding of forests and
wildlife.
The other options are useful for comparison. Prohibition of intoxicating drinks and harmful drugs was already contained in Article 47, while the promotion of international peace and security was already provided in Article 51 of the original Constitution.
The provision requiring the State to minimise inequalities in income, status, facilities and opportunities, contained in Article 38(2), was inserted not by the 42nd Amendment but by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978.