Previous Year Question

The ideal of a welfare state is principally expressed through the Directive Principles of State Policy contained in Part IV of the Constitution.

A welfare state is not confined to maintaining law, order and national security. It actively promotes social and economic welfare, equal opportunities, health, education, livelihood and social security.

Major provisions directly connected with this objective include:

• Article 38: The State must promote the welfare of the people by securing a social order informed by social, economic and political justice. It provides the clearest constitutional foundation for a welfare state.

• Article 39: Adequate means of livelihood, distribution of community resources for the common good, prevention of concentration of wealth, equal pay for equal work and protection of workers and children.

• Article 39A: Equal justice and free legal aid.

• Article 41: Within its economic capacity, the State should provide for work, education and public assistance in cases such as unemployment, old age, sickness and disability.

• Article 42: Just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief.

• Article 43: A living wage and a decent standard of life for workers.

• Article 46: Promotion of the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections.

• Article 47: Improvement of nutrition, standard of living and public health.

Other Option

Fundamental Rights primarily provide judicial protection to liberty, equality and dignity.

The Preamble states broad constitutional ideals, including social, economic and political justice, but Part IV supplies detailed directions for implementing the welfare-state objective.

The Seventh Schedule distributes legislative subjects between the Union and the States.