Directive Principles of State Policy

Part IV of the Constitution, Articles 36 to 51, lays down the Directive

Principles of State Policy. Unlike the Fundamental Rights of Part III, the Directive Principles are

not enforceable by any court -- a citizen cannot sue the government for failing to implement them.

The Constitution itself, however, describes them as "fundamental in the governance of the country,"

and directs the state to apply these principles when making laws and shaping policy.

The Directive Principles exist because the framers of the Constitution recognised that political

freedom alone -- the vote, free speech, equality before the law -- is not enough if large numbers of

people remain trapped in poverty, illiteracy, and social inequality. The Directive Principles set

out the social and economic goals that independent India's government was expected to work towards,

even though citizens could not force this through the courts. In this sense, the Fundamental Rights …