Directive Principles MCQs for UPSC Prelims

Correct answer: B - the Directive Principles of State Policy

The Directive Principles of State Policy, especially Article 39(b) and (c), direct the State to ensure that ownership and control of material resources serve the common good and that wealth is not concentrated to the common detriment. Hence concentration of wealth runs against the Directive Principles, option (b). It is not framed as a violation of the Right to Equality (a) or Right to Freedom (c), which are justiciable fundamental rights, nor of any vague 'concept of welfare' (d). So option (b) is correct.

Correct answer: B - the Preamble and the Directive Principles of State Policy

Economic justice is declared as an objective in the Preamble (justice: social, economic and political) and is given concrete content through the Directive Principles of State Policy, such as Articles 39 and 41, so option (b) is correct. The Fundamental Rights deal mainly with civil and political liberties rather than economic justice as such, so options (a) and (c) are wrong. Since a correct pairing exists, option (d) is also wrong.

Correct answer: D - 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Every listed provision touches education. The Directive Principles direct the State to provide free and compulsory education and to promote educational interests of weaker sections (Articles 41, 45, 46). The 73rd and 74th Amendments empower rural and urban local bodies to handle education including primary schools (Eleventh and Twelfth Schedules). The Fifth and Sixth Schedules govern administration of Scheduled and Tribal Areas, where education of tribal populations is a key concern. The Seventh Schedule distributes the subject of education between the Union, State and Concurrent Lists. Since all five have a bearing on education, the answer is 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and any partial selection is incomplete.

Correct answer: C - Directive Principles of State Policy

Article 37 of the Constitution states explicitly that the Directive Principles of State Policy are fundamental in the governance of the country and that it shall be the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws, so option (c) is correct. Fundamental Rights are justiciable guarantees enforceable in courts but the text does not call them fundamental for governance, ruling out option (a). Fundamental Duties are obligations placed on citizens, not principles for State governance, so option (b) and option (d) are incorrect. The exact phrasing fundamental in the governance is unique to the Directive Principles.

Correct answer: B - Directive Principles of State Policy

Promotion of international peace and security is contained in Article 51, which is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy. It is not in the Preamble (a), the Fundamental Duties (c) or the Ninth Schedule (d). Hence Directive Principles of State Policy.

Correct answer: C - All the three

Article 50, a Directive Principle, directs the State to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services, so pair I is correct. Article 51A(f), a Fundamental Duty, asks every citizen to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture, so pair II is correct. Article 24, a Fundamental Right against exploitation, prohibits employment of children below fourteen years in factories, mines and other hazardous occupations, so pair III is also correct. As all three provisions are correctly located, the answer is (c) All the three.

Correct answer: C - Both 1 and 2

The Directive Principles in Part IV (Articles 36 to 51) embody the vision of a welfare state and aim at securing social and economic democracy to complement the political democracy guaranteed elsewhere in the Constitution, so statement 1 is correct. Article 37 expressly declares that these provisions shall not be enforceable by any court, though they remain fundamental in the governance of the country and the State has a duty to apply them in making laws, so statement 2 is also correct. Both statements being accurate, the options suggesting only one or neither are wrong.

Correct answer: D - 2 and 3 only

Part IV contains the Directive Principles of State Policy, and Article 37 expressly states that these provisions shall not be enforceable by any court, which makes statement 2 correct and statement 1 wrong. The same Article declares that the principles are nevertheless fundamental in the governance of the country and that it shall be the duty of the State to apply them in making laws, so statement 3 is also correct. Statements 1 and 2 are mutually exclusive, so any option containing statement 1 is automatically eliminated. The correct combination is therefore 2 and 3 only.