Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: Directive Principles of the State Policy
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
The Government of India Act, 1935 was the last major constitutional document before independence. It included a section called Instrument of Instructions, which gave guidance to the Governor General and Governors. When the Constitution of India was framed, some of these ideas were recast in a new form. This question asks how those instructions were conceptually carried forward in the 1950 Constitution.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The Instrument of Instructions in the 1935 Act contained directions on how the discretionary powers of the Governors and Governor General should be exercised, often regarding the welfare of people and good governance. When India adopted its own Constitution, comparable normative guidance to the State was embodied in the Directive Principles of the State Policy in Part four. These principles do not confer enforceable rights but are fundamental in the governance of the country and guide the State in making laws and policies, similar in spirit to the earlier instructions.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the function of the Instrument of Instructions in the 1935 Act, namely guiding executive action and policy.
Step 2: Look for a similar guiding but non justiciable part in the 1950 Constitution.
Step 3: Recognise that Directive Principles of the State Policy provide broad social, economic, and political goals for the State to pursue.
Step 4: Match this with the options and choose Directive Principles of the State Policy as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
Constitutional commentaries routinely note that Directive Principles were influenced by several sources, including the Irish Constitution and the Instrument of Instructions under the 1935 Act. They explicitly highlight that the British document contained similar directions to the executive authorities. Because Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, and Emergency Provisions serve different purposes, the closest functional successor is clearly the Directive Principles.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Fundamental Rights: These are enforceable rights of individuals against the State, not mere policy directions. Fundamental Duties: These were added later by the 42nd Amendment and focus on citizen obligations. Emergency Provisions: These regulate exceptional situations and concentration of powers, not routine policy guidance. Preamble: It states overarching ideals but does not lay down detailed instructions like the Instrument of Instructions did.
Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse Preamble with Directive Principles because both contain value statements. However, the Directive Principles provide more detailed and operational guidance to the legislature and executive. Another pitfall is to think in terms of importance rather than function and assume that Fundamental Rights must be the successor because they are very significant. Always match the nature and role of the earlier provision with the part of the new Constitution that performs a similar role.
Final Answer:
Directive Principles of the State Policy
Discussion & Comments