The main purpose of including the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution of India is to help establish which type of democracy?

Introduction / Context:
The Directive Principles of State Policy in Part four of the Constitution of India guide the State in creating a just and equitable society. While Fundamental Rights focus on political and civil freedoms, Directive Principles highlight socio economic goals. This question asks about the broader type of democracy these principles are mainly intended to promote when read along with the rest of the Constitution.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Directive Principles are non justiciable, but fundamental in governance.
• They cover aims such as reducing inequality, improving public health, and ensuring social justice.
• The options refer to different kinds of democracy: political, social, Gandhian, social and economic, and cultural.
• We assume basic understanding of the difference between political rights and socio economic justice.

Concept / Approach:
Dr B. R. Ambedkar and other framers of the Constitution emphasised that while the Constitution had already established political democracy through adult franchise and Fundamental Rights, it also needed to lay a roadmap for social and economic democracy. Directive Principles serve this purpose by urging the State to secure adequate livelihood, minimise inequalities in income, ensure equal pay for equal work, and provide social welfare measures. Thus, they are primarily aimed at establishing social and economic democracy rather than only political or cultural democracy.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that Fundamental Rights largely secure political democracy by protecting individual liberties and equality before law. Step 2: Note that Directive Principles address socio economic concerns like distribution of wealth, social welfare, and living conditions. Step 3: Link this focus with the concept of social and economic democracy, where equality of status and opportunity is made real, not only formal. Step 4: Choose social and economic democracy as the option that best summarises the aim of Directive Principles.

Verification / Alternative check:
Constituent Assembly debates and later constitutional commentary repeatedly use the phrase social and economic democracy when discussing Directive Principles. Ambedkar argued that political democracy cannot last unless it rests on the base of social and economic democracy. The Preamble also commits the State to justice social, economic and political, and Directive Principles operationalise the social and economic aspects of this justice. These facts strongly support the chosen answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Political democracy: This is mainly secured by Fundamental Rights and electoral arrangements, not by Directive Principles alone. Social democracy: This captures part of the aim but does not fully reflect the economic justice dimension. Gandhian democracy: Some Directive Principles do reflect Gandhian ideas, but the overall purpose is broader. Cultural democracy: The principles do not primarily focus on cultural rights or expression, so this is not the best description.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent error is to answer political democracy because students equate any constitutional feature with politics. Another pitfall is to ignore the explicit emphasis on social and economic justice in many Directive Principles. To avoid confusion, it is helpful to remember that Fundamental Rights plus free elections give political democracy, while Directive Principles aim to add social and economic substance to that democracy.

Final Answer:
Social and economic democracy