Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties Class 7 Civics Notes Maharashtra State Board
In the last two chapters, we studied the fundamental rights guaranteed by our Constitution. We learned what rights Indian citizens enjoy. We also learned that our rights have judicial protection. We understood the importance of fundamental rights in our individual and public lives. With this background, we shall now understand what the Directive Principles of State Policy are.
Fundamental rights put restrictions on the power of the government. A few such restrictions upon the State are listed below.
- The state shall not discriminate between and among citizens on the basis of caste, religion, race, language, or sex.
- The state shall not deny anybody equality before the law and equal protection of the law.
- No person shall be deprived of his life.
- The state shall not impose any religious taxes.
The Constitution has given express instructions to the State about what policies it should undertake. This is in the nature of giving directives or guidelines about how to achieve the goals expressed in the Preamble. Hence they are called Directive Principles of State Policy.
Why were the Directives included?
When India won independence, we faced a great challenge of establishing order and carrying out smooth administration. Eradication of poverty, backwardness, and illiteracy had to be urgently pursued. The task of nation-building had to be undertaken. For this, new policies had to be drawn up, and their implementation had to be undertaken.
The goal of people’s welfare had to be achieved. In short, India had to be transformed into a developed and progressive nation. The Constitution has specified the subjects to which the Union and State Governments should give priority in their policies for people’s welfare through the Directive Principles of State Policy. Each Directive contains a subject for the State Policy. The makers of the Indian Constitution had realized that it would require a lot of resources if all these policies were to be implemented at the same time. That is the reason why they did not make the directives binding upon the State like the fundamental rights. They expected that States should implement them slowly and steadily.
Some Important Directive Principles of State Policy:
- The State should secure adequate means of livelihood for all citizens without any gender discrimination.
- The State should secure equal pay for equal work for both men and women.
- The State should secure the improvement of public health.
- The State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
- The State shall protect all monuments of historic interest and national importance.
- The State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, especially the Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
- The State shall offer public assistance to citizens in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness, etc.
- The State shall secure a uniform civil code applicable to the entire country.
Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Rights are two sides of the same coin. Due to Fundamental Rights, citizens get the most needed liberty, while Directive Principles of State Policy create an atmosphere conducive to the growth of democracy. Even though we cannot go to the courts if a Directive is not implemented by the Government, we can put pressure on the Government in various ways to make a policy in order to meet these goals.
Fundamental Duties
In a democracy, citizens have a dual responsibility. They should not only be vigilant that their rights are not unfairly restricted but should also fulfill some duties and responsibilities. The Constitution has made several provisions through the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy for the people’s welfare. The benefits of the various schemes of the Government cannot reach all people if they do not fulfill their Fundamental Duties. For example, the Government has implemented several projects under its Swachch Bharat Scheme, but people, too, need to change their habits that make public places dirty. In order for the Indian citizens to become conscious of their responsibilities, Fundamental Duties were included in the Constitution. The Fundamental Duties of the Indian citizens are as follows:
- To abide by the Constitution and respect the National Flag and the National Anthem.
- To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom.
- To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.
- To defend the country, and to render national service when called upon to do so.
- To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood transcending diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.
- To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.
- To protect and improve the natural environment, and to have compassion for living creatures.
- To develop the scientific temper, humanism, and spirit of inquiry and reform.
- To safeguard public property and to abjure violence.
- To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement.
- Every citizen of India who is a parent or guardian should provide opportunities for education to his or her child or ward between the ages of six and fourteen years.
At the beginning of the Civics section, we were introduced to the goals and characteristic features of the Indian Constitution. We also considered the rights of the Indian citizens and the legal protection guaranteed to these rights by the Constitution. We understood the Directive Principles of State Policy and the Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens.
Well-maintained Maharashtra State Board Class 7 Civics Notes Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties can serve as a reference for lifelong learning.