Article 38 of the Indian Constitution directs the State to:

Explanation

Article 38 is a Directive Principle of State Policy framed around the welfare role of the State. Clause (1) requires the State to strive to promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting a social order in which social, economic and political justice informs all institutions of national life. Clause (2), added by the 44th Amendment, sharpens that duty by directing the State to minimise inequalities in income and to eliminate inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities among individuals and groups. That is why option B is the only choice that captures both halves of Article 38.

Why the other options are wrong

• (A) Separating the judiciary from the executive is not the subject of Article 38. The article concerns a welfare-oriented social order, justice in the institutions of national life and the reduction of inequalities.
• (C) Organising village panchayats as units of self-government is not the subject of Article 38. The article concerns the people's welfare, justice and the reduction of inequalities in income, status, facilities and opportunities.
• (D) Providing free legal aid to all citizens is not the subject of Article 38. The article lays down the broader Directive Principle of welfare, justice and the reduction of inequalities in income, status, facilities and opportunities.

Concept

This question tests understanding of the Directive Principles of State Policy, especially the welfare State and social and economic justice, as well as the ability to match each constitutional article with its policy objective. Article 38 recurs in RAS because it states the broad direction of State policy and is easy to confuse with other social-justice provisions.

Source

• The Constitution of India, Government of India, Ministry of Law and Justice, Legislative Department

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