Article 39(a) directs adequate means of:

Explanation

Article 39 sits in Part IV of the Constitution, the Directive Principles of State Policy. Under clause (a), the State shall direct its policy towards securing that citizens, men and women equally, have the right to an adequate means of livelihood. That wording is narrower than a generic promise of employment and wider than a scheme-specific benefit: it frames livelihood as the constitutional objective. The decisive constitutional keyword is "livelihood" because the phrase in Article 39(a) is "adequate means of livelihood". Article 39(a) therefore directs adequate means of livelihood for all citizens.

Why the other options are wrong

• (A) Employment is related to earning a living, but Article 39(a) uses the constitutional phrase "adequate means of livelihood", not "employment".
• (C) Education is not the object named in Article 39(a); the clause specifically concerns the right to an adequate means of livelihood.
• (D) Housing is not mentioned in Article 39(a), which directs State policy towards adequate means of livelihood for citizens.

Concept

The Directive Principles of State Policy require close recall of exact constitutional wording, especially Article 39(a). RAS repeatedly asks such provisions because a single constitutional keyword changes the answer.

Source

• The Constitution of India, Legislative Department

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