RAS question
The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution are inspired by the Constitution of:
Correct answer: (B) Ireland.
The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution were inspired by, and borrowed from, the Irish Constitution of 1937.
Explanation
Directive Principles of State Policy express the Indian Constitution's idea of positive socio-economic justice. eGyanKosh, IGNOU - Unit 7: Indian Constitution: Basic Characteristics explains that these principles instruct the State to direct policy towards measures needed for social justice, while remaining non-justiciable: courts cannot compel the State to implement them. In terms of precedence, the ideas in the Directive Principles were borrowed from the Irish Constitution of 1937. Ireland's Constitution contains Directive Principles of Social Policy in Article 45, and that Irish model was itself influenced by the Spanish Constitution. Therefore, the correct answer is Ireland, not any of the other listed constitutions.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) United Kingdom is wrong because the borrowing of Directive Principles is attributed to the Irish Constitution of 1937, not to the United Kingdom.
- (C) France is wrong because Directive Principles of State Policy were borrowed from the Irish Constitution of 1937, not the French Constitution.
- (D) United States of America is wrong because Directive Principles are specifically traced to the Irish Constitution of 1937, leaving the US Constitution outside the source for this feature.
Concept
This tests the standard RAS polity theme of borrowed features of the Indian Constitution. It recurs because Directive Principles also connect institutional design with welfare-oriented governance and non-justiciable policy duties.