RAS question
Which of the following are classified as 'Socialist' DPSPs?
Correct answer: (B) Articles 38, 39, 39A, 41, 42, 43, 43A, 47.
Articles 38, 39, 39A, 41, 42, 43, 43A and 47 are classified as the Socialist Directive Principles of State Policy.
Explanation
The Socialist DPSPs are grouped around social and economic justice. Article 38 asks the State to secure a social order for the welfare of the people and reduce inequalities. Article 39 directs policy towards core distributive principles. Article 39A concerns equal justice and free legal aid. Articles 41 and 42 cover work, education, public assistance, humane work conditions and maternity relief. Article 43 deals with a living wage and decent conditions for workers, while Article 43A concerns workers' participation in management. Article 47 places nutrition, standard of living and public health among the State's primary duties. That is why the full cluster in option B, not a shorter or differently themed set, is the Socialist category.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Articles 38 and 39 are part of the Socialist group, but the option omits 39A, 41, 42, 43, 43A and 47, so it is incomplete.
- (C) Articles 44, 45 and 48 belong to the liberal-intellectual or Gandhian-style groupings in the given classification, not to the full Socialist DPSP cluster.
- (D) Articles 48A, 49, 50 and 51 are classified with liberal-intellectual DPSPs because they concern environmental protection, monuments, separation of judiciary and international peace rather than the Socialist social-economic justice set.
Concept
This tests the standard classification of Directive Principles into Socialist, Gandhian and liberal-intellectual groups. RAS repeatedly uses this because DPSPs link constitutional ideals with welfare, labour and public-health policy.