The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are a concept and a set of constitutional provisions enshrined in Part IV, from Article 36 to Article 51, of the Constitution of India. They are essentially guidelines or instructions for the State to follow when formulating policies and enacting laws, aiming to establish social and economic democracy and a Welfare State. The concept was borrowed from the Irish Constitution, which had copied it from the Spanish Constitution. The DPSP were included to solve the problem of providing a framework for socio-economic justice, as suggested by the Sapru Committee in 1945, which recommended classifying rights into justiciable (Fundamental Rights) and non-justiciable (DPSP).
The core mechanism is that the DPSP are non-justiciable, meaning they cannot be enforced by any court for their violation, but Article 37 declares them to be "fundamental in the governance of the country" and a duty of the State to apply in making laws. Key provisions include Article 39, which directs the State to secure an adequate means of livelihood and prevent the concentration of wealth, and Article 44, which mandates the State to endeavor to secure a Uniform Civil Code. The DPSP are closely connected to the Fundamental Rights (Part III), with the Supreme Court ruling in Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980) that the harmony and balance between the two is an essential feature and a Basic Structure of the Constitution. The Court held that the extension of Article 31C by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, which gave primacy to all DPSP over Fundamental Rights under Articles 14 and 19, was unconstitutional and invalid.
The DPSP have been amended several times: the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, added four new directives, including Article 39A (free legal aid) and Article 48A (protection of environment). The 86th Amendment Act, 2002, changed Article 45 to require the State to provide early childhood care and education for children until they complete six years, after making elementary education a Fundamental Right under Article 21A. The 97th Amendment Act, 2011, added Article 43B, relating to the promotion of cooperative societies.