DPSPs and Fundamental Duties

The Minerva Mills case (1980) established the principle of balance between Directive Principles (DPSPs) and Fundamental Rights. The Court held that Fundamental Rights and DPSPs are complementary and must be harmonized. This case invalidated parts of the 42nd Amendment that gave DPSPs primacy.

The year 1990-1991 was declared the "Year of Social Justice" in the memory of B.R. Ambedkar.

DPSPs aim to create social and economic conditions under which the citizens can lead a good life. They also aim to establish social and economic democracy through a welfare state.
Fundamental Rights aim to establish political democracy.

All three statements about Directive Principles are correct: they are non-justiciable, they act as a check on government, and Article 31-C did seek to upgrade DPSPs (though this was partially struck down by the Supreme Court). Therefore, 'All of these statements are correct' is the right answer.

The 42nd Amendment Act (1976) added Article 48A to the Directive Principles, which specifically deals with protection of forests and wildlife. This was part of the environmental protection amendments during the Emergency period. The original Constitution did not contain this provision.

The 11^th Fundamental Duty of the country was added in the year 2002 by the 86th Constitutional Amendment. It directs every citizen, who is a parent or guardian, to offer opportunities for education to his child (of age from 6 to 14 years).

Fundamental Duties were added to the Indian Constitution by the 42nd Amendment Act in 1976, drawing inspiration from the Russian Constitution (then USSR). They are enumerated in Article 51A. The US Constitution influenced the Fundamental Rights, not duties. The Weimar Constitution influenced emergency provisions, and Ireland influenced the Directive Principles.

Article 51 of the Directive Principles explicitly promotes international peace and security, respect for international law, treaty obligations, and peaceful dispute resolution through arbitration. Article 48 deals with animal husbandry, 49 with protection of monuments, and 50 with separation of judiciary from executive.

The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 was enacted by the Parliament of India to prevent atrocities against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The Act is popularly known as POA, the SC/ST Act, the Prevention of Atrocities Act, or simply the Atrocities Act.

DPSPs are indeed fundamental in the governance of the country (Article 37 states this) and they are non-justiciable (not enforceable in courts). However, being non-justiciable is not the reason WHY they are fundamental in governance - these are two separate characteristics. The fact they can't be enforced in court doesn't make them fundamental to governance; their importance in policy-making does.

The Fundamental Duties were inserted in Article 51A of our Constitution in 1976 by 42nd Amendment Act. In the original Constitution in 1950, there was no mention of these duties.

Changes in Directive Principles require a Constitutional amendment, which has to be passed by a special majority of both houses of the Parliament. This means that an amendment requires the approval of two-thirds of the members present and voting.

Directive Principles are binding on the state though they cannot be enforced in a court of law.

The correct option is (3).

Option 1 is the correct answer.