Prelims 2012 · archive
MediumConsider the following provisions under the Directive Principles of State Policy as enshrined in the Constitution of India:
- 1.Securing for citizens of India a uniform civil code.
- 2.Organizing village Panchayats.
- 3.Promoting cottage industries in rural areas.
- 4.Securing for all the workers reasonable leisure and cultural opportunities.
Which of the above are the Gandhian Principles that are reflected in the Directive Principles of State Policy?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
The Gandhian strand of the Directive Principles covers village self-government (Article 40) and rural cottage industries (Article 43). The uniform civil code (Article 44) is a liberal-intellectual principle. Workers' leisure and cultural opportunities (Article 43) belong to the socialist group. So the answer is 2 and 3 only.
- ✗ 1. Article 44 asks the State to secure a uniform civil code for citizens throughout India. It is a liberal-intellectual principle about a common civil law for all citizens. It is not part of Gandhi's village-centred vision.
- ✓ 2. Article 40 directs the State to organise village panchayats and give them the powers they need to work as units of self-government. This is the Gandhian ideal of gram swaraj.
- ✓ 3. Article 43 directs the State to promote cottage industries on an individual or co-operative basis in rural areas. This is the Gandhian idea of a self-reliant village economy.
- ✗ 4. Article 43 also speaks of a decent standard of life and full enjoyment of leisure and social and cultural opportunities for workers. This is a socialist, worker-welfare principle. Only the cottage-industries clause in the same Article is Gandhian.
Remember · Gandhian DPSPs: Art 40 (village panchayats), Art 43 (rural cottage industries), Art 46 (weaker sections), Art 47 (prohibition of intoxicants) and Art 48 (cattle protection). Art 44, the uniform civil code, is liberal-intellectual.
Sources
- Constitution of India, Part IV – Article 40 (Organisation of village panchayats) ↗ “The State shall take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government. … conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life and full enjoyment of leisure and social and cultural opportunities and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to promote cottage industries on an individual or co-operative basis in rural areas. … The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2012, General Studies paper. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·