The ideal of 'Welfare State' in the Indian Constitution is enshrined in its

Answer: (b) Directive Principles of State Policy

The welfare-state ideal is enshrined in Part IV, the Directive Principles of State Policy. Article 38 directs the State to promote the welfare of the people through a just social order. Other Articles in the same Part direct the State to secure an adequate means of livelihood, equal pay for equal work and a fair distribution of material resources.

• ✗ (a) The Preamble states broad ideals such as justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. It does not set out the State's welfare duties, which the Directive Principles spell out in detail.
• ✓ (b) Article 38 in Part IV requires the State to strive to promote the welfare of the people. It does so by securing a social order in which social, economic and political justice informs all institutions of national life. The Constitution sets out these welfare goals in the Directive Principles.
• ✗ (c) Fundamental Rights largely protect individuals by limiting what the State may do. The welfare goals for society as a whole are placed in the Directive Principles.
• ✗ (d) The Seventh Schedule only distributes legislative subjects through the Union List, State List and Concurrent List. It does not lay down any ideal.

Remember · Welfare State = Directive Principles (Part IV, Articles 36–51). Article 38 is the key provision: the State shall strive to promote the welfare of the people.

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 12 Politics in India since Independence, Ch 1 (practise this chapter)

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2015, General Studies paper. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). · Report an error