The Directive Principles of State Policy are explained in Part IV-A of the Indian Constitution. This system has been taken from the Constitution of which country?
- (a)Britain
- (b)South Africa
- (c)U.S.A.
- (d)Ireland
Correct — D, Ireland. The Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV of the Constitution, Articles 36-51) were borrowed from the 1937 Constitution of Ireland, which itself called them 'Directive Principles of Social Policy.' Ireland had, in turn, adapted the idea from the Spanish Constitution of 1931. Like their Irish model, India's Directive Principles are non-justiciable but 'fundamental in the governance of the country' (Article 37).
- (a)Britain — Wrong — Britain (the U.K.) is the source of India's parliamentary system, rule of law, single citizenship and law-making procedure, not the Directive Principles.
- (b)South Africa — Wrong — South Africa contributed the procedure for amending the Constitution (Article 368), not the Directive Principles.
- (c)U.S.A. — Wrong — the USA is the source of India's Fundamental Rights, judicial review and independence of the judiciary, not the Directive Principles.
The Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV, Articles 36-51) are non-justiciable guidelines directing the State to build social and economic democracy. India borrowed the concept from Ireland's 1937 Constitution (itself inspired by Spain), and also borrowed the practice of nominating members to the Rajya Sabha from Ireland.
Exams test 'which feature came from which country' as a matching exercise — Ireland (Directive Principles, nominated Rajya Sabha members), USA (Fundamental Rights, judicial review, impeachment procedure, office of Vice-President), Britain (parliamentary system, rule of law, single citizenship, law-making procedure), Canada (federation with a strong Centre), Australia (Concurrent List).
- Directive Principles of State Policy = Part IV, Articles 36-51 of the Constitution
- Borrowed from the Irish Constitution of 1937 (which itself drew on Spain, 1931)
- India also borrowed the practice of nominating members to the Rajya Sabha from Ireland
- Fundamental Rights and judicial review, by contrast, were borrowed from the USA
A classic 'source-country' matching set — India's Directive Principles trace to Ireland, not Britain, the USA, or South Africa.
- Confusing DPSP's source (Ireland) with Fundamental Rights' source (USA)
- Mixing up Part IV (Directive Principles) with Part IVA (Fundamental Duties, added 1976)
MPPSC/UPSC frequently ask 'this feature of the Constitution was borrowed from which country' — build a fixed country-to-feature map rather than guessing.
Match List I (Item in the Indian Constitution) with List II (Country from which it was derived) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the list. List I: A. Directive Principles of State Policy B. Fundamental Rights C. Concurrent List in Union-State Relations D. India as a Union of States with greater powers to the Union. List II: 1. Australia 2. Canada 3. Ireland 4. United Kingdom 5. USA.
- (a) 5 4 1 2
- (b) 3 5 2 1
- (c) 5 4 2 1
- (d) 3 5 1 2
Answer(d) 3 5 1 2 — Directive Principles from Ireland, Fundamental Rights from USA, Concurrent List from Australia, strong Centre from Canada.
UPSC 2003 directly tests the identical fact — the Directive Principles of State Policy were derived from Ireland.
- practice — not a real PYQ
India's Fundamental Rights (Part III of the Constitution) were primarily borrowed from the Constitution of which country?
- (a)Ireland
- (b)U.S.A.
- (c)Canada
- (d)Australia
Answer(b) U.S.A. — along with judicial review and the concept of due process.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Besides the Directive Principles of State Policy, which other feature of the Indian Constitution was borrowed from Ireland?
- (a)Concurrent List
- (b)Nomination of members to the Rajya Sabha
- (c)Impeachment of the President
- (d)Federation with a strong Centre
Answer(b) Nomination of members to the Rajya Sabha.