Which Article of the Indian Constitution mentions that ‘The State shall endeavour to promote cottage industries on an individual or co-operative basis in rural areas’?

Correct — D. The clause quoted in the stem is the tail of Article 43.

Article 43 asks the State to secure a living wage and conditions of work giving a decent standard of life, and then adds the promotion of cottage industries on an individual or co-operative basis in rural areas.

It sits in Part IV, the Directive Principles, so it is a duty of policy and not an enforceable right.

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  Article 42 — Article 42 is the neighbouring directive, on just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief. Related subject, different clause, and no mention of cottage industries.
• (b)
  Article 44 — Article 44 is the directive on a uniform civil code for citizens throughout India, a matter of personal law rather than rural industry.
• (c)
  Article 49 — Article 49 directs the State to protect monuments and places and objects of artistic or historic interest declared to be of national importance.

The Directive Principles of State Policy run from Article 36 to Article 51 in Part IV. Article 37 makes them non-justiciable: a court will not enforce them, but they are declared fundamental in the governance of the country.

Articles 41 to 43 form the labour cluster — right to work and public assistance, humane conditions and maternity relief, then living wage and cottage industries.

Two later insertions extend that cluster: Article 43A on worker participation in the management of industries, and Article 43B on the promotion of co-operative societies.

Key facts

• Article 43 directs the State to secure a living wage and to promote cottage industries on an individual or co-operative basis in rural areas.
• Article 42 covers just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief.
• Article 43A, on participation of workers in the management of industries, was inserted by the 42nd Amendment.
• Article 43B, on the promotion of co-operative societies, was inserted by the 97th Amendment.

Common traps

• Choosing Article 42 because it is also a labour directive and sits next door.
• Seeing co-operative in the stem and jumping to Article 43B, which is about co-operative societies as such rather than cottage industries.

No directly related past PYQ was found.