GK Question

Answer: Free and compulsory education for children below age 14

Article 39 principles of policy: (a) Explicitly mentioned in Article 39: (i) Clause (a): Adequate means of livelihood for all citizens, (ii) Clause (b): Distribution of material resources to serve common good, prevent concentration of wealth, (iii) Clause (c): Prevention of concentration of means of production to common detriment, (iv) Clause (d): Equal pay for equal work for both men and women, (v) Clause (e): Protection of health, strength of workers, children; prevention of abuse, economic necessity forcing unsuitable avocations, (vi) Clause (f): Children given opportunities, facilities to develop in healthy manner, freedom, dignity; protected against exploitation, moral, material abandonment, (b) NOT in Article 39: Free and compulsory education for children below age 14 — this was originally in Article 45 (DPSP), later made Fundamental Right under Article 21A by 86th Amendment (2002), (c) Applications: (i) Equal pay: Courts have enforced equal pay for equal work under Article 39(d) read with Article 14, (ii) Child labor: Laws prohibiting child labor, ensuring education operationalize Article 39(f), (iii) Resource distribution: Land reforms, progressive taxation, welfare schemes reflect Article 39(b), (d) Illustrates comprehensive policy framework: Article 39 provides multi-dimensional guidance for State policy; balance between livelihood, equality, health, child development essential for realizing constitutional vision of social justice.