GK Question

polity hard mcq

Which of the following legislative measures BEST exemplifies implementation of Directive Principles through statutory framework?

  1. Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951
  2. Right to Education Act, 2009
  3. Constitution (44th Amendment) Act, 1978
  4. Constitution (101st Amendment) Act, 2016

Answer: Right to Education Act, 2009

DPSP implementation through legislation: (a) Right to Education Act, 2009: (i) Operationalizes Article 21A (Fundamental Right) and Article 45 (DPSP) by providing statutory framework for free, compulsory education for children aged 6-14, (ii) Key provisions: 25% reservation in private schools, infrastructure norms, teacher qualifications, prohibition of screening, capitation fees, (iii) Impact: Enhanced enrollment, reduced dropout rates; challenges in quality, equity remain, (b) Contrast with other options: (i) First Amendment (1951): Added Ninth Schedule to protect land reform laws from judicial review; relates to property rights, not DPSP implementation per se, (ii) 44th Amendment (1978): Restored judicial review, Fundamental Rights safeguards post-Emergency; not primarily DPSP-focused, (iii) 101st Amendment (2016): Introduced GST; fiscal federalism reform, not DPSP implementation, (c) Other DPSP implementation examples: (i) MGNREGA (2005): Implements Article 41 (right to work) through employment guarantee, (ii) NFSA (2013): Implements Article 47 (nutrition, public health) through food security entitlements, (iii) RTE Act: Exemplifies comprehensive DPSP implementation through rights-based, statutory framework, (d) Applications: (i) Monitoring: Judicial oversight, social audit ensure RTE implementation, accountability, (ii) Federal coordination: Union-State collaboration essential for education policy, resource allocation, (iii) Inclusion: Focus on marginalized groups (girls, SC/ST, disabled) advances Article 46 (SC/ST welfare) alongside Article 45, (e) Illustrates transformative legislation: RTE Act operationalizes DPSP through justiciable framework; balance between legal entitlement, service delivery, quality enhancement essential for realizing constitutional vision of inclusive education.

Topic DPSP - Implementation Through Legislation
Exam Relevance DPSP implementation through legislation critical for UPSC Mains and Judiciary exams