Under the Indian Constitution, concentration of wealth violates
Athe Right to Equality
Bthe Directive Principles of State Policy
Cthe Right to Freedom
Dthe Concept of Welfare
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. the Directive Principles of State Policy
Answer: B. CONCENTRATION OF WEALTH VIOLATES the DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY.
The DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY (PART IV, ARTICLES 36-51) lay down the SOCIO-ECONOMIC GOALS of the Indian state — non-justiciable but fundamental in governance.
ARTICLE 39 explicitly directs the State to ensure:
- (a) Adequate means of livelihood for all citizens.
- (b) Distribution of MATERIAL RESOURCES OF THE COMMUNITY in a manner best subserving the COMMON GOOD.
- (c) The OPERATION OF THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM does not result in the CONCENTRATION OF WEALTH AND MEANS OF PRODUCTION to the common detriment.
- (d) Equal pay for equal work.
- (e) Health and strength of workers, children not abused.
Article 39(c) directly targets WEALTH CONCENTRATION.
The framers of the Constitution incorporated this anti-monopoly principle in line with the socio-economic vision of Nehru and the Constituent Assembly debates, reflecting concerns about economic justice.
So a state policy that allows or promotes wealth concentration would violate Article 39(c) within the Directive Principles framework.
Although DPSPs are not enforceable in courts, they are 'fundamental in the governance of the country' (Article 37) and bind policy formulation.
Why other options are WRONG:
(A) Right to Equality (Articles 14-18) prohibits discrimination but does NOT directly target ECONOMIC INEQUALITY of wealth. Income inequality per se does not violate Article 14 unless discrimination by the state is involved.
(C) Right to Freedom (Articles 19-22) protects speech, assembly, profession, life, etc. — not economic anti-concentration.
(D) 'Concept of Welfare' is too vague
while the Constitution embodies a welfare-state vision, the specific anti-concentration norm is in Article 39(c) of the Directive Principles.
Source: Constitution of India Article 39 / Constituent Assembly debates / syllabus Indian Constitution at Work.
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