Q. Other than the Fundamental Rights, which of the following parts of the Constitution of India reflect/reflects the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)?
- Preamble
- Directive Principles of State Policy
- Fundamental Duties
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (UPSC Prelims 2020)
Answer:
1, 2 and 3
Notes: The correct answer is
[D] 1, 2 and 3. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948, significantly influenced the framing of the Indian Constitution, as both documents share a commitment to human dignity and justice.
- Preamble (Statement 1 – Correct): The Preamble reflects the spirit of the UDHR by mentioning Justice (Social, Economic, and Political), Liberty, and Equality. Article 1 of the UDHR states that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights," which resonates with the Preamble’s objective of "Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual."
- Directive Principles of State Policy (Statement 2 – Correct): Articles 22 to 27 of the UDHR cover economic, social, and cultural rights, such as the right to work, right to education, and right to social security. These are mirrored in the DPSP (Part IV), which directs the State to ensure a living wage (Article 43), the right to education (Article 41/45), and the protection of monuments (Article 49).
- Fundamental Duties (Statement 3 – Correct): Article 29(1) of the UDHR states, "Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible." This concept is explicitly reflected in Part IV-A of the Indian Constitution, which outlines the duties of citizens to promote harmony and protect the environment.
The Indian Constitution is often described as a document that translates the high ideals of the UDHR into a legal and enforceable framework for a diverse democracy.