Which Constitutional Amendment Act amended Article 38, enumerated under the Directive Principles of State Policy, and directed ‘State to minimise inequalities in income, status, facilities and opportunities’?​

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c) 44th Constitutional Amendment Act

Explanation:

• Article 38 of the Indian Constitution directs the State to secure a social order for the promotion of the welfare of the people.

• The 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978, inserted Clause (2) into Article 38.

• This specific clause directs the State to strive to minimise inequalities in income and endeavour to eliminate inequalities in status, facilities, and opportunities, not only amongst individuals but also amongst groups of people residing in different areas or engaged in different vocations.

• The amendment was brought in by the Janata Government to strengthen the socialistic goals of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) and ensure social and economic justice.

Information Booster:

• Article 38 is considered the "keynote" of the Directive Principles as it embodies the concept of a Welfare State.

• Originally, Article 38 (now Clause 1) stated that the State shall strive to promote the welfare of the people by securing a social order in which justice—social, economic, and political—shall inform all institutions of national life.

• The 44th Amendment is also famous for shifting the Right to Property from a Fundamental Right to a legal right under Article 300A.

Additional Knowledge:

• 42nd Amendment Act (Option B): Often called the "Mini-Constitution," it added several other DPSPs, such as Article 39A (Free Legal Aid), Article 43A (Participation of workers in management), and Article 48A (Protection of environment).

• 40th Amendment Act (Option D): Primarily dealt with the Parliament's power to specify the limits of the territorial waters, the continental shelf, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and the maritime zones of India.

• 43rd Amendment Act (Option A): It was enacted to repeal some of the restrictive provisions introduced by the 42nd Amendment, particularly those related to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and High Courts.