HPAS 2020 Mains GS-2 Question 2
Analyse the Directive Principles of State Policy regarding international peace as given in the Indian Constitution.
Solution:
The Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) under Article 51 of the Indian Constitution represent the moral and philosophical foundations of India’s engagement with the world. Unlike many other constitutions, India explicitly internalizes international peace and legal order as a primary duty of the State.
[Image of Article 51 of Indian Constitution and its four core directives]1. Substantive Elements of Article 51
Article 51 directs the State to strive for four specific international goals:
- Promotion of Peace and Security: Mandating the State to actively seek global stability rather than isolationism.
- Honourable Relations: Emphasizing mutual respect and sovereign equality between nations, regardless of their size or power.
- International Law and Treaty Obligations: Fostering a “rules-based international order” where legal agreements take precedence over arbitrary force.
- Settlement by Arbitration: Prioritizing diplomacy and judicial settlements over armed conflict, reflecting India’s civilizational ethos of non-violence.
2. Analysis: Impact on Indian Foreign Policy
While non-justiciable, Article 51 has provided the constitutional legitimacy for various foreign policy doctrines:
[Image of India’s foreign policy principles Panchsheel and Non-Alignment Movement]- Panchsheel (1954): The five principles of peaceful coexistence are the direct embodiment of “just and honourable relations” mandated by Article 51.
- Non-Alignment: The refusal to join Cold War military blocs was a strategy to promote “international peace” by preventing a binary division of the world.
- Strategic Autonomy: India’s current policy of multi-alignment seeks to maintain respect for international law while protecting national interests.
- Global Common Good: India’s leadership in climate change (ISA) and global health (Vaccine Maitri) aligns with the directive to promote security and welfare beyond borders.
3. Constitutional Integration with Article 253
While Article 51 sets the goal, Article 253 provides the power to Parliament to make laws for implementing international treaties, creating a bridge between global obligations and domestic law.
Concise Model Answer (150-Word Limit)
Article 51 of the Indian Constitution (Part IV) serves as the “constitutional guiding light” for India’s foreign policy. It mandates the State to promote international peace and security, maintain just and honourable relations, foster respect for international law, and encourage arbitration for dispute resolution.
Analytical Impact:
- Strategic Foundation: It provided the legal basis for the Panchsheel doctrine and the Non-Alignment Movement, ensuring India remained a “peace-oriented” stakeholder during the Cold War.
- Rules-Based Order: It binds the Executive to respect treaty obligations, as seen in India’s general adherence to UN conventions and global climate pacts.
- Global Responsibility: In the contemporary era, it justifies India’s role as a “First Responder” in crises and its active participation in UN Peacekeeping.
In conclusion, Article 51 ensures that India’s rise on the global stage is intrinsically linked to the principles of stability, legality, and peaceful co-existence, rather than expansionism.