Article 48A and 51A(g) — Prelims Strategy
Prelims Strategy
For Prelims, the focus on Article 48A and 51A(g) should be primarily factual and conceptual. Aspirants must commit to memory the exact constitutional articles, their placement (Part IV and Part IVA), and the specific amendment (42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976) that introduced them.
Understand the key terms: 'State' vs. 'Citizen,' 'endeavour to protect and improve' vs. 'duty to protect and improve,' and the inclusion of 'forests, wild life, lakes, rivers, and compassion for living creatures.
A critical conceptual clarity required is their non-justiciable nature. While they are not directly enforceable, remember how the judiciary has given them teeth by linking them to Article 21 (Right to Life), thereby creating an enforceable 'right to a healthy environment.
' Be prepared for questions that test this indirect enforceability. Also, link these articles to the historical context of the Stockholm Conference (1972) as a major influence. Familiarize yourself with landmark judgments (e.
g., M.C. Mehta, Vellore Citizens) where these articles were invoked, focusing on the principles established (Polluter Pays, Precautionary Principle, Public Trust Doctrine). Questions might also compare these articles with Fundamental Rights or other DPSPs/FDs.
Practice MCQs that test your understanding of these distinctions and their practical implications.