Directive Principles — Legal Reforms

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
42nd Amendment	1976	Added Article 48A directing the State to protect and improve environment and safeguard forests and wildlife. Also attempted to give DPSP supremacy over Fundamental Rights by adding clauses 4 and 5 to Article 368, stating that no amendment giving effect to DPSP could be questioned in court.	The environmental protection clause became crucial for India's environmental jurisprudence. However, the supremacy clause was struck down by the Supreme Court in Minerva Mills case (1980) for violating the basic structure doctrine.
44th Amendment	1978	Modified Article 38 to direct the State to secure 'social, economic and political justice' instead of just 'social order.' This amendment broadened the scope of state obligations under DPSP to include comprehensive justice in all spheres.	Strengthened the constitutional commitment to holistic justice and provided broader interpretation for courts and policymakers in implementing welfare measures.
86th Amendment	2002	Moved free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14 from DPSP (Article 45) to Fundamental Rights (new Article 21A). Also modified Article 45 to focus on early childhood care and education for children below 6 years.	Transformed education from a non-justiciable directive to an enforceable fundamental right, leading to the Right to Education Act 2009 and significantly improving educational access and quality.
97th Amendment	2011	Added cooperative societies to the constitutional framework by inserting Article 19(1)(c) and Article 43B. While not directly amending DPSP, it supported the cooperative movement envisioned in Gandhian principles.	Strengthened the constitutional foundation for cooperative societies, supporting rural development and economic empowerment as envisioned in DPSP's Gandhian principles.