Poverty and Inequality — Legal Reforms

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
42nd Amendment Act	1976	This amendment significantly expanded the scope of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) and gave them precedence over Fundamental Rights in certain cases. It added new articles like 39A (Equal Justice and Free Legal Aid), 43A (Participation of workers in management of industries), and 48A (Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wild life). While not directly amending Articles 38, 39, or 46, it reinforced the state's commitment to socio-economic justice and reducing inequality by strengthening the DPSP framework.	Reinforced the constitutional mandate for the state to pursue policies aimed at reducing poverty and inequality, providing a stronger legal basis for welfare legislation. It underscored the idea that socio-economic transformation is a constitutional imperative, indirectly strengthening the state's role in addressing the root causes of internal security threats.
97th Amendment Act	2011	This amendment gave constitutional status and protection to cooperative societies. It inserted Article 43B in the DPSP, which states that the State shall endeavor to promote voluntary formation, autonomous functioning, democratic control and professional management of cooperative societies. While seemingly indirect, cooperative societies play a crucial role in poverty alleviation and economic empowerment, especially in rural and agricultural sectors, by providing collective bargaining power and access to resources for marginalized communities.	By strengthening cooperative societies, this amendment indirectly contributes to poverty reduction and economic empowerment, particularly in rural areas. Empowered communities, through cooperatives, are less likely to be exploited and thus less susceptible to extremist narratives, contributing to internal security by fostering local economic resilience.