UPSC Prelims 2020— Question 22

This question tests welfare state. The key concept is: The Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV articulate the constitutional objective of a welfare-oriented social order. They guide the state in law-making and policy but are not directly enforceable by courts. Fundamental Rights and the Preamble serve different constitutional functions. The verified answer for the uploaded Set-B paper is option A. Option A — Directive Principles of State Policy: This is the correct option. It matches the verified conclusion because The Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV articulate the constitutional objective of a welfare-oriented social order. They guide the state in law-making and policy but are not directly enforceable by courts. Fundamental Rights and the Preamble serve different constitutional functions. The wording of the option is consistent with the governing concept tested by the question. Option B — Fundamental Rights: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: The Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV articulate the constitutional objective of a welfare-oriented social order. They guide the state in law-making and policy but are not directly enforceable by courts. Fundamental Rights and the Preamble serve different constitutional functions. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option C — Preamble: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: The Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV articulate the constitutional objective of a welfare-oriented social order. They guide the state in law-making and policy but are not directly enforceable by courts. Fundamental Rights and the Preamble serve different constitutional functions. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option D — Seventh Schedule: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: The Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV articulate the constitutional objective of a welfare-oriented social order. They guide the state in law-making and policy but are not directly enforceable by courts. Fundamental Rights and the Preamble serve different constitutional functions. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. For UPSC-style elimination, first identify the exact proposition being tested, then evaluate each statement independently before comparing the answer codes. Avoid treating a broad or absolute statement as correct merely because its general theme is familiar. The precise qualifiers in the question—such as 'all', 'only', 'cannot', 'largest', 'always' or a specific institutional role—often determine the answer. On that basis, option A is the verified answer.