These principles are based on Gandhian ideology to represent the programme of reconstruction that Gandhi emphasised during national independence movements in colonial India. To achieve his aspirations, several of his ideas have been incorporated into the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP). The provisions in the DPSP that promote Gandhian principles include Article 40, Article 43, Article 43 B, Article 46, Article 47, and Article 48.

Article 40: Empowering Village Panchayats for Self-Government in India

• It says that the state shall take steps to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as a unit of Self Government. 

Implementation by Government of Article 40

• Constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj System: Through 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, a three tier ‘Panchayati Raj System’ was introduced. This way, the government fulfilled the constitutional obligation stated in Article 40.

Article 43B: Promoting the Growth of Cooperative Societies for Economic Empowerment

• The state is committed to encouraging the voluntary establishment, independent operation, democratic governance, and professional administration of cooperative societies. This was included through the 97th amendment in 2011.

Implementation by Government 

• The government has a target of establishing and promoting 10000 new Farmer Producer’s Organizations (FPOs) by 2027. These FPOs are based on the principle of cooperatives.

Article 46: Promoting Educational and Economic Interests of Weaker Sections 

• The State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interest of the weaker sections of people, and, in particular of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation. 

Government Measures for Upliftment of Weaker Sections

• Provision of reservation & upliftment for the Weaker Section:  Seats are reserved for SCs, STs and other weaker sections in educational institutions, government services and representative bodies.  Enactment of certain laws to protect the SCs and STs from social injustice and exploitation:
• The Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955, which was renamed as the Protection of Civil Rights Act in 1976.
• The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
• Establishment of various National-level commissions: Such commissions have been established to promote and protect the social, educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the society. These include:

• • National Commission for Minorities (1993), 
  • National Commission for Women (1992) and 
  • National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (2007).
  • National Commission for Backward Classes (1993) – It was conferred a constitutional status by the 102nd amendment act, 2018. 

Article 47: Promoting Public Health and Nutrition through Gandhian Principles 

• The article’s stipulations regarding the ban on consuming harmful intoxicating beverages and drugs, other than for medical reasons, are influenced by Gandhian principles.. 

Implementation by Government

• Various states in India have alcohol prohibition in force for example Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram and Nagaland. It is believed that liquor prohibition leads to lowering of rates of ‘drinking’ among men and incidences of domestic violence against women. 

Article 48: Promoting Modern Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Practices

• The government shall strive to organize agriculture and animal husbandry through modern techniques and scientific approaches, specifically focusing on the preservation and enhancement of breeds, as well as enforcing a ban on the slaughter of cows, calves, and other milk-producing and draft animals. 

Implementation by the Government

States such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have implemented a complete ban on cow slaughter, while others like West Bengal permit it for old or unfit cows, provided a “fit for slaughter” certificate is obtained. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) was established as a statutory organization under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, and it advocates for dairy farming throughout India utilizing modern methods.