Home The Constitution Part IV Article 39

Art. 39 Part IV: Directive Principles of State Policy

Certain Principles of Policy

Exact text — Constitution of India

The State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards securing—(a) that the citizens, men and women equally, have the right to an adequate means of livelihood; (b) that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good; (c) that the operation of the economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment; (d) that there is equal pay for equal work for both men and women; (e) that the health and strength of workers, men and women, and the tender age of children are not abused and that citizens are not forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength; (f) that children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

A cluster of six economic-justice directives packed into one Article — equal right to livelihood for men and women (39(a)), fair distribution of resources for the common good (39(b), the basis for Article 31C's protection), preventing wealth concentration (39(c)), equal pay for equal work (39(d)), protecting workers' health and preventing economically-forced unsuitable labour (39(e)), and protecting children's healthy development from exploitation (39(f)).

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

Article 39(d)'s equal pay for equal work has real teeth today — Parliament implemented it through the Equal Remuneration Act (now folded into the Code on Wages, 2019), and courts have used it to strike down pay discrimination between men and women doing the same job. Article 39(e) and (f) similarly underpin child labour and worker safety laws.

Landmark Cases

How courts have interpreted this Article

Randhir Singh v. Union of IndiaAIR 1982 SC 879 — Read Article 39(d)'s 'equal pay for equal work' together with Article 14, holding it can be enforced as a constitutional principle in appropriate cases, not merely an unenforceable ideal. Verify this case

Read alongside this one

Art. 39a — Equal Justice and Free Legal Aid Art. 23 — Prohibition of Forced Labour

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 39

Is equal pay for equal work directly enforceable?

Through the Equal Remuneration Act / Code on Wages and its interpretation alongside Article 14, courts have given this specific principle real enforceable weight, unlike many other Directive Principles.

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The text above reproduces Article 39 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.