Which part of the Contitution of India declares the ideal of Welfare State?

The answer is A. The Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV (Articles 36 to 51) are the operational blueprint of the welfare state. Article 38 directs the State to promote the welfare of the people by securing a social order in which justice, social, economic and political, informs all institutions. Articles 39, 41, 43 and 47 spell out specific duties on livelihood, public assistance, living wages and nutrition.

Why not the others:

• B) Fundamental Rights (Part III) are justiciable and mostly enforceable against the State. They are a liberal-democratic guarantee, not a welfare mandate.
• C) Preamble states the broad vision of justice, liberty and equality. The word 'socialist' entered only through the 42nd Amendment (1976). It sets the spirit of the document, but the welfare obligations are located in Part IV.
• D) Seventh Schedule divides subjects among the Union, State and Concurrent Lists. It deals with federal distribution of powers, not welfare.

Core concept: a welfare state is one where the State actively works for social and economic security. DPSP is non-justiciable under Article 37, so it guides policy rather than creating enforceable rights. Mains link: GS2 on the directive-fundamental rights debate and DPSP-based social legislation like MGNREGA.

Trap: Candidates pick the Preamble because it 'declares' ideals. The Preamble states the vision, but the welfare state is spelled out as a directive in Part IV.