Which principle among the following was added to the Directive Principles of State Policy by the 42 nd Amendment to the Constitution?

The correct answer is B. The 42nd Amendment (1976) inserted Article 43A, which directs the State to secure the participation of workers in the management of undertakings, establishments or other organisations engaged in any industry. It sits in Part IV alongside Article 43, which asks for a living wage for workers.

• A is wrong. Equal pay for equal work is Article 39(d), part of the original 1950 text.
• C is wrong. The right to work, education and public assistance is Article 41, also original. It was not added in 1976.
• D is wrong. Living wage and humane conditions of work are Article 43, again original. The 42nd Amendment did not create it.

The 42nd Amendment also added Article 39A (free legal aid), Article 48A (environment protection) and extended the DPSP framework generally. It is often called a 'mini constitution' for this reason. For Mains, Article 43A links to industrial democracy, worker co-determination and the labour-capital debate.

Trap: Aspirants see 'worker welfare' in several options and assume the newest-sounding one is the 42nd Amendment addition. Check which article carries the amendment's number before you mark.