Constitutional Vision and Inequality in India

Syllabus: Prelims Unit IV - Indian Polity

Historical Context and Constitutional Framework

• Constitution Day marks the 75th anniversary on November 26, 2024.
• Constituent Assembly included diverse ideological perspectives to balance interests of multiple cultural groups.
• Liberal framework adopted, emphasizing state intervention for social justice.

Constitutional Vision of Equality

Draws on John Rawls' egalitarian liberalism:

• Equal basic liberties.
• Equal opportunities.
• Difference principle ensuring benefits to the least advantaged.

Reflected in:

• Fundamental Rights (Part III).
• Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV).
• Article 38(2): State's duty to minimize income inequalities.
• Article 39(c): Prevents wealth concentration.

Supreme Court Interpretations

• D.S. Nakara Case (1982): Advocated socialism within the Constitution.
• Air India Statutory Corporation Case (1996): Stressed egalitarian social order.
• Samatha Case (1997): Viewed socialism as reducing inequalities.
• Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer interpreted Article 39(b) as promoting equitable resource distribution.

Economic Reforms and Rising Inequality

Post-1991 neoliberal reforms led to:

• Top 1% income share increasing from 6% (1980s) to 22.6% (2022-23).
• Top 1% wealth share reaching 40.1% (2022-23).

Labor Force Survey:

• Top 10% earn ₹25,000+ monthly.
• Bottom 90% earn less than ₹25,000 monthly.

Social and Economic Inequality Overlap

Billionaire wealth distribution (2022-23):

• Upper castes: 90%.
• OBCs: 10%.
• SCs: 2.6%.
• STs: No representation.

Trends from 2014-2022:

• OBC share reduced from 20% to 10%.
• Upper caste share rose from 80% to 90%.