Article 48:
Organisation of Agriculture & Animal Husbandry
A cornerstone of India's agrarian & livestock policy — promoting scientific farming, prohibiting cow slaughter, and uplifting rural economy. Deeply intertwined with ethics, economy, and federal structure.
48. Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry
The State shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle.
Part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), Article 48 is not justiciable but fundamental in governance — shaping laws, policies, and the moral framework of Indian agriculture.
- Scientific Agriculture: Modernize farming, increase productivity, and ensure food security.
- Animal Husbandry Reform: Improve breeds of cows, buffaloes, and draught animals.
- Cow Protection: Moral & economic rationale — prohibition of slaughter of cows, calves, and other milch cattle.
- Rural Livelihoods: Supports millions engaged in dairy and related sectors.
✔️ Legislative Impact: Several states enacted anti-cow slaughter laws under Article 48 guidance.
✔️ White Revolution 2.0: Modern dairying, cooperatives like Amul embody scientific animal husbandry.
✔️ Sustainable Agriculture: Government schemes (SMAM, NMSA) align with modern scientific lines.
✔️ Judicial View: Supreme Court has emphasized the balance between DPSP & fundamental rights; Article 48 remains a beacon for animal welfare & agricultural reforms.
Evolving interpretationState of Gujarat v. Mirzapur Moti Kureshi (2005)
SC upheld constitutional validity of state cow protection laws, citing Article 48 as a directive to preserve cattle wealth, balancing with trade rights under Article 19(1)(g).
Kerala Education Bill (1958)
Established that though DPSPs are non-justiciable, they are fundamental in governance — Article 48 influences agricultural policy & planning commission mandates.
India’s National Agriculture Policy, 2023 framework, and Digital Agriculture Mission echo the constitutional spirit of Article 48. With focus on climate-resilient farming, livestock vaccination programs (NADIS), and promoting indigenous breeds, Article 48 remains relevant for Viksit Bharat @2047. Additionally, it aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals — Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Decent Work (SDG 8), and Life on Land (SDG 15).