Includes bibliographical references and index.

Idea of socialism and the Indian National Congress : the Nehru imprint -- Socialism and the right to property as a fundamental right : the constituent assembly debates -- Socialism as state policy : a brief discussion on the debate on directive principles in the constitutent assembly -- The Socialist agenda : reconciling fundamental rights with directive principles -- Property as fundamental right : the judiciary strikes again -- Restoring the balance : Keshavananda and the basic structure doctrine -- Integrating the directive principles into the fundamental rights -- Socialism and liberalization.