What are the function of welfare state?

1) Protection of life and property:The first and the most important duty of the State are to protect the life and property of its people. Some writers are of the opinion that the State came into existence for this very purpose. The State makes laws regarding life and property. It checks others from interfering into the affairs of the individual. If any individual violates the law of the State, he is punished. The State regulates social life of the individual through laws. 2) Maintenance of peace and order:Every government should aim at securing peace and order within the country. There are be no progress of any kind unless there is peace and order in the country. It is, therefore, as much the duty of the government to make adequate arrangements for the maintenance of peace and order as it is duty of citizens to co­operate with the government in such a work. 3) Protection form external invasion or defense:External security means security from external danger either of a military invasion or of encroachment upon international rights. The State should, therefore, be in a fit condition to defend itself against foreign attacks. For this purpose, it maintains a standing army, a navy and to fight in defense of the State. In times of peace too, the State has to deal with foreign powers and looks after its international interest. It also maintains diplomatic relations with other countries. 4) Dispensing justice:It is an important function of the State that it should organize an independent and powerful judiciary. In the absence of an independent judiciary, people cannot have justice. The State must maintain civil and criminal courts to administer justice. No liberty is possible without rule of law. Those who violate law should be punished. The State should regulate the conduct and activities of individual in the interests of all.

These are the most essential functions of the State. These essential functions are called the protective or police functions. The State also performs a large number of optional functions. As T.H. Green writes that "the business of the State is not merely the business of police man of arresting wrongdoers or of ruthlessly enforcing contracts but for providing for men an equal chance as far as possible of releasing what is best in their intellectual or moral natures.