Fundamental Duties (Article 51A) | Part IVA

Table of Contents

Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2: Indian Constitution- Historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

About: Fundamental Duties (Article 51A) are basically the moral obligations (not the legal) on the Indian Citizen to promote the spirit of patriotism and preserve India’s unity.
42^nd Amendment: Ten Fundamental Duties (Article 51A) were added to the constitution by the 42^nd Constitutional Amendment Act,197.
- Part IV-A: 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act,1976 created Part IV-A in the Constitution under which all the Fundamental Duties are listed.
- 86^th Amendment: The 11th Fundamental Duty was later added to the list by the 86th Amendment Act of 2002.
Swaran Singh Committee: Fundamental Duties (Article 51A) were added in the Constitution on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee.
Source: Fundamental Duties (Article 51A) in the Indian Constitution derive their origin from the Constitution of the erstwhile USSR.

Constitutional Article	Provision
Art. 51 A (a)	To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem.
Art. 51 A (b)	To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom.
Art. 51 A (c)	To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.
Art. 51 A (d)	To defend the country and render national services when called upon to do so.
Art. 51 A (e)	To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic, and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.
Art. 51 A (f)	To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.
Art. 51 A (g)	To value, protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.
Art. 51 A (h)	To develop the scientific temper, humanism, and spirit of inquiry and reform.
Art. 51 A (i)	To safeguard public property and to abjure violence.
Art. 51 A (j)	To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement.
Art. 51 A (k)	Duty of the parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child, as the case may be, between the age of six and fourteen.

Nature of Fundamental Duties: Fundamental Duties are basically moral and civic obligations on the Citizen and are legally non-binding.
- For example: cherishing noble ideals of freedom struggle under Art. 51 A (b) is a moral precept while respecting the Constitution, National Flag and National Anthem under Art. 51 A (a) is a civic duty.
Scope of Fundamental Duties: The Fundamental Duties are applicable to citizens in India only and do not extend to foreigners.
Non-Justifiable in a Court of Law: The Constitution does not provide for direct enforcement of Fundamental Duties by the courts. Hence, Fundamental Duties are non-justiciable in a court of law.