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.
Fundamental Duties (Article 51A): Part IV-A
- 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.
- 42nd Amendment: Ten Fundamental Duties (Article 51A) were added to the constitution by the 42nd 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.
- 86th 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.
Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)- List of Fundamental Duties
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. |
Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)- Key Features
- 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.
List of Major Constitutional Amendment Acts- Part 1
List of Major Constitutional Amendment Acts- Part 2
List of Major Constitutional Amendment Acts- Part 3
Classification of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs)
42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976
44th Constitutional Amendment Act
Type of Writs in Indian Constitution and their Scope- Article 32 and Article 226