Fundamental Duties - Polity and constitution, UPSC, IAS. Notes | Study Polity and Constitution (Prelims) by IAS Masters - UPSC

Fundamental Duties

Chapter -7

Part –IVA consists of Article 51A on FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES

The original constitution did not contain the Fundamental Duties. These were added by the 42^nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee. Like the Directive Principles, these are non-justiciable, there is no legal sanction against their violation.

Article 51A

Fundamental duties —

The constitution states that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India—

1. to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
2. to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
3. to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
4. to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
5. 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;
6. to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
7. to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
8. to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
9. to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
10. to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.

To provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years (this was added by 86^th Amendment act, 2002).