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Fundamental Duties
What are fundamental duties –
• These are morally obligated duties for citizens prescribed in Part IVA of the
constitution.
• Fundamental Duties are incorporated in constitution through 42nd Constitutional
Amendment Act, 1976.
• These were added on the recommendations of Swaran Singh Committee formed in
1976.
• These are mentioned under Article 51A of the constitution.

Salient features of Fundamental Duties-

• Initially 10 Fundamental Duties were added through 42nd Constitution Amendment
Act, 1976 and later one more added in 2002 by 86th Constitutional Amendment Act
and hence presently 11 Fundamental Duties are there.
• The Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution are inspired by USSR.
• They are confined to citizens and not extend to foreigners.
• Fundamental Duties are not justifiable.
• They are enforceable by law.

Eleven Fundamental Duties mentioned under Article 51A:

1. To abide by constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, it includes National
Flag and National Anthem
2. The ideals inspired by national struggle for freedom should be cherished and followed
3. To safeguard the Sovereignty, unity and integrity of India
4. To protect the country and render national service in case of need
5. To promote harmony and fraternity amongst all the people of India transcending
religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities and to respect women and
oppose practises derogatory to women
6. To preserve and respect the rich heritage of the country’s diverse and composite
culture
7. To conserve and develop the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and
wildlife
8. To develop the spirit of inquiry, scientific temper and humanism
9. To protect public property and to condemn violence
10. To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity for
constant rises of nation to higher levels of endeavour and achievement
11. To provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of six
and fourteen years (this was added by 86th constitutional amendment act, 2002)

Importance of Fundamental Duties is as follow-

• They help courts in examining the constitutional validity of any legislation.
• They serve as source of inspiration for citizens regarding participative and inclusive
democratic government.
• They act as warning against anti social and anti national activities like rioting,
annihilation of public properties, burning of national flag etc.
• They remind citizens that rights and duties are inseparable and correlative.

Notes-
• ‘Duty to pay taxes’ was recommended by Swaran Singh committee as FD but not
accepted by the Central government.
• Justice Verma Committee was constituted in 1998 for identification of legal
provisions for implementation of Fundamental Duties.
• The Fundamental Duties of Indian Constitution are in line with article 29 (1) of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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• National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution recommended inclusion

of some more fundamental duties like duty to vote in an election, duty to pay taxes and
duty to resist injustice
• Fundamental Duties are categorized into two parts-
1. Moral Duty: promote harmony; strive towards excellence, cherishing noble ideals of
freedom struggle etc.
2. Civic Duty: Respecting the Constitution, National Flag and National Anthem.