Indian Polity — Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)

Figure 1: Fundamental Duties are listed in Article 51A and are frequently tested in UPSC examinations.

1. Introduction

The Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution are borrowed from the Constitution of the erstwhile USSR.
It was based on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee.
The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 added a new part, namely, Part IV-A to the Constitution.
The article, for the first time, specified a code of ten fundamental duties of the citizens.
Originally 10 in number, one more duty was added through the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002.
All the eleven duties are listed in Article 51-A of the Constitution (the sole Article in Part IV-A).

KNOWLEDGE NUGGET

It shall be the duty of every citizen of India —

(a) To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem;
(b) To cherish and follow the noble ideals that inspired the national struggle for freedom;
(c) To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India;
(d) To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
(e) To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic, and regional or sectional diversities and to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
(f) To value and preserve the rich heritage of the country's composite culture;
(g) To protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) To develop scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
(i) To safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
(j) 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;
(k) To provide opportunities for education to his/her child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years (added by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002).

KEY POINTS

Aspect	Details
Part	Part IV-A
Article	Article 51A
Added by	42nd CAA, 1976
Inspired by	USSR Constitution
Recommended by	Swaran Singh Committee
Total Duties	11 (10 + 1 added by 86th CAA, 2002)
11th Duty	Education for children aged 6-14 years
Nature	Non-justiciable (not enforceable by courts)

Key Takeaways for UPSC

Part IV-A: Article 51A — Fundamental Duties
Added by: 42nd CAA, 1976 — based on Swaran Singh Committee recommendations
Inspired by: USSR Constitution
Total Duties: 11 (10 originally + 1 added by 86th CAA, 2002)
11th Duty: Education for children aged 6-14 years (86th CAA, 2002)
Nature: Non-justiciable — not enforceable by courts
Key Duties: Respect Constitution/Flag/Anthem, uphold sovereignty, promote harmony, preserve culture, protect environment, develop scientific temper, safeguard public property, strive for excellence

High-Yield Interactive UPSC Quiz (Fundamental Duties)

Q1. Fundamental Duties were added to the Constitution by which amendment?

Correct Answer: B. Fundamental Duties were added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, which added Part IV-A (Article 51A).

Q2. The Fundamental Duties are inspired by which country's Constitution?

Correct Answer: C. The Fundamental Duties are inspired by the Constitution of the erstwhile USSR.

Q3. Which committee recommended the inclusion of Fundamental Duties?

Correct Answer: C. The Swaran Singh Committee recommended the inclusion of Fundamental Duties in the Constitution.

Q4. How many Fundamental Duties were originally added in 1976?

Correct Answer: C. Originally 10 Fundamental Duties were added by the 42nd CAA, 1976. One more was added by the 86th CAA, 2002, making it 11.

Q5. The 11th Fundamental Duty was added by which amendment?

Correct Answer: B. The 11th Fundamental Duty (providing education to children aged 6-14) was added by the 86th CAA, 2002.

Q6. Which Article of the Constitution deals with Fundamental Duties?

Correct Answer: B. Fundamental Duties are listed in Article 51A, which is the sole Article in Part IV-A.

Q7. The 11th Fundamental Duty provides for:

Correct Answer: C. The 11th Fundamental Duty (added by the 86th CAA, 2002) provides for education to children aged 6-14 years.

Q8. Fundamental Duties are:

Correct Answer: B. Fundamental Duties are non-justiciable, meaning they are not enforceable by courts.

Q9. Which of the following is NOT a Fundamental Duty?

Correct Answer: C. Paying taxes is NOT a Fundamental Duty. It is a legal obligation under various taxation laws.

Q10. The duty to develop scientific temper is mentioned under which clause of Article 51A?

Correct Answer: C. The duty to develop scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform is mentioned under Article 51A(h).