Fundamental Duties

1.Introduction

• Fundamental Duties and the Original ConstitutionImportance 4/5UPSC 2017
  Did the original Constitution of 1950 include duties for citizens? Understand how it covered the duties of the State through the Directive Principles of State Policy. Remember the year the citizens' duties were added, and understand why rights and duties are said to go together.
• Source of Fundamental Duties and Comparison with Other ConstitutionsImportance 5/5UPSC 2020
  Which country's constitution inspired India's Fundamental Duties? Understand how socialist countries linked a citizen's rights with their duties, and know how this compares with major democracies (USA, Canada, France, Germany, Australia) and with Japan.

2.Swaran Singh Committee Recommendations

• Swaran Singh Committee (1976)Importance 4/5
  Who set up the Swaran Singh Committee, and during which period was the need for duties felt? Know its main recommendation and why it wanted citizens to be aware of duties as well as rights.
• 42nd Amendment Act, Part IVA and Article 51AImportance 5/5
  Remember the Amendment Act that brought in the Fundamental Duties, the new Part it added and the single Article in that Part. How many duties did the committee suggest, and how many were finally included? Also know what the ruling party called the framers' decision to leave duties out.
• Committee Recommendations Not AcceptedImportance 4/5
  Some of the committee's recommendations were dropped and never entered the Constitution. Know all three: one on penalties for not following the duties, one on protecting such penalty laws from challenge in court, and one proposing an extra duty.

3.List of Fundamental Duties

• Duties on the Constitution, the Nation and Its DefenceImportance 5/5UPSC 1996, 2011, 2015
  Learn the first four duties in their exact words: respect for the Constitution, its ideals and institutions and the national symbols; the ideals of the freedom struggle; the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India; and defence of the country. Which national symbols does this duty name, and which well-known ones are left out?
• Duties on Harmony, Dignity of Women and Composite CultureImportance 4/5UPSC 2012, 2025
  Remember the duties on harmony and brotherhood, on the dignity of women, and on the country's composite culture, in their exact words. Which kinds of difference among Indians is this brotherhood meant to rise above?
• Duties on Environment and Scientific TemperImportance 5/5UPSC 2011, 2012
  What does the environment duty ask citizens to protect and improve, and what does it ask them to feel towards living creatures? Also remember the duty on scientific temper and the other qualities named with it.
• Duties on Public Property, Violence and ExcellenceImportance 4/5UPSC 2011, 2012
  Know the exact wording of the duties on public property and violence, and of the duty to strive for excellence. In which spheres should citizens aim for excellence, and for what national purpose?
• Duty to Provide Education (86th Amendment, 2002)Importance 5/5
  Who carries the duty on education, towards whom, and for which age group? Remember that this is the eleventh duty and the year it was added, and understand how it links with Article 21A.

4.Features of the Fundamental Duties

• Moral and Civic DutiesImportance 3/5UPSC 2017
  The duties are of two kinds, moral and civic. Understand the difference, and know one example of each from the list.
• Duties as Codification of Indian TraditionImportance 2/5
  In what sense are the duties said to codify values already found in Indian tradition, mythology, religions and practices?
• Who Is Bound by the Fundamental DutiesImportance 5/5
  Do the Fundamental Duties apply to foreigners as well as citizens? Be clear how this differs from Fundamental Rights, and remember which Articles give rights to all persons, foreigners included.
• Non-Justiciability and Enforcement by LawImportance 5/5UPSC 2017
  Can a court directly enforce a Fundamental Duty, and does the Constitution itself attach a penalty to breaking one? Understand how Parliament can still make them enforceable through law, and in what way they are like the Directive Principles.

5.Criticism of Fundamental Duties

• List Not Exhaustive and Vague Wording (D.D. Chawla)Importance 3/5UPSC 2011
  Which important duties do critics say are missing from the list, and which of them had the Swaran Singh Committee itself proposed? Also know which phrases are criticised as vague and hard for the common man to understand, a point made by D.D. Chawla.
• Moral Precepts and Superfluous Inclusion (C.K. Daphtary, A.K. Sen)Importance 3/5
  Why have critics called the duties a code of moral precepts, and why did some think adding them to the Constitution was superfluous (not needed)? Know the views of C.K. Daphtary and A.K. Sen against including them.
• Placement in Part IVAImportance 3/5
  Why do critics say that placing the duties in Part IVA, after Part IV, lowered their value? Where did they think the duties should have been placed instead, and why?

6.Significance of Fundamental Duties

• Reminder, Warning and Inspiration for CitizensImportance 4/5
  You should be able to explain how the duties work as a reminder, a warning and a source of inspiration for citizens. What kinds of acts do they warn against (with examples)?
• Duties in Judicial Interpretation (Mohan Kumar Singhania, Ramlila Maidan)Importance 5/5
  How can Article 51A help courts decide whether a law is constitutional? Know how the Supreme Court used the duty to strive for excellence (Article 51A(j)) in the Mohan Kumar Singhania case (1991). Understand the link between Parts III, IV and IVA that the court pointed out in the Ramlila Maidan case (2012).
• Government's Justification (H.R. Gokhale, Indira Gandhi)Importance 3/5
  Why did the government of the time add the duties to the Constitution? Understand the argument of H.R. Gokhale (about the effect duties would have on people who took part in agitations) and of Indira Gandhi (about rights and duties in a democracy).
• Post-Emergency Consensus on Fundamental DutiesImportance 4/5
  The Opposition strongly opposed the duties in 1976. What did the Janata Government do with them after the Emergency? Remember that it reversed many other 42nd Amendment changes through the 43rd (1977) and 44th (1978) Amendment Acts. Understand why its choice, and the duty added in 2002, are seen as signs of a consensus.

7.Verma Committee Observations

• Verma Committee (1999) and Laws on National Honour and Social HarmonyImportance 4/5
  What did the Verma Committee on Fundamental Duties of the Citizens (1999) point out about existing laws? Know which duty each of these laws supports and what it does: the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act (1971), the Protection of Civil Rights Act (1955, and its earlier name), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (1967), the Representation of the People Act (1951), and the criminal laws against spreading enmity between groups and against claims harmful to national integration.
• Laws Protecting Forests and WildlifeImportance 3/5
  Remember the two laws that support the environment duty: the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Know that the forest law was renamed in 2023 as the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. What does each one prohibit or check?

1. 1.

   Consider the following statements:
   1. The Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution are inspired by the Constitution of the erstwhile USSR.
   2. The Japanese Constitution is perhaps the only democratic Constitution in the world that contains a list of duties of citizens.
   3. The Constitution of the USA contains a specific list of duties of citizens.
   Which of the statements given above are correct?

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
2. 2.

   Consider the following recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee:
   1. Parliament may impose penalties for non-compliance with any of the duties.
   2. A law imposing such penalties should not be questioned in any court for infringing Fundamental Rights.
   3. The duty to pay taxes should be a Fundamental Duty.
   4. A separate chapter on Fundamental Duties should be included in the Constitution.
   How many of the above recommendations were NOT incorporated in the Constitution?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. COnly three
   4. DAll four
3. 3.

   Consider the following statements:
   Statement-I: The Swaran Singh Committee suggested the incorporation of eight Fundamental Duties in the Constitution.
   Statement-II: The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976) included ten Fundamental Duties.
   Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

   1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
   2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
   3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
   4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
4. 4.

   Consider the following statements:
   1. The duty to provide opportunities for education to one's child or ward between six and fourteen years was added by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002.
   2. Like some Fundamental Rights, the Fundamental Duties extend to foreigners as well.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
5. 5.

   Consider the following:
   1. To develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform
   2. To pay taxes
   3. To safeguard public property and to abjure violence
   4. To cast one's vote in elections
   How many of the above are Fundamental Duties listed in Article 51A?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. COnly three
   4. DAll four
6. 6.

   In which one of the following cases did the Supreme Court hold that Article 51A can be used to interpret ambiguous laws in order to determine their constitutionality?

   1. ARamlila Maidan Incident case
   2. BMinerva Mills case
   3. CKesavananda Bharati case
   4. DMohan Kumar Singhania case
7. 7.

   Match List I with List II:

   List I (Person)	List II (View on Fundamental Duties)
   A. H.R. Gokhale	1. Over 99.9 per cent of citizens are law-abiding, so there is no need to tell them their duties
   B. Indira Gandhi	2. The duties would have a sobering effect on restless spirits
   C. C.K. Daphtary	3. Duties should be worded so as to catch the imagination of the common man
   D. D.D. Chawla	4. The duties would establish a democratic balance between rights and duties

   Select the correct answer using the code given below:

   1. AA-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
   2. BA-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
   3. CA-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
   4. DA-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
8. 8.

   Consider the following pairs:

   Law	Fundamental Duty-related provision
   1. Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971	Prevents disrespect to the Constitution, the National Flag and the National Anthem
   2. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972	Prohibits trade in rare and endangered species
   3. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980	Provides for declaring a communal organisation an unlawful association

   How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. CAll three
   4. DNone
9. 9.

   Consider the following statements:
   1. The Fundamental Duties are non-justiciable, but Parliament is free to enforce them by suitable legislation.
   2. The Janata Government annulled the Fundamental Duties through the 44th Amendment Act (1978).
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
10. 10.

    Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: Critics argued that placing the Fundamental Duties as an appendage to Part IV reduced their value and significance.
    Statement-II: Part IVA of the Constitution contains Articles 51A to 51D.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
    2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
    3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
    4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

1. 1.

   UPSC 2025

   Consider the following pairs : Provision in the Constitution of India : Stated under
   I. Separation of Judiciary from the Executive in the public services of the State : The Directive Principles of the State Policy
   II. Valuing and preserving of the rich heritage of our composite culture : The Fundamental Duties
   III. Prohibition of employment of children below the age of 14 years in factories : The Fundamental Rights
   How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. CAll the three
   4. DNone
2. 2.

   UPSC 2017

   Which of the following statements is/are true of the Fundamental Duties of an Indian citizen ?
   1. A legislative process has been provided to enforce these duties.
   2. They are correlative to legal duties.
   Select the correct answer using the code given below :

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
3. 3.

   UPSC 2017

   In the context of India, which one of the following is the correct relationship between Rights and Duties ?

   1. ARights are correlative with Duties.
   2. BRights are personal and hence independent of society and Duties.
   3. CRights, not Duties, are important for the advancement of the personality of the citizen.
   4. DDuties, not Rights, are important for the stability of the State.
4. 4.

   UPSC 2015

   "To uphold and protect the Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity of India" is a provision made in the

   1. APreamble of the Constitution
   2. BDirective Principles of State Policy
   3. CFundamental Rights
   4. DFundamental Duties
5. 5.

   UPSC 2012

   Which of the following is/are among the Fundamental Duties of citizens laid down in the Indian Constitution?
   1. To preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture
   2. To protect the weaker sections from social injustice
   3. To develop the scientific temper and spirit of inquiry
   4. To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity
   Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B2 only
   3. C1, 3 and 4 only
   4. D1, 2, 3 and 4
6. 6.

   UPSC 2011

   Under the Constitution of India, which one of the following is not a fundamental duty?

   1. ATo vote in public elections
   2. BTo develop the scientific temper
   3. CTo safeguard public property
   4. DTo abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals
7. 7.

   UPSC 1996

   Consider the following statements: No one can be compelled to sing the National Anthem since
   I. It will be violative of the Right to freedom of speech and expression.
   II. It will be violative of the Right to freedom of conscience and practise and propagation of religion.
   III. There is no legal provision obliging any one to sing the National Anthem.
   Of these statements

   1. AI and II are correct
   2. BII and III are correct
   3. CI, II and III are correct
   4. DNone is correct
8. 8.

   UPSC 2020

   Other than the Fundamental Rights, which of the following parts of the Constitution of India reflect/reflects the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) ?
   1. Preamble
   2. Directive Principles of State Policy
   3. Fundamental Duties
   Select the correct answer using the code given below :

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B2 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3