Fundamental Duties

Introduction to Fundamental Duties

Fundamental Duties are a set of moral obligations enjoined upon the citizens of India by the Constitution. They were added to the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee.

List of Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)

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 wildlife, 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 endeavor and achievement
11. To provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years (added by 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002)

Key Features of Fundamental Duties

• Non-justiciable in nature (cannot be enforced by courts)
• Apply only to citizens and not to foreigners
• Essentially taken from the Constitution of USSR
• Remind citizens that while enjoying rights, they have duties to perform
• Serve as warning against anti-national and antisocial activities
• Help courts in examining constitutional validity of laws

Comparison: Fundamental Rights vs Duties

Fundamental Rights	Fundamental Duties
Justiciable (enforceable by courts)	Non-justiciable (not enforceable by courts)
Available to both citizens and foreigners (except some)	Available only to citizens
Negative in nature (restrict government)	Positive in nature (require positive action)
Part III of Constitution (Articles 12-35)	Part IV-A of Constitution (Article 51A)
Adopted from US Constitution	Adopted from USSR Constitution

Significance of Fundamental Duties

Though not enforceable, Fundamental Duties serve several important purposes:

• They serve as a reminder to citizens that while enjoying their rights, they should be conscious of duties they owe to their country
• They warn citizens against anti-national and antisocial activities
• They inspire citizens to promote a sense of discipline and commitment
• They help the courts in examining the constitutional validity of a law
• They are used by the courts to determine the reasonableness of restrictions on Fundamental Rights

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