Fundamental Duties of India
The 42nd Amendment to the Constitution was enacted in 1976 under which Fundamental duties were added after the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee, which had been formed by the government earlier that year. The 86th Amendment, which put the responsibility on every parent or guardian to ensure that their child or ward has chances for education between the ages of six and fourteen years, raised the fundamental responsibilities from 10 to eleven in 2002.
Other basic responsibilities include respecting India's national symbols, such as the constitution, cherishing its past, maintaining its composite culture, and helping in its defence. They also require all Indians to foster the spirit of common brotherhood, safeguard the environment and public property, cultivate a scientific temperament, refrain from violence, and strive for excellence in all areas of life.
What are Fundamental Duties?
Fundamental Duties are said to be one of the fundamental obligations mentioned in the Constitution of India ( Others are Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles of State ). These are the moral as well as civic obligations or duties that citizens should fulfill. In the Indian Constitution, these were not added originally by the founding fathers but later it was added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.
List of Fundamental Duties
The following are the fundamental duties of India defined in the constitution:
To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem.
To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom.
To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so.
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.
To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.
To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.
To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
To safeguard public property and to abjure violence.
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 (added by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002).
Important Facts Related to Fundamental Duties
Features of Fundamental Duties
The essential features of the Fundamental Duties are mentioned below:
The Fundamental Duties are said to be non - justiciable in nature which means they are not said to be enforced by the courts similar to fundamental rights.
Some Fundamental Rights are given to both citizens as well as foreigners but fundamental duties are only for Indian citizens.
Even they are not directly enforceable under the Part IVA but still these duties can be enforced indirectly with the presence of different laws that govern such acts. For example, Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 deals with prohibition of desecration or any kind of insult to the National symbols.
Importance of Fundamental Duties
Fundamental duties are inextricably linked to fundamental rights. The importance of both is listed below:
It serves as a constant reminder to citizens that while exercising their constitutional rights, they must be aware of their duties to their nation and to other citizens.
These serve as a warning to the public against anti-social acts that defame the nation, including flag burning, destroying public property, and disturbing public order.
These contribute to the development of a feeling of discipline and patriotism. They contribute to the achievement of national goals through active citizen engagement rather than passive viewership.
It helps the Court in determining the law's constitutionality. For example, any law passed by legislatures would be considered reasonable when brought before a court for constitutional legitimacy if it is enforcing any Fundamental Duty.
They can be enforced by law; parliament has the authority to impose any form of penalty or punishment for any violation of the Fundamental Duties.
Criticism of Fundamental Duties
Part IVA of the Constitution's Fundamental Duties has been criticised for the following reasons:
Because of their non-justiciable nature, opponents have referred to them as a set of moral principles. Their presence in the Constitution was deemed unnecessary by some. This is because the people would execute the obligations listed in the Constitution as basic even if they were not included in the Constitution.
Some of the responsibilities are unclear, confusing, and difficult to comprehend for the average person.
The list of duties is not complete, as it leaves out key responsibilities such as voting, paying taxes, and family planning. In reality, the Swaran Singh Committee suggested that people be required to pay taxes.
The inclusion of fundamental duties as an appendix to Part IV of the Constitution, according to some, has diminished their meaning and relevance. To maintain them on a level with Fundamental Rights, they should have been included after Part III.
The Swaran Singh Committee proposed more than ten Fundamental Duties, however, not all of them were adopted in the Constitution. The following were among the committee's conclusions that were not accepted:
Any non-compliance with or unwillingness to follow any of the responsibilities would be penalized/punished by the parliament.
The punishments/penalties imposed by Parliament must not be challenged in any court on the basis of a violation of one or more Fundamental Rights or a violation of any other provision of the Constitution.
Taxes must be paid.
Conclusion
Therefore, Article 51A of Part IV A of the Indian Constitution deals with the fundamental duties of Indian citizens which is said to be one of the important sections of the constitution. The most important point needs to remember is they are sourced from the Russian Constitution and these were added by an amendment. These are not directly enforceable as per the constitution.
FAQs on Fundamental Duties
1. What are the Fundamental Duties as per the Indian Constitution for the year 2025-26?
Fundamental Duties are a set of moral and civic obligations for all citizens of India. They are detailed in Part IV-A of the Constitution under Article 51A. These duties were added to remind citizens that while they enjoy Fundamental Rights, they also have responsibilities towards the nation. As of 2025-26, there are a total of eleven Fundamental Duties that serve as a guide for promoting patriotism and upholding national unity.
2. What are the 11 Fundamental Duties listed in Article 51A of the Indian Constitution?
The 11 Fundamental Duties prescribed for every citizen of India are as follows:
- To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals, institutions, the National Flag, and the National Anthem.
- To cherish and follow the noble ideals that inspired the national struggle for freedom.
- To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.
- To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so.
- To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all people of India, transcending religious, linguistic, and regional diversities.
- To value and preserve the rich heritage of the country's composite culture.
- To protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.
- To develop scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
- To safeguard public property and to abjure violence.
- To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity.
- To provide opportunities for education to one's child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years.
3. Why were Fundamental Duties not part of the original Constitution of India?
The framers of the original Constitution believed that citizens in a democratic republic would inherently perform their duties and that explicitly stating them was not necessary. However, during the Internal Emergency (1975-1977), the Swaran Singh Committee was formed, which recommended their inclusion. The committee felt a need to make citizens conscious of their responsibilities, asserting that rights and duties are interconnected. This led to their introduction to foster a culture of national commitment.
4. What is the key difference between Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties?
The primary difference lies in their nature and legal enforceability:
- Fundamental Rights are entitlements guaranteed to citizens by the Constitution, which protect them from state excesses. They are justiciable, meaning a citizen can approach a court of law if their rights are violated.
- Fundamental Duties, on the other hand, are moral obligations on citizens to act in a certain way. They are non-justiciable, which means they are not directly enforceable by courts. They serve as a moral and ethical guide for citizens.
In short, Rights are what citizens receive, while Duties are what the nation expects from its citizens.
5. Are the Fundamental Duties legally enforceable in a court of law?
No, Fundamental Duties are non-justiciable and cannot be directly enforced by the judiciary. A citizen cannot be penalised by a court solely for the violation of a Fundamental Duty. However, the Parliament is empowered to enact laws to implement these duties. For instance, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, enforces the duty of respecting the National Flag and Anthem, and various environmental laws enforce the duty of protecting the environment.
6. Which constitutional amendments introduced the Fundamental Duties?
The Fundamental Duties were incorporated into the Constitution through two significant amendments. The initial ten duties were added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 based on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee. The eleventh duty, concerning education for children, was added much later by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2002.
7. What is the real-world importance of having Fundamental Duties in the Constitution?
The importance of Fundamental Duties is immense as they serve several practical purposes:
- They act as a constant reminder to citizens of their responsibilities towards society and the nation.
- They serve as a source of inspiration for citizens and promote a sense of discipline and patriotism.
- They help the courts in examining and determining the constitutional validity of a law.
- They strengthen the unity and integrity of India by promoting a spirit of common brotherhood among all citizens.
8. From which country's constitution was the concept of Fundamental Duties borrowed?
The inspiration for including Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution was drawn from the constitution of the former Soviet Union (USSR). At the time of their incorporation in 1976, the USSR was one of the few major countries whose constitution specified the duties of its citizens, and this model was considered a suitable precedent for India.
