Chapter 8 · Topic 8.1 · Prelims + Mains1 of 3
Fundamental Duties: Origin and the list of duties
Key points
- Part IVA, Art 51A: eleven duties; citizens only; not enforceable by courts on their own; Parliament can give them force by law.
- Source: former USSR. Swaran Singh Committee (1976) proposed eight; 42nd Amendment (1976) added ten, (a)–(j).
- 86th Amendment (2002): clause (k), parents to provide education ages 6–14 (with Art 21A).
- Verma Committee (1999): listed laws already enforcing several duties. Rights are correlative with duties (2017, a).
7 PYQs 2012–2025
Prelims box: facts and traps
- Not accepted: penalties for breach; duty to pay taxes.
On this page (3 sections)
What Fundamental Duties are, and where they sit
Like a hostel’s rights come with chores: you may use the common room, but you must also keep it clean.
The original Constitution of 1950 listed rights in detail but said nothing about the citizen’s duties. That gap was filled in 1976. Part IVA, a single article, Art 51A, now lists eleven Fundamental Duties.
| Who | Where | Force |
|---|---|---|
| Citizens only. Foreigners are not bound by Art 51A, though some Fundamental Rights extend to them. | Part IVA, Art 51A, placed right after the Directive Principles (Arts 36–51). | Not enforceable by courts on their own. Parliament can give them force through ordinary laws. |
Why add duties at all? A right in one person’s hand is a duty in another’s. If you have a right to free speech, others have a duty not to silence you, and you have a duty not to use your speech to destroy someone else’s rights. In the Indian scheme, rights are correlative with duties: the two come as a pair (Prelims 2017).
In the context of India, which one of the following is the correct relationship between Rights and Duties?
- Rights are correlative with Duties.
- Rights are personal and hence independent of society and Duties.
- Rights, not Duties, are important for the advancement of the personality of the citizen.
- Duties, not Rights, are important for the stability of the State.
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Answer: (a) · UPSC official key
Origin. The idea came from the constitution of the former USSR. Among democracies, few constitutions list citizens’ duties in this way; Japan’s is one example students often cite.
What UPSC asks: Prelims: number of duties (11), Part IVA, Art 51A; Swaran Singh Committee; 42nd and 86th Amendments. Mains: duties as the counterpart of rights. Next likely angle: who recommended them and how many the committee proposed.
How the duties were added: 1976 and 2002
1976. The government set up the Sardar Swaran Singh Committee to recommend constitutional changes. It recommended a separate chapter of Fundamental Duties, listing eight. Parliament went further: the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 inserted Part IVA with ten duties, clauses (a) to (j).
Not accepted: penalties for not following the duties, and a duty to pay taxes.
2002. The eleventh duty, clause (k), came with the 86th Amendment Act, 2002. The same amendment made education for children aged 6 to 14 a Fundamental Right in Art 21A. Clause (k) puts the matching duty on parents and guardians.
| 1976 | Swaran Singh Committee | Recommends a chapter of duties (eight). |
| 1976 | 42nd Amendment | Inserts Part IVA, Art 51A, clauses (a)–(j). |
| 1999 | Verma Committee report | Lists existing laws that already enforce several duties. |
| 2002 | 86th Amendment | Adds clause (k): parents and guardians to provide education, ages 6–14. |
What UPSC asks: Prelims: source (USSR); year added (1976); 11th duty added in 2002. Mains: rarely asked alone. Next likely angle: Verma Committee (1999) on making duties work.
→ 42nd Amendment (1976) The amendment that created Part IVA.
→ 86th Amendment (2002) Art 21A and duty (k) in one package.
The eleven duties, clause by clause
| Clause | Every citizen shall… |
|---|---|
| (a) | abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem |
| (b) | cherish and follow the noble ideals that inspired the national struggle for freedom |
| (c) | uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India |
| (d) | defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so |
| (e) | promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood among all the people of India, transcending religious, linguistic, regional or sectional diversities; renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women |
| (f) | value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture |
| (g) | protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and have compassion for living creatures |
| (h) | develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform |
| (i) | safeguard public property and abjure violence |
| (j) | strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity, so that the nation keeps rising to higher levels of endeavour and achievement |
| (k) | if a parent or guardian, provide opportunities for education to one’s child or ward between six and fourteen years of age (86th Amendment, 2002) |
Wording paraphrased closely from Art 51A; the clause letters are what exams use.
“To uphold and protect the Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity of India” is a provision made in the
- Preamble of the Constitution
- Directive Principles of State Policy
- Fundamental Rights
- Fundamental Duties
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Answer: (d) · UPSC official key
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 and 2 only
- 2 only
- 1, 3 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
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Answer: (c) · UPSC official key
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 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?
- Only one
- Only two
- All the three
- None
Show answer
Answer: (c) · UPSC official key
Clause letters by theme:
- a–d, nation: Constitution, freedom ideals, sovereignty, defence.
- e–f, society: harmony, culture.
- g–h, nature and mind: environment, scientific temper.
- i–j, public life: property, excellence.
- k, family: education.
What UPSC asks: Prelims: which item is or is not a Fundamental Duty (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017). Mains: rarely asked directly. Next likely angle: duties that overlap with DPSPs (environment, heritage).
Mains box: analysis and answer points
- Duties as the counterpart of rights.
Practice
Practice MCQs (8)
Consider the following statements:
1. The 86th Amendment Act, 2002 added the eleventh Fundamental Duty.
2. The 86th Amendment Act, 2002 added a Fundamental Duty to vote in elections.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer (a) & explanation
Statement 1 is correct: the 86th Amendment Act, 2002 added Article 51A(k), the eleventh Fundamental Duty. The same amendment inserted Article 21A (right to free and compulsory education for children aged six to fourteen) and substituted Article 45 (early childhood care up to six). Statement 2 is incorrect: clause (k) requires a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to a child or ward between six and fourteen. Voting is not a Fundamental Duty; the right to vote under Article 326 is a constitutional right, and compulsory voting has never been adopted.
Where in the Constitution of India are the Fundamental Duties of citizens laid down?
Answer (a) & explanation
The Fundamental Duties are listed in a single provision, Article 51A, which forms the whole of Part IVA of the Constitution. Both were inserted by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, and Part IVA was placed just after Part IV on the Directive Principles (Articles 36–51). Article 51A originally had ten clauses, (a) to (j); clause (k) was added in 2002. Article 51 is the last Directive Principle (international peace and security), Article 50 separates the judiciary from the executive, and Article 35 closes Part III on Fundamental Rights.
Consider the following statements:
1. The Constitution as adopted in 1949 contained a short list of Fundamental Duties.
2. The Swaran Singh Committee had recommended eight Fundamental Duties.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer (b) & explanation
Statement 2 is correct: the Swaran Singh Committee, set up by the Congress in 1976, recommended eight Fundamental Duties. The government accepted the idea but the 42nd Amendment (1976) finally inserted ten duties, more than the committee had suggested, while dropping some of its proposals, such as the duty to pay taxes. Statement 1 is incorrect: the original Constitution of 1949–50 contained no Fundamental Duties at all, though the Constituent Assembly had debated duties; Part IVA came only in 1976.
Which one of the following statements about the origin of the Fundamental Duties is NOT correct?
Answer (b) & explanation
Statement (b) is not correct: the Swaran Singh Committee in fact proposed that Parliament may provide for a penalty or punishment for non-compliance with the duties, and that such a law should not be questioned in court on the ground of violating Fundamental Rights. These proposals were not accepted. The other statements are correct: the duties were inserted by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, while the internal Emergency (June 1975 to March 1977) was in force; Article 51A is the only Article in Part IVA; and the duties were not in the Constitution of 1950.
The Fundamental Duties were inserted in the Constitution of India when the Prime Minister was
Answer (b) & explanation
The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, which inserted the Fundamental Duties, was passed when Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister, during the internal Emergency of 1975–77. Her Congress party had set up the Swaran Singh Committee earlier in 1976 to suggest constitutional changes. Morarji Desai's Janata government (1977–79) passed the 43rd and 44th Amendments, which undid many Emergency-era changes but kept the duties. Charan Singh was Prime Minister briefly in 1979–80, and Rajiv Gandhi from 1984 to 1989.
The idea of including Fundamental Duties in the Constitution of India was mainly inspired by the Constitution of
Answer (c) & explanation
The idea of Fundamental Duties was taken mainly from the Constitution of the erstwhile USSR, which set out the duties of citizens alongside their rights. Among major democracies, few constitutions list citizens' duties; Japan is one of the few exceptions. The USA gave India the Fundamental Rights and judicial review, Ireland gave the Directive Principles, and Canada gave the quasi-federal structure with a strong Centre and residuary powers with the Union.
Consider the following statements:
1. The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 inserted eleven Fundamental Duties.
2. Parliament adopted the Swaran Singh Committee's suggestion of a duty to pay taxes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer (d) & explanation
Both statements are incorrect. The 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 inserted ten Fundamental Duties, clauses (a) to (j) of Article 51A. The eleventh, clause (k) on education, came only with the 86th Amendment Act, 2002. Statement 2 is wrong: the Swaran Singh Committee had suggested a duty to pay taxes, but Parliament did not adopt it, along with the committee's proposals on penalties for non-compliance. Paying taxes is therefore not a Fundamental Duty, a gap critics often point out.
In which year did the Constitution of India first come to contain eleven Fundamental Duties?
Answer (d) & explanation
The Constitution first contained eleven Fundamental Duties in 2002, when the 86th Amendment Act added Article 51A(k), the duty of a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to a child aged six to fourteen. In 1976, the 42nd Amendment had inserted ten duties. The 44th Amendment (1978), passed by the Janata government, reversed many changes made by the 42nd Amendment but left the duties untouched. 1992 was the year of the 73rd and 74th Amendments on local government, which have nothing to do with the duties.
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Prelims PYQs on this topic (7)
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 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?
Answer (c) & explanation
All three pairs are correctly matched (c). Pair I is right: separation of the judiciary from the executive is Article 50, a Directive Principle. Pair II is right: valuing and preserving our composite culture is Article 51A(f), a Fundamental Duty. Pair III is right: no child below 14 may work in factories, mines or hazardous work under Article 24, a Fundamental Right. So options (a), (b) and (d) fail.
Notice related provisions: Article 21A gives free education for ages 6–14 (86th Amendment, 2002), and Article 51A(k) asks parents to educate their children. The Child Labour Amendment Act, 2016 banned all child labour below 14. Article 39(e) and (f) protect children too.
Article 45 (early childhood care, a DPSP) and Article 24 (a Fundamental Right) both talk about children. Keep them apart.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
The mind of the makers of the Constitution of India is reflected in which of the following?
Answer (a) & explanation
The Preamble reflects the mind of the makers (a). The Preamble grew out of the Objectives Resolution, which Nehru moved on 13 December 1946 and the Assembly adopted in January 1947. In Berubari (1960), the Supreme Court called it the key to open the minds of the makers. In Kesavananda Bharati (1973), it said the Preamble is part of the Constitution and can be amended, but not in a way that harms the basic structure. Fundamental Rights (b), Directive Principles (c) and Fundamental Duties (d) carry out these ideals but do not sum them up.
The Preamble was amended once, by the 42nd Amendment. Notice its four parts: the source of authority (We, the People), the nature of the state, its objectives, and the date of adoption (26 November 1949).
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
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 :
Answer (d) & explanation
Neither statement is correct (d). Statement 1 is wrong because Article 51A (Part IVA), added by the 42nd Amendment (1976) on the advice of the Swaran Singh Committee, lists duties but provides no way to enforce them. Statement 2 is wrong because the duties are not tied to legal duties in the Constitution. They are mainly moral obligations. Some laws do cover similar ground, such as the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 and the Wildlife and Forest Acts, but that is separate legislation.
There were 10 duties at first, and the 86th Amendment (2002) added an eleventh, requiring parents to educate children aged 6–14. Notice that the Verma Committee (1999) found ways to put some duties into practice. Courts also use them to judge whether laws are reasonable.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
"To uphold and protect the Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity of India" is a provision made in the
Answer (d) & explanation
"To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India" is a Fundamental Duty under Article 51A(c) (d). The Preamble (a) speaks of "unity and integrity of the Nation" but not in these exact words. The Directive Principles (b) and Fundamental Rights (c) do not contain this provision.
The Fundamental Duties were added by the 42nd Amendment (1976) on the advice of the Swaran Singh Committee, and the eleventh duty, on education for children, came through the 86th Amendment (2002). They draw on the Soviet Constitution. Notice how rights and duties are meant to go together.
the Preamble has "unity and integrity of the Nation". Look for the verbs "uphold and protect", which belong to Part IVA.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
In the Constitution of India, promotion of international peace and security is included in the
Answer (b) & explanation
Article 51, the last of the Directive Principles (Part IV), directs the State to promote international peace and security, maintain just and honourable relations between nations, respect international law and settle disputes by arbitration (b). The Preamble (a) speaks of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity but not international peace. The Fundamental Duties (c) in Article 51A deal with citizens' duties, and the Ninth Schedule (d) shields certain laws from judicial review.
Notice how Article 51 reflects Nehru's foreign policy of non-alignment and peaceful coexistence, and the Panchsheel principles of 1954.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
According to the Constitution of India, which of the following are fundamental for the governance of the country?
Answer (c) & explanation
Directive Principles of State Policy is correct (c). Article 37 says the Directive Principles are not enforceable by any court, but they are 'nevertheless fundamental in the governance of the country', and the State must apply them in making laws. (a) is wrong: Fundamental Rights are enforceable but are not described in these words. (b) and (d) are wrong: Fundamental Duties (Article 51A) apply to citizens and are not called fundamental for governance.
Notice the balance: in Minerva Mills (1980), the Supreme Court held that harmony between Fundamental Rights and DPSPs is part of the basic structure. DPSPs were borrowed from the Irish Constitution, and B.R. Ambedkar called them 'novel features'. Trap: the word 'fundamental' appears in all options, but the phrase belongs to Article 37.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Write an answer
In 150 words, explain the significance of Fundamental Duties with one recent example.
Flashcards (16)
Where are the Fundamental Duties in the
Constitution? Part IVA, Art 51A.
How many Fundamental Duties are there
now? Eleven.
Do Fundamental Duties apply to foreigners?
No, only to citizens.
From which country's constitution did the
idea come? The former USSR.
Which committee recommended
Fundamental Duties, and how many? The Sardar Swaran Singh Committee (1976), eight duties.
Which amendment added Part IVA, with
how many duties? The 42nd Amendment, 1976, with ten duties.
Which duty did the 86th Amendment add?
Clause (k): parents or guardians to provide opportunities for education to children aged 6–14.
Which clause covers respect for the
National Flag and Anthem? Art 51A(a).
Which clause says 'uphold and protect the
sovereignty, unity and integrity of India'? Art 51A(c).
Which clause covers the rich heritage of
our composite culture? Art 51A(f).
Which clause covers the natural
environment and compassion for living creatures? Art 51A(g).
Which clause covers scientific temper,
humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform? Art 51A(h).
Which clause covers striving towards
excellence? Art 51A(j).
Are Fundamental Duties enforceable by
courts? Not by themselves; Parliament can enforce them through laws, and courts use them to interpret laws.
What did the Verma Committee (1999) do?
Identified existing laws that already enforce several duties.
What is the relationship between rights and
duties in India? Rights are correlative with duties.
Read more: related explainers
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