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Fundamental Duties: Check 11 Fundamental Duties (Article 51A) for UPSC Notes

Last Updated on May 08, 2025
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Article 51(A) of the Indian Constitution describes 11 fundamental duties, 10 of which were added by the 42nd Constitution Amendment Act in 1976 on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee, and Later on, by 86th Constitution, the Amendment in the year 2002, 11th duty was added. Fundamental Duties have been borrowed from the Constitution of the erstwhile USSR. It aims to impose “moral obligations” on all citizens to promote a spirit of patriotism and uphold India's unity. 

This topic “Fundamental Duties UPSC” is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination, which falls under General Studies Paper 2 (Mains) and General Studies Paper 1 (Prelims), particularly in the Polity section. 

This article on Fundamental Duties UPSC will discuss Article 51A of the Indian Constitution, a List Of 11 Fundamental Duties, Features, Importance, the Swaran Singh Committee 1976 Report, Criticism, and More! Register for UPSC Online Classes at an affordable price through the UPSC CSE Coaching platform to boost your IAS preparation.

What are Fundamental Duties?

The original Indian Constitution, which entered into force on January 26, 1950, did not mention citizen duties & obligations. It was expected that the Indian citizens of free India would perform their duties willingly. However, things didn’t go as planned. Therefore, ten Fundamental Duties were added in Part IV-A of the Constitution under Article 51-A by the 42nd Constitution Amendment Act in 1976 on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee. The fundamental duties are intended to constantly remind every Indian citizen and enforce certain basic norms of democratic behavior due to the correlation between rights and duties.

  • The idea of incorporating Fundamental Duties into the Indian constitution was inspired by the Russian Constitution (erstwhile Soviet Union).
  • Ten duties were originally added, and one more was added in 2002 by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act.
  • Article 51-A of the Constitution contains a list of all eleven duties (the sole Article in Part-IV-A).

Know more about the Difference between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles

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List of 11 Fundamental Duties of India

It shall be the duty of every citizen of India:

Article

Description

51A (a)

To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag, and the National Anthem.

51A (b)

To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom.

51A (c)

To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.

51A (d)

To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so.

51A (e)

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.

51A (f)

To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.

51A (g)

To protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.

51A (h)

To develop the scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform.

51A (i)

To safeguard public property and to abjure violence.

51A (j)

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.

51A (k)

If a parent or guardian provides opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, wards between the age of six and fourteen years.

Know more about the Difference between fundamental rights and fundamental duties

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Features of Fundamental Duties Of the Indian Constitution

The following are some notable features of the Fundamental Duties of Indian constitution:

  • Fundamental duties can be classified into two: Civic Duty and Moral Duty.
  • Civic Duty: respecting the Constitution, the National Flag, and the National Anthem.
  • Moral Duty: cherishing noble ideals of the freedom struggle.
  • Fundamental Duties apply only to Indian citizens; they do not apply to foreigners, in contrast to fundamental rights, which apply to both citizens and foreigners.
  • Fundamental Duties, like Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), are non-justiciable. It means that the failure of citizens to perform their fundamental duties is not punishable.
  • They are like a code of conduct, and they have no legal sanction because they are nonjusticiable.
  • However, they are subject to legal enforcement; parliament can pass laws punishing any violation of the Fundamental Duties.
  • In February 2022, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Centre and states in a writ petition seeking the enforcement of citizens’ fundamental duties as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

Know more about the Fundamental rights available only to citizens of India

Importance of Fundamental Duties In India

Fundamental Duties are important for ethical, social, and economic reasons. If a citizen performs his or her responsibilities, he or she has moral claims to his or her rights. Duties can help to sustain the environment and economic development. The importance of fundamental duties is as follows:

  • They help in promoting the spirit of discipline and patriotism among the citizens. Additionally, they assist in achieving societal objectives by encouraging active citizen participation instead of the spectator.
  • They help remind citizens of their fundamental obligations, even though they are entitled to all fundamental rights.
  • They assist citizens in understanding that their rights and responsibilities are interconnected.
  • They assist citizens in remembering their responsibilities to build a great nation.
  • They inspire people, foster patriotic feelings, and instill a sense of commitment and discipline in them.
  • They warn citizens against anti-social and anti-national activities by those who take pleasure in breaking the law, destroying public property, burning the Indian flag, or otherwise interfering with public peace.
  • They assist the courts in examining and determining the constitutional validity of legislation in matters of public interest.

Know more about the Preamble of the Indian Constitution

Making Fundamental Duties Non Enforceable

There are many reasons why the Fundamental Duties are not enforceable. One reason is that they are difficult to define and measure. For example, the duty to "defend the country and render national service" is vague. It could be interpreted in many different ways. Another reason is that it would be difficult to enforce some of the Fundamental Duties, such as:

  • the duty to "cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom" or 
  • the duty to "protect and improve the natural environment and to have compassion for living creatures."

Despite the fact that the Fundamental Duties are not enforceable, they are still important. They remind citizens of their obligations to their country and to each other. They also promote values such as patriotism, nationalism, and social responsibility.

There are many arguments in favor of making the Fundamental Duties enforceable. One argument is that it would make citizens more accountable for their actions. Another argument is that it would help to create a more just and equitable society.

However, there are also many arguments against making the Fundamental Duties enforceable. One argument is that it would be difficult to define and measure the duties. Another argument is that it would give the government too much power over the lives of citizens.

Know more about the Landmark cases relating to the basic structure of the constitution

Criticism Against Fundamental Duties In India

Here are some of the criticisms against Fundamental Duties:

  • These duties are made non-justiciable.
  • Important duties such as taxation and family planning should be covered.
  • Some of the fundamental duties are vague, making it difficult for the common citizen to understand what is meant by “rich heritage,” “humanism,” “excellence,” and “composite culture” in all spheres of individual and group activities.
  • Some critics argue that these are fundamental duties that people will carry out even if not mentioned in the Constitution.
  • However, from time to time, there has been a demand to revise the current list of fundamental duties, simplify their language, make them more realistic and meaningful, and add some urgently needed, more realistic duties. They should be made as justiciable as possible.

Know more about the 102 constitutional amendment act

Swaran Singh Committee 1976 Report
  • The Swaran Singh Committee was formed in 1976 to examine the workings of the Indian Constitution.
  • The committee's objective was to recommend amendments to the Constitution.
  • The committee submitted its report in 1976, known as the Swaran Singh Committee Report.
  • The report proposed several amendments to the Constitution.
  • It recommended changes in fundamental rights, directive principles of state policy, emergency provisions, and the role of the President.
  • One significant proposal was the inclusion of the Right to Property as a legal right.
  • The committee also recommended strengthening the parliamentary system, enhancing the judiciary's role, and improving political parties' functioning.
  • However, not all of the committee's recommendations were implemented.
  • The Swaran Singh Committee Report remains a significant document in the constitutional discourse of India.

Know more about the Constitution of India

Review of Fundamental Duties By Verma Committee

To determine whether there are any legal provisions for implementing some of the Fundamental Duties, the Verma Committee on Fundamental Duties of the Citizens was established in 1999. The Committee identified the existence of the following legal provisions, which are listed below:

The Verma Committee put forward the following recommendations to promote awareness and understanding of Fundamental Duties:

  • Emphasize the significance of Fundamental Duties to enhance the standing of citizens in public life, encouraging individuals to uphold and propagate these duties.
  • Public officials should prioritize public interest over personal interests, refraining from selfishness or nepotism.
  • Integrity should serve as the guiding principle for managing public offices.
  • Public officeholders have a fundamental duty to be accountable for their decisions and actions.
  • Transparency should be maximized in all decisions and actions taken by public officials.
  • Honesty should be maintained by public officials while in office.
  • Leadership plays a crucial role, as public officeholders should actively promote and exemplify these principles through their leadership skills.

Check out the test series for the UPSC IAS Exam here. We hope all your doubts regarding the “Fundamental – Duties” are addressed after going through this article. Testbook provides comprehensive notes for different competitive examinations. It has always assured the quality of its product like content pages, live tests, GK and current affairs, mocks, and so on. Ace your preparation with the Testbook App!

Fundamental Duties UPSC Questions

Q1: Fundamental Duties are not made enforceable by a writ of court like the fundamental rights, but they are fundamental to the well being of society and the individuals. Examine. (UPSC CSE 2020)

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Fundamental Duties in India FAQs

The Swaran Singh Committee's recommendations led the Indian parliament to add the Fundamental Duties of Citizens to the Constitution in the 42nd Amendment, which was passed in 1976.

The 42nd Constitution (Amendment) Act of 1976 added a new Chapter IV-A with only one Article, 51-A, dealing with a Code of Ten Fundamental Duties for Citizens.

The Indian constitution contains eleven fundamental duties, but ten were originally listed. Later, the 11th duty was added by virtue of the 86th Constitutional Amendment in 2002.

The Verma Committee on Fundamental Duties of Citizens was established in 1999 to determine whether there are any legal provisions for the implementation of some of the Fundamental Duties.

 The 11th fundamental duty was incorporated into the 86th Constitutional Amendment, which was passed in 2022, and states that anyone who is a parent or guardian must provide their child or ward between the ages of six and fourteen with the opportunity to pursue an education.

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