FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES (Part IVA consists of Article 51A) l constitution of India l IAS preparation

 FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES (Part IVA consists of Article 51A)

It was added by 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, based on the recommendations of Swaran 

Singh committee. Fundamental Duties for citizens are in nature of a code of conduct. These 

fundamental duties are inspired by the Constitution of the former Soviet Union. It is the 

Constitutional sanction being given to the Indian way of life. Since, the Fundamental Dutiesare included in Part IV of the Constitution, these cannot come into force automatically, and 

neither can these duties be enforced by judicial process. The Constitution does not make any 

provision to enforce these duties automatically or any sanction to prevent the violation of these 

duties by the citizens. However, it is expected that if a law is enacted by the legislature to 

enforce these provisions, it shall not be declared unconstitutional on the ground of its 

inconsistency with the provisions of Article 14 or that of 19. In the year 2000, the Government 

of India set up a National Committee to review the working of the Constitution. It was headed 

by former Chief Justice of India M. N. Venkatachalaiah. The committee submitted its report in 

2002. The committee recommended the government to take active steps to increase awareness 

of Fundamental Duties among citizens. It also stated that the list of duties is not exhaustive. It 

said that duties like duty to vote, pay taxes etc. could be added.

Fundamental duties are a significant feature of Indian constitution. These duties are 

incorporated in the constitution of Erstwhile USSR. They were not included at a place in our 

constitution in the beginning. However, Sriman Narayan Agarwal in his„ Gandhian

constitution for free India‟ (1946) cited some fundamental duties. After considering the 

Universal declaration of Human Rights (1948) and Soviet model of Fundamental duties, the 

Central government appointed Sardar Swaransingh committee (1976) for incorporating the 

fundamental duties in our constitution. The committee suggested for the inclusion of 8 

fundamental duties. Accordingly, the Party in power introduced 42nd constitutional 

amendment bill, 1976 in the Parliament and added ten fundamental duties. They were included 

in article 51-A under part – IV A our constitution. Later, one more duty was added to the list 

through the constitution 86th amendment act, 2002. At present, the Indian citizens are endowed 

with 11 fundamental duties. According to article 51 (A) of the Indian constitution, they are;

51A DUTIES OF EVERY CITIZEN OF INDIA 

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 wild 

life, 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 Endeavour and achievement. 

11. To provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between 

the age of six and fourteen years. Note—(k) was added by the 86th Constitution 

amendment Act, 2002.

DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY

Part IV of Indian Constitution deals with Directive Principles of our State Policy (DPSP). 

The provisions contained in this Part cannot be enforced by any court, but these principles 

are fundamental in the governance of the country and it shall be the duty of the State to 

apply these principles in making laws. The concept of Directive Principles of State Policy 

was borrowed from the Irish Constitution. While most of the Fundamental Rights are 

negative obligations on the state, DPSPs are positive obligations on the state, though not 

enforceable in a court of law.

Article 36: Definition 

Article 37: Application of the principles contained in this Part 

Article 38: State to secure a social order for the promotion of the welfare of the people 

Article 39: Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State 

Article 39A: Equal justice and free legal aid 

Article 40: Organization of Village Panchayats 

Article 41: Right to work, to education and to public assistance in certain cases 

Article 42: Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief 

Article 43: Living wage, etc., for workers 

Article 43A: Participation of workers in management of industries 

Article 44: Uniform civil code for the citizen Article 

45: Provision for free and compulsory education for children 

Article 46: Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, 

Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections

Article 47: Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to 

improve public health 

Article 48: Organization of agriculture and animal husbandry 

Article 48A: Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and 

wildlife 

Article 49: Protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance 

Article 50: Separation of judiciary from the executive 

Article 51: Promotion of international peace and security

Classification of the Directive Principles 

The Constitution does not contain any classification of Directive Principles. However, on 

the basis of their content and direction, they can be classified into three broad categories, 

via, i. socialistic, ii. Gandhian and iii. Economic Principles (Liberal or intellectual). 

Socialistic Principles These principles reflect the ideology of socialism. They lay down the 

framework of a democratic socialist state, aim at providing social and economic justice, 

and set the path towards welfare state. 

They direct the state: 

1. To promote the welfare of the people by securing a social order permeated by justice—

social, economic and political—and to minimize inequalities in income, status, facilitiesand 

opportunities (Article 38). 

2. To secure (a) the right to adequate means of livelihood for all citizens; (b) the equitable 

distribution of material resources of the community for the common good; (c) prevention 

of concentration of wealth and means of production; (d) equal pay for equal work for men 

and women; (e) preservation of the health and strength of workers and children against 

forcible abuse; and (f) opportunities for healthy development of children5 (Article 39). 

3. To promote equal justice and to provide free legal aid to the poor (Article 39 A) 

4. To secure the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of 

unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement (Article 41). 

5. To make provision for just and humane conditions for work and maternity relief (Article 

42) 

6. To secure a living wage, a decent standard of life and social and cultural opportunities 

for all workers (Article 43)

7. To take steps to secure the participation of workers in the management of industries 

(Article 43 A) 

8. To raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living of people and to improve public 

health (Article 47)

Gandhian Principles

 

These socialistic 9 principles are based on Gandhian ideology. They represent the 

programmer of reconstruction enunciated by Gandhi during the national movement. In order 

to fulfill the dreams of Gandhi, some of his ideas were included as Directive Principles. They 

require the State: 

1. To organize village panchayats and endow them with necessary powers and authority to 

enable them to function as units of self-government (Article 40) 

2. To promote cottage industries on an individual or co-operation basis in rural areas (Article 

43) 

3. To promote voluntary formation, autonomous functioning, democratic control and 

professional management of co-operative societies (Article 43B) 

4. To promote the educational and economic interests of SCs, STs, and other weaker sections 

of the society and to protect them from social injustice and exploitation (Article 46) 

5. To prohibit the consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs which are injurious to health 

(Article 47) 

6. To prohibit the slaughter of cows, calves and other milk and draught cattle and to improve 

their breeds (Article 48) 

Economic Principles 

The State is expected to formulate its policy with the following objectives: 

1. To minimize the inequalities of income of the people 

2. To secure adequate means of livelihood to all citizens 

3. To provide equal pay for equal work 

4. To protect strength and health of workers and avoiding circumstances which force citizens 

to enter avocations to their age or strength.

5. To provide opportunities to the needy poor to get free legal aid 

6. To secure the right to work to all 

7. To provide public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age and sick

8. To provide a living wage and a decent standard of life

9. To prevent concentration of wealth in the hands of a few 

10. To provide within ten years from the commencement of the constitution, free compulsory 

education to all children up to the age of 14 years of age.