Fundamental Duties

Fundamental duties are not mentioned in the original constitution. The Concept of Fundamental Duties was taken from the Soviet Constitution(USSR) which is now called Russia.

• 42^nd Constitutional amendment – (1976) – This amendment added 10 fundamental duties in part 4A and article 51A of the constitution.
• 86^th Constitutional amendment – (2002) – one more fundamental duty is added.

List of Fundamental duties –

1. To abide by the constitution and respect it’s 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 sprit of common brotherhood amongest all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional deversities, to renounced parctices 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. (2002, amendament) Who is a parent or guardian, to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years.

Features of fundamental duties –

Som of the duties are moral duties while others are civic duties. Cherishing nobel ideals is a moral and respecting the constitution is a civic duty.

Fundamental duties are confined to the citizens only and do not extends to the foreigners.

Fundamental duties, like DPSP are non-justiciable. However, parliament is free to enforce them by suitable legislation.

Significance of fundamental duties –

• They help the courts in examining and determining the constitutional validity of a law.
• They serve as a source of inspiration for citizens and promote a sence of dicipline and commitment among them.