Fundamental Duties

fundamental duties

Fundamental duties for citizens are in nature of a code of conduct. They are inspired by the constitution of erstwhile USSR (Russia) and added to the constitution by the 42^nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976, upon the recommendations of the Sawara Singh Committee.

This amendment added a new part, namely Part 4 A to the constitution. This new part consists of only one Article ; i.e. Article 51 A which for the first time specified a code of ten fundamental duties of the citizens. The 42^nd Constitutional Amendment Act included ten fundamental duties. Further the fundamental duties were increased to eleven by the 86^th Amendment Act , 2002 which added a duty on every parent or guardian to ensure that their child or ward was provided opportunities for education between the age of six and fourteen years.

The FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES are as follows:

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 ideal 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 the common brotherhood of all the people of India and renounce any practice derogatory to the dignity of women;

6)          To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;

7)          To protect and improve the national environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and to have compassion for living creatures;

8)          To develop scientific temper, humanism and spirit of inquiry and reform;

9)          To safeguard public property and adjure violence;

10)  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;

11)  To provide opportunities for education by the parent or the guardian, to his/ her child or a ward between the age of 6 – 14 years as the case may be.