FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES

There are Eleven Fundamental Duties and it shall be the duty 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 wildlife, 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 endeavor and achievement.”
11. To provide opportunities for education by the parent or the guardian, to his child, or a ward between the age of 6-14 years as the case may be. (Added by 86^th amendment 2002)

Important Points:

• In the first place, the Constitution of India did not contain these duties.
• These are included in the Forty Second (42^nd) Constitution Amendment Act, 1976 which has incorporated ten Fundamental Duties in Article 51(A) of the constitution of India.
• The Eighty-Six (86th) Constitution Amendment Act, 2002 has added one more Fundamental Duty in Article 51(A) in Part IVA of the constitution of India. – i.e. to provide opportunities for education by the parent or the guardian, to his child, or a ward between the age of 6-14 years as the case may be.
• There are presently 11 Fundamental Duties of the citizen of India.
• Fundamental Duties is based on the Japanese model.
• None of the major democracies in the world have Fundamental Duties
• The duties incorporated by Forty Second Constitution Amendment Act, 1976 in the constitution are statutory duties and shall be enforceable by law.