Fundamental Duties (Part IVA) of Indian constitution

 

Fundamental Duties (Part IVA) of Indian constitution 

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🇮🇳 Fundamental Duties (Part IVA)

📜 Article 51A
🛡️ Total Duties: 11
🗓️ Added by: 42nd Amendment Act, 1976
🔧 Inspired by: Constitution of the former USSR (Russia)

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✅ What Are Fundamental Duties?

Fundamental Duties are moral obligations of every Indian citizen to help promote patriotism, maintain unity, and strengthen democracy.
They serve as a reminder that while citizens have rights, they also have responsibilities.

⚖️ These duties are non-justiciable (not enforceable by courts), but Parliament can make laws to punish violation of duties.

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📋 List of 11 Fundamental Duties (Article 51A)

Clause	Duty	Example
(a)	To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals, institutions, national flag & anthem	Standing during national anthem
(b)	To cherish and follow the noble ideals of the freedom struggle	Learning about Gandhiji, Bhagat Singh
(c)	To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India	Not participating in anti-national activities
(d)	To defend the country and render national service when called upon	Joining defense services or civil defense
(e)	To promote harmony and spirit of common brotherhood among all people	Respecting all religions and cultures
(f)	To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture	Protecting monuments, languages
(g)	To protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, wildlife	Not polluting, planting trees
(h)	To develop the scientific temper, humanism, and spirit of inquiry and reform	Promoting rational thinking, rejecting superstitions
(i)	To safeguard public property and to abjure violence	Not damaging public buses or property during protest
(j)	To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity	Doing best in education, work, sports, etc.
(k)*	To provide opportunities for education to children aged 6–14 years (added by 86th Amendment, 2002)	Sending children to school

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📌 Key Facts

Point	Details
Part	IVA
Article	51A
Total Duties	11
Initially	10 (added by 42nd Amendment, 1976)
11th Duty Added by	86th Amendment, 2002 (Clause k – child education)
Legal Enforcement	Not directly enforceable, but laws can support them
Applies to	Only citizens (not foreigners)

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🧠 Importance of Fundamental Duties

• Encourage responsible citizenship

• Strengthen national unity

• Support legal system through moral values

• Complement Fundamental Rights and DPSPs

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⚖️ Example of Legal Backing:

Though duties are non-justiciable, laws like:

• Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971

• Environmental Protection Act, 1986
  help enforce related duties.

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📘 Summary Table

Duty No.	Theme	Related Article
1	Constitution, Flag, Anthem	51A(a)
2	Freedom fighters’ ideals	51A(b)
3	Unity and integrity	51A(c)
4	National service	51A(d)
5	Brotherhood & harmony	51A(e)
6	Cultural heritage	51A(f)
7	Environment protection	51A(g)
8	Scientific temper	51A(h)
9	Public property, non-violence	51A(i)
10	Strive for excellence	51A(j)
11	Child education (6–14 years)	51A(k)

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