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Fundamental Duties are the duties of the citizen towards their country. They ensure law, order and social transformation of the country. In the year 1976, the Swaran Singh Committee suggested incorporating the fundamental duties in the constitution of India. The idea for these came from the Russian constitution.
History
Fundamental duties were written in Part IV-A of the Indian Constitution. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 led to the incorporation of the Duties. Moreover, all the Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens are mentioned under Article 51A. Additionally, these Fundamental Duties proved helpful for the government to maintain order during the Emergency from 1975 to 1977. Initially, there were 10 Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution, which were increased to 11 in the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2002.
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List of Fundamental Duties
Here is the list of the 11 Duties that are to be followed by every citizen of India as per our Indian Constitution:
| Part IVA- Fundamental Duties- Article 51A | |
| 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 endeavour and achievement. |
| 11 | To provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the ages of six and fourteen years. (added by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002; came into force in 2010). |
Also Read: Important Articles in Indian Constitution [Complete List]
Significance of Fundamental Duties
There’s more to the Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution than just reminding the citizens of their duties towards their country. Moreover, here are some points to highlight the significance of the fundamental duties in India:
- It constantly reminds the citizens to maintain democratic conduct and not misuse their Fundamental Rights.
- Additionally, the Duties also keep in check the anti-social activities among the citizens that destroy the spirit of the society.
- Fundamental duties also guarantee a sense of discipline and commitment towards the country and realising national goals.
- Consequently, these also help to determine the constitutional validity of the law when it is taken to the court for review.
Relevant Blogs
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