According to Article 51 A, 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 that inspired the national struggle for freedom;
3. to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
4. to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities and to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
5. to value and preserve the rich heritage of the country’s composite culture;
6. to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and to have compassion for living creatures;
7. to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
8. to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
9. 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; and
10. to provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years. (added by the 86
th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002).
- Some of them are moral duties while others are civic duties.
- They refer to values which have been a part of the Indian tradition, culture, religions and practices.
- They essentially contain just a codified version of tasks integral to the Indian way of life.
- Fundamental Duties are confined to citizens only and do not extend to foreigners.
- Fundamental duties are also non-justiciable.
- However, the Parliament is free to enforce them by suitable legislation.
