Incorporated in Part IV-A of the Constitution, Article 51A.
Added by: 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 (on the recommendation of Swaran Singh Committee).
Original Number: 10 duties
Current Number: 11 duties (after 86th Amendment Act, 2002)
Inspired by the Constitution of Russia, not by Indian freedom struggle.
Added to remind citizens of their moral obligations toward the nation.
| No. | Duty | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Respect the Constitution, its goals, institutions, the National Anthem, and Flag | Civic |
| 2 | Respect and uphold the great principles that motivated the nation's fight for freedom | Social/Civic |
| 3 | Uphold and defend India’s independence, unity, and integrity | Civic |
| 4 | Defend the nation and perform national service when required | Civic |
| 5 | Promote harmony and a sense of common brotherhood among all Indians | Social |
| 6 | Value and safeguard the rich history of the nation's diverse culture | Social |
| 7 | Preserve and enhance the natural world, including forests, lakes, rivers, wildlife; show compassion for all living things | Social/Environmental |
| 8 | Develop a humanistic outlook, scientific temper, and spirit of reform | Social/Cultural |
| 9 | Protect public property and avoid violence | Civic |
| 10 | Strive for excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity | Social/Civic |
| 11 | Provide educational opportunities to one’s child between ages 6–14 (added by 86th Amendment, 2002) | Social |
Note: Some duties are social, others civic, and some overlap both categories.
Fundamental Duties are moral obligations; non-justiciable (cannot be enforced in court).
Serve as a reminder to citizens to respect the Constitution and promote national goals.
Complement the Fundamental Rights to create a balance between rights and responsibilities.
86th Amendment (2002) added duty regarding education of children.
Misconception: Not all duties inspired by Indian freedom struggle; the inspiration came from Russia.