1.______ Fundamental duties are listed in Article ______ of Part IV A of the Indian Constitution.
A. 11; 51A
B. 11; 52A
C. 13; 52A
D. 13; 51A
Solution
The correct answer is 11; 51A.
Key Points
Fundamental Duties were added to the constitution in 1976.
- It is inspired by the Constitution of the erstwhile USSR.
- It was recommended by the Sardar Swaran Singh Committee.
- Its need and necessity were felt during the operation of the internal emergency (1975-1977).
Fundamental Duties:
- Fundamental Duties were incorporated in the Indian Constitution by the 42nd amendment.
- There are 11 Fundamental Duties for Indian Citizens drafted on the lines of moral, ethical, and cultural code of conduct followed by people.
- Article 51 ‘A’ contained in Part IV A of the Constitution deals with Fundamental Duties.
- Fundamental Duties are taken from the Constitution of Russia.
- These enjoin upon a citizen among other things, to abide by the Constitution, to cherish and follow noble ideals.
Hence, from the above-mentioned points, it becomes clear that Article 51 A of Part ‘IV a’ of the Constitution have Fundamental Duties been incorporated.
Additional Information
There are 11 fundamental duties, according to Article 51A, that are to be obeyed by all the citizens of the country:
- To abide by the Indian Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Anthem, and the National Flag.
- To follow the Noble ideals that inspired the national struggle for freedom.
- To protect and uphold the sovereignty, integrity, and unity of the country.
- To defend the nation and render national services when asked to do so.
- To promote the spirit of Brotherhood and fraternity in the country.
- To value and preserve the rich heritage of the country’s composite culture.
- To protect the environment of the nation.
- To strive for excellence.
- To safeguard public property and to deny violence.
- To generate a scientific rationale for every thought.
- To provide opportunities for education to children between the age of 6 and 14.
2. Which of the following constitutional amendments included the fundamental duties?
A. 40th Amendment.
B. 80th Amendment.
C. 42nd Amendment.
D. 86th Amendment.
Solution
The correct answer is 42nd Amendment.
Key Points42nd Amendment
- 42nd Amendment to the Indian Constitution, officially known as the Constitution Act, 1976.
- It was enacted during the Emergency by the Indian National Congress government headed by Indira Gandhi.
- Most of the provisions of the amendment came into force on 3 January 1977, others came into force from 1 February and 27 April came into force on 1 April 1977.
- The 42nd Amendment is considered the most controversial constitutional amendment in Indian history.
- Fundamental duties were included in the Indian Constitution by the 42nd Amendment.
Additional Information40th amendment
- This Act provided for vesting in the right of the Union all mines, minerals and other valuables falling within the national oceanic boundary or the economic territory of India as a whole.
- It also provided that all other resources of the economic sphere of India would also be entirely in the possession of the Union.
80th Amendment
- According to this scheme, for grants in lieu of income tax, excise duties, especially excise duties and railway passenger fares, till now the state governments got 26 percent of the total revenue collected from central taxes and duties, now 26 percent of it has been given to the states.
86th amendment
- The 86th Constitution Amendment Bill is an amendment bill of the Indian Constitution.
- This Bill was passed on 12th December, 2002.
- In this bill, there is a provision to provide free primary education to all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years as a fundamental right by the state.
3. How many fundamental duties are mentioned in the Indian Constitution?
A. 11
B. 10
C. 8
D. 9
Solution
The Correct Answer is 11.
Key Points
- Fundamental Duties
- The Indian Constitution originally specified 10 fundamental duties for its citizens.
- These duties were added through the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976, under Article 51A.
- An 11th duty was later added by the 86th Amendment Act, 2002.
- The fundamental duties are aimed at reminding the citizens of the importance of civic and social responsibilities towards the nation.
Additional Information
- Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution emphasize
- the importance of national unity and integrity, promote a spirit of patriotism, and uphold the ideals of freedom struggle, among others.
- They serve as a constant reminder to the citizens that rights and duties are inseparable and encourage active participation in the governance of the country.
4. Which of the following is NOT correct about Fundamental Duties?
A. They were included by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.
B. They are non-justiciable in nature.
C. They are mentioned under Article 51A of the Constitution.
D. Their inclusion in the Constitution was inspired by the American Constitution.
Solution
The correct answer is Their inclusion in the Constitution was inspired by the American Constitution.
Key Points
- Fundamental Duties Of the Indian Constitution
- The idea of Fundamental Duties is inspired by the Constitution of Russia. Hence, Option 4 is not correct.
- These were incorporated in Part IV-A of the Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee.
- Originally 10 in number, one more duty was added through the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002.
- All eleven duties are listed in Article 51-A of the Constitution (the sole Article in Part-IV-A).
- The fundamental duties serve as a reminder to citizens that while enjoying their rights, they have also to be quite conscious of the duties they owe to their country, their society and to their fellow citizens.
- However, like the Directive Principles, the duties are also non-justiciable in nature.
5. Which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding Fundamental Duties mentioned in the Indian Constitution?
A. The Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976 is related to the Fundamental Duties
B. The Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002 is related to the Fundamental Duties
C. Fundamental Duties are mentioned in PART VA in the Indian Constitution
D. Fundamental Duties are mentioned in Article 51A in the Indian Constitution
Solution
The correct answer is Fundamental Duties are mentioned in PART VA in the Indian Constitution
Key Points
- The Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976 is indeed related to the Fundamental Duties, as it introduced Article 51A which lists the Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens.
- The Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002 added a new duty under Article 51A to provide opportunities for education to children between the ages of 6 and 14 years.
- Fundamental Duties are mentioned in PART IV-A of the Indian Constitution, not PART VA. This makes option 3 incorrect.
- Fundamental Duties are indeed mentioned in Article 51A of the Indian Constitution.
Additional Information
- The Fundamental Duties were added to the Indian Constitution to emphasize the obligation of the citizens towards the nation.
- These duties serve as a constant reminder to citizens that while enjoying their rights, they should also be conscious of their duties towards the country.
- The inclusion of these duties was inspired by the Constitution of the erstwhile Soviet Union.
- Though not enforceable by law, the Fundamental Duties are considered vital for the holistic development of an individual’s personality and the nation.
6. The purpose of the inclusion of Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution is to establish
A. Social and economic democracy
B. Political democracy
C. Gandhian Democracy
D. Economic democracy
Solution
The correct answer is Social and economic democracy.
Key Points
Directive Principles of State Policy
- Directive Principles of State Policy have been borrowed from the Irish Constitution.
- Part IV and Articles 36 to 51 of the Indian Constitution deal with the Directive Principles of State Policy.
- But the Directive Principles of State Policy are not justiciable in nature.
- The framers of the constitution wanted the DPSPs to be used as the guiding principles in both legislative as well as executive procedures.
- The Directive Principles of the State Policy (DPSPs) lay down the guidelines for the state and are reflections of the overall objectives laid down in the Preamble of the Constitution.
- DPSPs are incorporated to attain the ultimate ideals of preamble i.e. Justice, Liberty, Equality, and fraternity.
- The Directive Principles of State Policy of India are the guidelines for the court, but the principles laid down therein are considered in the governance of the country, making it the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws to establish a just society in the country.
- The principles have been inspired by the Directive Principles given in the Constitution of Ireland which is related to social justice, economic welfare, foreign policy, and legal and administrative matters.
- Hence, from the above discussion, it is clear that the purpose of the inclusion of Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution is to establish social and economic democracy. whereas Political democracy is ensured by Fundamental Right executions.
7. Which of the following Articles of the Indian Constitution directs the State “to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people”?
A. Article 47
B. Article 37
C. Article 57
D. Article 17
Solution
The correct answer is Article 47.
Key Points
- One of the Directive Principles of The Constitution of India’s Article 47 urges the State to work toward the prohibition of intoxicating beverages and drugs that are harmful to health as well as raising the standard of life and improving public health as among its key responsibilities.
- The government is required to take action to put these ideals into practise, so they are not merely empty words.
- If the courts believe the government is not doing enough to uphold the Directive Principles, they may also take action. Directive Principles are not, however, bound by law.
Additional Information
- The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India.
- The Indian Constitution was drafted by B.R. Ambedkar.
- The Indian constitution was enacted on 26 November 1949.
- The original text of the Constitution contained 395 articles in 22 parts and eight schedules.
8. Which among the following is NOT a feature of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)?
A. It is the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws
B. They help the courts in examining and determining the constitutional validity of a law.
C. They operate as limitations on the tyranny of the executive and arbitrary laws of the legislature.
D. All of the above options
Solution
The correct answer is Option 3.
Key Points
- The Fundamental Rights are meant for promoting the idea of political democracy.
- They prevent the establishment of an authoritarian and despotic rule in the country and protect the liberties and freedoms of the people against the invasion by the State.
- They operate as limitations on the tyranny of the executive and arbitrary laws of the legislature.
- Hence option 3 is not a feature of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)
Additional Information
- The Constitution (Article 37) itself says that these principles are fundamental in the governance of the country and it shall be the duty of the State to apply these principles in making laws.
- The Directive Principles, though non-justiciable in nature, help the courts in examining and determining the constitutional validity of a law.
- Hence options 1 and 2 are features of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).
Important Points
- The Directive Principles are non-justiciable in nature, that is, they are not legally enforceable by the courts for their violation.
- Therefore, the government (Central, state, and local) cannot be compelled to implement them.
- The Supreme Court has ruled many times that in determining the constitutionality of any law if a court finds that the law in question seeks to give effect to a Directive Principle, it may consider such law to be ‘reasonable’ in relation to Article 14 (equality before law) or Article 19 (six freedoms) and thus save such law from unconstitutionality.
9. Which of the following along with the fundamental rights is known as the ‘Conscience of the Constitution’ of the constitution?
A. Fundamental Duties
B. Directive Principles of State Policy
C. Judiciary
D. Constitutional Rights
Solution
The correct answer is Directive Principles of State Policy.
Key Points
- The Directive Principles of State Policy are enumerated in Part IV of the Constitution from Articles 36 to 51.
- The Directive Principles along with the Fundamental Rights contain the philosophy of the Constitution and are the soul of the Constitution.
- Granville Austin has described the Directive Principles and the Fundamental Rights as the ‘Conscience of the Constitution. Hence the correct answer is Directive Principles of State Policy.
- Dr B R Ambedkar described these principles as ‘novel features’ of the Indian Constitution.
- Features of the Directive Principles
- The phrase ‘Directive Principles of State Policy’ denotes the ideals that the State should keep in mind while formulating policies and enacting laws.
- The Directive Principles constitute a very comprehensive economic, social and political program for a modern democratic State.
- The Directive Principles are non-justiciable.
Additional Information
- All rights that have been conferred to the citizens and enshrined in the Constitution of India but are not under the domain of Part III of the Constitution are said to be Constitutional Rights.
10. Which of the following is NOT a directive principle of state policy?
A. Separation of the judiciary from executive
B. Reside in any part of India
C. Uniform civil code
D. Protection of monuments
Solution
The correct answer is Reside in any part of India
Key Points
- Reside in any part of India is a fundamental right under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution.
- Directive Principles of State Policy are guidelines for the framing of laws by the government. They are not enforceable by any court but aim to create social and economic conditions under which citizens can lead a good life.
- The Directive Principles are listed in Part IV of the Constitution, from Article 36 to 51.
- Examples of Directive Principles include the separation of the judiciary from the executive, the promotion of a uniform civil code, and the protection of monuments.
Additional Information
- Fundamental Rights are basic human rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India that are enforceable by the courts, subject to certain restrictions.
- The Fundamental Rights are included in Part III of the Constitution, from Article 12 to 35.
- They ensure civil liberties so that all Indians can lead their lives in peace and harmony as citizens of India.
- The Constitution aims to provide a balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles to achieve the goal of a welfare state.
