Now we entered into 75th year of the independence. Due to education and social awareness campaigns, people are gradually becoming aware of fundamental rights.Our judiciary is keeping check on people who tries to violate basic fundamental rights of the citizen. But have you ever thought of fundamental duties?When they came into picture and what exactly they are? So here we go.

            The original Constitution contained only fundamental rights but not duties separately. In 1976, the Congress Party set up the Sardar Swaran Singh Committee to make recommendation about fundamental duties. The committee suggested the inclusion of a separate chapter on fundamental duties in the Constitution, stressing that the citizen should become conscious that in addition to enjoyment of rights, they also have certain duties to perform as well.After acceptance, the chapter of fundamental ten duties was separately added in 42nd Constitutional Amendment and in 2002 on more fundamental duty got added in this chapter.

             The fundamental duties in the Indian Constitution are inspired by the Constitution of erstwhile USSR as it declared that the citizen's rights and freedom are inseparable form their duties and obligations.Surprisingly, Constitution of developed democratic western countries don't have specific list of fundamental duties to be followed by citizen. Japan was only democratic country which contains fundamental duties in their constitution before India.

              According to Part IV, Article 51A of Constitution of India, it is the duty of every citizen of India:

1. To abide by the Constitution of 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.
4. To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so .
5. To promote harmony and the spirit of common brother hood among all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities and to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.
6. To value and preserve the rich heritage of the country's composite culture.
7. To protect and improve the natural environment including forests , lakes, river and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.
8. To develop 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 individuals and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement.
11. To provide opportunities for education to children between the age of six and fourteen years. (This one was added in 2002)

                     Fundamental duties got criticized on the ground of ambiguous language, not covering important duties like paying taxes and adding it after Directive Principle of State policy in the Constitution of India.Lets try to perform these duties consciously in this platinum jubilee year of independence.  

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