Fundamental Duties are the moral and civic responsibilities of all citizens that need to be performed by them in order to achieve prosperity and uphold the unity of the nation. These duties are set out in Part IV-A of the Indian Constitution concerning individuals and the nation. The Fundamental Duties were added to the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment in 1976. The following are the 11 Fundamental Duties prescribed by the Constitution of India to every citizen:
- To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions.
- To cherish and follow the noble ideals that inspired Indias struggle for freedom.
- 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.
- To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood among all the people of India, transcending religious, linguistic, and regional or sectional diversities.
- To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.
- To protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.
- To develop the scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
- To safeguard public property and to abjure violence.
- 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.
- To provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years.
The Fundamental Duties are not enforceable by courts unless otherwise made enforceable by parliamentary law.
