[UPSC] Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles, List, Evolution, MCQs

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This section deals with fundamental duties and Directive Principles (DPSPs). At the end you will also get to solve some important MCQs on the topic to check and enhance your level of preparation for competitive exams.

Also Check: Indian National Congress List of sessions

Fundamental Duties

Fundamental duties are a set of non-justiciable duties enshrined in Part IVA of the Indian constitution. They are dealt by Article 51A.

  • India borrowed the concept of Fundamental Duties from USSR constitution.
  • Fundamental duties were not a part of original constitution. They were in 1976, recommended by Sardar Swaran Singh committee.
  • 1999, Verma Committee identified legal provisions of FD.
  • The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976) incorpprated ten Fundamental Duties. The 11th Fundamental Duty was added by
    86th amendment-2002.
  • Fundamental Duties are confined to citizens only. They do not extend to non citizens.
  • The fundamental duties are Non-justiciable without legal sanction- no legislative process has been provided to enforce FD.

List Of Fundamental Duties

The fundamental duties are eleven in number, and are listed below:

  1. Respect National Flag and Anthem.
  2. Follow Noble Ideals
  3. Protect Unity And Integrity of the Nation
  4. Defend Country
  5. Promote Brotherhood
  6. Preserve Rich Heritage
  7. Improve/Protect Environment
  8. Develop Scientific Temper, Humanism
  9. Safeguard Public Property
  10. Strive towards Excellence in All Spheres of life
  11. citizens to provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years.(86th Const. Amd. 2002)

What is the significance of Fundamental Duties?

The significance of the fundamental duties is as under:

  1. The fundamental duties serve as a reminder to the citizens that while enjoying fundamental rights, they also have some duties to perform.
  2.  These require citizens to observe basic norms of democratic conduct and democratic behaviour.
  3. These serve as a warning to the people against the anti-social activities that disrespect the nation like burning the flag, destroying the public property or disturbing public peace.
  4. These help in the promotion of a sense of discipline and commitment towards the nation.
  5. The fundamental duties helps the Court in determining the constitutionality of the law.

DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY

The phrase “directive principles of state policy” denote the ideals that the state should keep in mind while formulating policies and enacting laws. They are enshrined in Part IV of the Indian constitution and are dealt by Articles from Article 36 to Article 51)

Features of Directive Principles Of State Policy

  1. DPSP are enumerated in Part IV of the Constitution from Articles 36 to 51.
  2. The idea of DPSPs is borrowed from the Irish Constitution, which had copied it from the Spanish Constitution.
  3. The Directive Principles resemble the ‘Instrument of Instructions’ enumerated in the Government of India Act of 1935.
  4. The DPSPs embody the concept of a ‘welfare state’ and not that of a ‘police state’.
  5. The Directive Principles are non-justiciable in nature.
  6. The Directive Principles, though non-justiciable in nature, help the courts in examining and determining the constitutional validity of a law. If any law is found to be violating any law, the courts may declare such a law as null and void.
  7. DPSP does not constitute limitations upon Legislative or executive Functions however it guides state.
  8. Article 36 : This defines the term state
  9. Article 37 : It shall be the duty of the state to include DPSP directives in their policies.

This was all about the fundamental duties and Directive Principles (DPSPs). Now is the turn to solve some important MCQs on the topic to check your understanding of the topic.

MCQs On Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles (DPSPs).

The following MCQs on fundamental duties and Directive Principles (DPSPs) are very important from the examination point of view. Go through them seriously.

“The duty of every citizen to provide opportunity for education to his child” was introduced by _______amendment?

  1. 73rd
  2. 86th
  3. 68th
  4. 44th

86th

Which of the following have been called “pious superfluities” by the critics?

  1. fundamental duties
  2. fundamental rights
  3. directive principles of state policy
  4. Both Fundamental Rights and DPSPs

directive principles of state policy

The number of fundamental duties enshrined in our constitution is ?

  1. 10
  2. 12
  3. 11
  4. 09

11

Which of the following is a fundamental duty?

  1. paying taxes
  2. respecting national flag.
  3. safeguarding public property.
  4. casting votes.
  1. all of them
  2. only 1 and 2
  3. only 2 and 3
  4. only 2

only 2 and 3

All the fundamental duties are dealt by a single article. The article is?

  1. Article 51A
  2. Article 52 A
  3. Article 50 A
  4. Article 49 A

Article 51A

The fundamental duties were introduced on basis of the recomendations of the following committee?

  1. Tendulkar committee
  2. Rangarajan committee
  3. Swaminathan committee
  4. Swarn Singh committee

Swarn Singh committee

In which part of the constitution are the fundamental duties enshrined?

  1. part iv
  2. part iv A
  3. part iii
  4. part v

part iv A

Which article from the set of DPSPs calls for separation of judiciary from executive?

  1. Article 48A
  2. article 49
  3. article 50
  4. Article 51

article 50

In which of the following cases did supreme court say that Indian constitution is founded on the bedrock of the balance between the fundamental rights and the DPSPs?

  1. Minerva Mills case
  2. Golaknath case
  3. Champakam dorairajan case
  4. LIC India case

Minerva Mills case

In case of a conflict between fundamental rights and DPSPs, what is the correct order of precedence?

  1. fundamental rights except articles 14 and 19
  2. DPSPs 39 B and 39 c
  3. fundamental rights by articles 14 and 19
  4. DPSPs except 39 B and 39 C
  1. 1>2>3>4
  2. 3>2>1>4
  3. 3>1>2>4
  4. 1>4>3>2

3>2>1>4

The concept that some rights should be put as DPSPs in the constitution was put forward before the drafting committee by?

  1. M N ROY
  2. B N Rau
  3. J L NEHRU
  4. B R Ambedkar

B N Rau

An amendment that changed the subject matter of Article 45 and consequently made elementary education a fundamental right is?

  1. 42nd amendment
  2. 44th amendment
  3. 86th amendment
  4. 97th amendment

86th amendment

Which amendment added a new directive principle relating to cooperative societies?

  1. 42nd
  2. 44th
  3. 86th
  4. 97th

97th

Article 45 is there to provide early childhood care and education for all children untill they complete the age of?

  1. 8 years
  2. 18 years
  3. 6 years
  4. 14 years

14 years

Uniform Civil Code through out the country is envisaged by?

  1. Article 43B
  2. Article 44
  3. Article 39
  4. Article 48

article 44

Which one is true for DPSPs?

  1. they embody the concept of a welfare state.
  2. they are justiciable.
  3. they help in establishing the constitutional validity of a law.
  1. only 1
  2. only 1 and 3
  3. only 2 and 3
  4. all of them

only 1 and 3

B R Ambedkar described the DPSPs as_______________?

  1. magna carta of constitution
  2. key note of the constitution
  3. identity card of the constitution
  4. novel features of the constitution

novel features of the constitution

The DPSPs are covered by the articles from?

  1. 33 to 51
  2. 32 to 56
  3. 36 to 51
  4. 31 to 51

36 to 51

In which part of the constitution are the directive principles of state policy enshrined?

  1. part iii
  2. part iv
  3. part ivA
  4. part v

part iv

Consider the following statements about fundamental duties;

1. They are non-statutory and are not enforceable by law.
2. Their violation can be met with Punishment but constitution doesn’t mention any penalty for its violation.
3. Parliament can prescribe penalty for the violation of Specific Duties

which one among the above statements is correct?

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. all of them
  4. 1 and 3 only

2 and 3 only

Which one is correct about the directive principles of state policy?

  1. their concept has been borrowed from the Irish constitution.
  2. 97th amendment added a directive principle relating to cooperative societies.
  3. They lie in part ivA of the constitution.
  1. all of them
  2. only 1 and 2
  3. only 1
  4. only 2

only 1 and 2

Which pair has been called “the conscience of the constitution” by Granville Austin.

  1. fundamental duties and Directive principles
  2. fundamental rights and Directive principles
  3. fundamental rights and fundamental duties
  4. directive principles and article 226

fundamental rights and Directive principles

Which of the following statements is correct about the Directive Principles of State Policy?

  1. It aims to secure oppurtunities for healthy development of children.
  2. It promotes equal justice and free legal aid to the poor.
  3. It directs the state to provide early childhood care and education to children until they complete the age of fourteen years.
  4. It directs the state to organize agriculture on modern and scientific lines.
  1. all of them
  2. 1,2 and 3 only
  3. 1, 2 and 4 only
  4. 3 and 4 only

1, 2 and 4 only

The binding force behind the directive principles is?

  1. public opinion
  2. public law
  3. public adminstration
  4. constitution

public opinion

The Directive Principles aim at creating a :

  1. police state
  2. welfare state
  3. secular state
  4. caste less state

welfare state

The fundamental duties are there to serve as a reminder to :

  1. the state to behave in tune with the constitution
  2. all the citizens that they have certain duties to perform
  3. judiciary to uphold the law
  4. parliament to make India a welfare state

all the citizens that they have certain duties to perform

Directive principles of state policy are:

  1. directives in the nature of ideals of the state.
  2. directives influencing and shaping the policy of state.
  3. non justiciable rights of citizens.
  1. Only 1
  2. Only 2
  3. Only 3
  4. All of them

all of them

Which among the following is not a directive principle of state policy in Indian constitution.

  1. The state shall endeavour to secure uniform civil code for its citizens.
  2. the state shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections.
  3. the state shall endeavour to promote adult education to eliminate illiteracy.
  4. the state shall endeavour to protect every monument, place or object of artistic or historic interest.

the state shall endeavour to promote adult education to eliminate illiteracy.

Which one among the following is not a correct description of directive principles of state policy?

  1. DPSPs are not enforceable by the courts.
  2. DPSPs have a political sanction.
  3. DPSPs are declaration of objective for state legislation.
  4. DPSPs promise equal income and free health care for all Indians.

DPSPs promise equal income and free health care for all Indians.

The purpose of Directive principles of state policy is to;

  1. lay down positive instructions which would guide state policy at all levels.
  2. implement Gandhijis idea for a decentralised state.
  3. check the use of arbitrary powers by the government.
  4. promote welfare of the backward sections of the society.

lay down positive instructions which would guide state policy at all levels.

Which of the following is true regarding the fundamental duties enshrined in our constitution?

  1. They can be enforced through writ jurisdiction.
  2. They were a part of our constitution since its adoption.
  3. They became a part of our constitution based upon the recommendations of the Swaran Singh committee.
  4. They are applicable only to the citizens of India.
  1. only 1 and 2
  2. only 2 and 4
  3. only 2 and 3
  4. only 3 and 4

only 3 and 4

Which among the following provisions of the constitution of India is/are fulfilled by the National Social Assistance Programme launched by the govt of India?

  1. Fundamental rights
  2. fundamental duties
  3. directive principles of state policy
  1. Only 1 and 2
  2. Only 1 and 3
  3. Only 3
  4. All of them

Only 3

The directive principles of state policy impose limitations upon:

  1. Legislative organs of the country
  2. Execcutive organs of the country
  3. Both
  4. None

None. DPSPs are just the instructions or recommendations

In which of the following years, the fundamental duties were added to the existent fundamental rights in the constitution of India?

  1. 1965
  2. 1976
  3. 1979
  4. 1982

1976. The fundamental duties in our constitution are 11 in number. 10 of them were added soon after the emergency of 1975. The 11th fundamental duty was added through 86th constitutional amendment act in 2002

These were some important MCQs on fundamental duties and DPSPs. We are sure that you will find these MCQs very useful and hope that you will share them with your friends.

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