The word 'To Abide and Respect' used under the Provisions of Article 51 A of the Constitution of India is concerned to
- (a)The Constitution
- (b)Sovereignty, unity and integrity of India
- (c)Rich heritage of our composite culture
- (d)Natural environment
Correct — A, The Constitution. Article 51-A(a) makes it the duty of every citizen 'to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem.' The words 'abide' and 'respect' in this clause are anchored to the Constitution itself and the institutions/symbols it establishes — not to any of the other Fundamental Duties.
- (b)Sovereignty, unity and integrity of India — This is the separate duty at Article 51-A(c) — 'to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India' — which uses the verb-pair 'uphold and protect', not 'abide and respect'.
- (c)Rich heritage of our composite culture — This is Article 51-A(f) — 'to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture' — a different clause using 'value and preserve'.
- (d)Natural environment — This is Article 51-A(g) — 'to protect and improve the natural environment' — again a distinct clause using 'protect and improve', not 'abide and respect'.
Article 51-A, inserted by the 42nd Amendment (1976) on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee, lists the Fundamental Duties of every citizen. Each duty pairs a specific verb-pair with a specific object — 'abide by...respect' for the Constitution, 'uphold...protect' for sovereignty/unity/integrity, 'value...preserve' for composite culture, 'protect...improve' for the environment — and MPPSC/UPSC test this exact pairing.
The trap is picking any plausible 'good citizen' value (unity, culture, environment) instead of matching the precise verb-pair to its own clause. 'Abide by' has a legal-textual flavour that anchors naturally to the Constitution — the foundational document every other duty ultimately flows from.
- Article 51-A(a): 'to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem'
- Article 51-A was inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976
- An 11th Fundamental Duty (on parents/guardians providing education, ages 6-14) was added later by the 86th Amendment, 2002
- Matching the wrong Article 51-A clause to a plausible-sounding value
- Assuming Fundamental Duties are enforceable in court like Fundamental Rights
Usually asks which specific Article 51-A clause (by its verb-pair or its object) corresponds to a given phrase, or how many Fundamental Duties exist.
Which of the following is/are among the Fundamental Duties of citizens laid down in the Indian Constitution? 1. To preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture 2. To protect the weaker sections from social injustice 3. To develop the scientific temper and spirit of inquiry 4. To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 1, 3 and 4 only
- (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer(c) 1, 3 and 4 only — Article 51-A(f), (h) and (j); protecting weaker sections is a Directive Principle (Article 46), not a Fundamental Duty.
Same concept — matching specific Article 51-A Fundamental Duty clauses to their exact wording.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which Fundamental Duty under Article 51-A directs citizens 'to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom'?
- (a)Article 51-A(a)
- (b)Article 51-A(b)
- (c)Article 51-A(c)
- (d)Article 51-A(d)
Answer(b) Article 51-A(b) — 'to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom'.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens were inserted into the Constitution by which Amendment, and in which year?
- (a)42nd Amendment, 1976
- (b)44th Amendment, 1978
- (c)86th Amendment, 2002
- (d)original Constitution, 1950
Answer(a) 42nd Amendment, 1976 — added Article 51-A on the Swaran Singh Committee's recommendation.