Which one of the following is included in Article 51A (Part IV A) of the Constitution of India?
- (a)Fundamental Duties
- (b)Suspension of Fundamental Rights
- (c)Special Powers of Governors
- (d)Writs
Correct — A, Fundamental Duties. Article 51A is the single article that makes up Part IVA of the Constitution, and it lists the Fundamental Duties of citizens. Part IVA (Article 51A) was inserted by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee, originally with ten duties; an eleventh was added by the 86th Amendment, 2002. So Article 51A / Part IVA squarely contains the Fundamental Duties.
- (b)Suspension of Fundamental Rights — Suspension of Fundamental Rights during an emergency is governed by Article 359 (and the emergency provisions of Part XVIII), not by Article 51A.
- (c)Special Powers of Governors — The powers of Governors are set out in Part VI (Articles 153-167), which deals with State executives — nothing to do with Article 51A.
- (d)Writs — The power to issue writs belongs to the Supreme Court under Article 32 and to the High Courts under Article 226 — again, not Article 51A.
Fundamental Duties are the civic and moral obligations of citizens listed in Article 51A, the only article of Part IVA. They were added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 on the Swaran Singh Committee's advice (drawing on the erstwhile USSR's Constitution). Originally ten, they became eleven when the 86th Amendment (2002) added the duty of a parent/guardian to provide education to a child aged 6-14. Like the Directive Principles, they are non-justiciable.
Options (b), (c) and (d) each map to well-known but different articles of the Constitution. Anchoring 'Part IVA / Article 51A' to the Fundamental Duties — the newest of the Constitution's parts — rules those distractors out.
- Article 51A is the only article in Part IVA and lists the Fundamental Duties.
- Part IVA was inserted by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, on the Swaran Singh Committee's recommendation.
- There are now eleven Fundamental Duties; the 86th Amendment (2002) added the education duty in 51A(k).
- Fundamental Duties are non-justiciable — not directly enforceable by the courts.
Article 51A / Part IVA holds the Fundamental Duties — the answer (a).
- Confusing Part IVA (Fundamental Duties) with Part IV (Directive Principles).
- Assuming Fundamental Duties are directly enforceable — they are non-justiciable.
Asked as 'Article 51A / Part IVA deals with…' or 'which of these is (not) a Fundamental Duty', usually with the 42nd Amendment as context.
Under the Constitution of India, which one of the following is not a fundamental duty?
- (a) To vote in public elections
- (b) To develop the scientific temper
- (c) To safeguard public property
- (d) To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals
Answer(a) To vote in public elections
Same concept — the contents of Article 51A. Developing scientific temper, safeguarding public property and abiding by the Constitution are Fundamental Duties; voting is a statutory right, not a duty under 51A.
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
- (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
Same concept — distinguishing genuine Article 51A duties from look-alikes (protecting weaker sections is a Directive Principle, Article 46), the exact skill this NDA item on Part IVA rewards.
Which one of the following Directive Principles was inserted by the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976?
- (a) The State shall minimise inequalities in income
- (b) Equal justice and free legal aid
- (c) Promotion of co-operative societies
- (d) Provision for early childhood care
Answer(b) Equal justice and free legal aid
Same amendment — the 42nd Amendment, 1976, which inserted Part IVA (Fundamental Duties) tested here also added Directive Principles such as Article 39A (equal justice and free legal aid), the subject of this NDA item.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Fundamental Duties were added to the Constitution on the recommendation of which committee?
- (a)Swaran Singh Committee
- (b)Sarkaria Commission
- (c)Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
- (d)Ashok Mehta Committee
Answer(a) Swaran Singh Committee — through the 42nd Amendment, 1976.
- practice — not a real PYQ
How many Fundamental Duties are currently listed in Article 51A?
- (a)Ten
- (b)Eleven
- (c)Nine
- (d)Twelve
Answer(b) Eleven — the eleventh (education of a child aged 6-14) was added by the 86th Amendment, 2002.