Which Article in the fundamental duty is invoked when you see in a private party that the Indian flag has been used as a covering for the speaker’s desk?
- (a)Article 51A (b)
- (b)Article 51A (c)
- (c)Article 51A (d)
- (d)Article 51A (a)
Answer
Why
Correct — D. Fundamental Duty 51A(a) asks every citizen to abide by the Constitution and to respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem.
Spreading the tricolour over a speaker's desk is disrespect to the Flag, so 51A(a) is the clause engaged.
The Flag Code of India says the same thing in terms: the Flag shall not be used as a covering for a speaker's desk, nor draped over a speaker's platform.
Why the others are wrong
- (a)Article 51A (b) — 51A(b) is to cherish and follow the noble ideals that inspired the national struggle for freedom. It speaks to remembrance of the movement, not to how the Flag is handled.
- (b)Article 51A (c) — 51A(c) is to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. Misusing a flag at a private party is disrespect, not a threat to sovereignty.
- (c)Article 51A (d) — 51A(d) is to defend the country and render national service when called upon. It addresses a defence obligation, and nothing in the described scene calls for one.
Concept
Fundamental Duties were added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976, on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee, and sit in Part IV-A as the single Article 51A.
There were ten clauses at first, (a) to (j). The 86th Amendment, 2002 added clause (k), the duty of a parent or guardian to provide education to a child between six and fourteen, taking the total to eleven.
The duties are not directly enforceable by a court, but Parliament may legislate to give them teeth. The Flag Code and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 do exactly that for the Flag.
SSC frames this clause as a situation rather than a definition, so the work is mapping a scene onto a lettered clause. Learning 51A as eleven lettered duties, in order, is what the format rewards.
Key facts
- Fundamental Duties were inserted by the 42nd Amendment, 1976, as Part IV-A, Article 51A.
- The Swaran Singh Committee recommended their inclusion.
- Clause 51A(a) covers respect for the Constitution, the National Flag and the National Anthem.
- The 86th Amendment, 2002 added clause 51A(k) on a parent's duty to provide education.
Study next
Common traps
- Reaching for 51A(c) because sovereignty sounds like the patriotic clause, when the Flag is named in 51A(a)
- Counting ten Fundamental Duties, when the total has been eleven since 2002
SSC asks 51A both as a lettered clause and as a scene to be classified.
13 Sep 2024, 12:30, General Awareness Q.21 puts a child on a construction site and wants 51A(k).
17 Sep 2024, 16:00, General Awareness Q.1 has students defacing a monument, and 10 Sep 2024, 12:30, General Awareness Q.18 asks which Article holds the duties.
Related PYQs
No directly related past PYQ was found.