Under the Constitution of India which of the following is NOT a Fundamental Duty ?
- (a)To vote in General Election
- (b)To develop the scientific temper
- (c)To safeguard public property
- (d)To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideas
Correct — A, To vote in a General Election. The Fundamental Duties are listed exhaustively in Article 51A (Part IVA) of the Constitution, inserted by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee. Voting is NOT among them — it is a statutory right conferred by Article 326 read with the Representation of the People Act, 1951, not a constitutional duty. Developing the scientific temper [51A(h)], safeguarding public property [51A(i)] and abiding by the Constitution and respecting its ideals [51A(a)] are all listed duties, so option (a) is the one that is NOT a Fundamental Duty.
- (b)To develop the scientific temper — This IS a Fundamental Duty. Article 51A(h) requires every citizen 'to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform'; being a listed duty, it cannot be the answer to a 'NOT a duty' question.
- (c)To safeguard public property — This IS a Fundamental Duty. Article 51A(i) enjoins citizens 'to safeguard public property and to abjure violence', so it is not the exception the question asks for.
- (d)To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideas — This IS a Fundamental Duty — the very first one. Article 51A(a) requires citizens 'to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem'.
Fundamental Duties are enumerated in Article 51A, Part IVA of the Constitution. They were added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 on the recommendation of the Swaran Singh Committee; originally ten, an eleventh (to provide education to one's child/ward aged 6–14) was added by the 86th Amendment Act, 2002, making eleven. Like the Directive Principles, they are non-justiciable — not directly enforceable by courts. Voting, though an important civic act, is a statutory right under the Representation of the People Act, not one of these duties.
Three of the four options quote actual clauses of Article 51A almost verbatim, so the trick is to spot the odd one out. Voting 'feels' like a duty, but constitutionally it is a right/entitlement — Article 326 fixes universal adult suffrage and the RP Act, 1951 operationalises it. Anything phrased as 'to develop / safeguard / abide by / protect / cherish / value…' is a 51A duty; a right to participate (vote) is not.
- Fundamental Duties are in Article 51A, Part IVA; added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 (Swaran Singh Committee).
- Originally 10 duties; the 11th (education of child/ward aged 6–14) was added by the 86th Amendment Act, 2002 — now 11.
- 51A(a) abide by the Constitution; 51A(h) develop scientific temper; 51A(i) safeguard public property — all listed duties.
- Voting is a statutory right under Article 326 and the Representation of the People Act, 1951 — NOT a Fundamental Duty.
Only 'to vote' is absent from Article 51A — option (a) is NOT a Fundamental Duty.
- Assuming voting or paying taxes is a Fundamental Duty — neither is in Article 51A.
- Miscounting — there are 11 duties after the 86th Amendment, not 10.
UPSC/UPPSC ask 'which is NOT a Fundamental Duty', or list statements and ask how many are in Article 51A — memorise the 11 clauses and the two amendments (42nd, 86th).
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
Virtually identical UPSC 2011 prelims question — same four options and same answer (voting is a statutory right, not a Fundamental Duty). UPPSC 2021 reused it almost verbatim.
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 from the other side — tests which items are actually listed in Article 51A (protecting weaker sections is a Directive Principle, not a duty), reinforcing what does and does not count as a Fundamental Duty.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Fundamental Duties were added to the Constitution by which amendment?
- (a)42nd Amendment Act, 1976
- (b)44th Amendment Act, 1978
- (c)86th Amendment Act, 2002
- (d)61st Amendment Act, 1988
Answer(a) 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 — inserted Part IVA (Article 51A) on the Swaran Singh Committee's advice.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The 11th Fundamental Duty (opportunity for education to one's child/ward aged 6–14) was added by which amendment?
- (a)73rd Amendment Act
- (b)86th Amendment Act
- (c)93rd Amendment Act
- (d)101st Amendment Act
Answer(b) 86th Amendment Act, 2002 — which added Article 51A(k).