Fundamental duties are added through which constitutional amendment?
VerifiedAnswer: 42nd amendment 1976
Explanation:
The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 introduced fundamental duties to the Indian Constitution. This amendment was passed during the Emergency period under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's government and brought significant changes to our constitutional framework.
The concept of fundamental duties was inspired by the Constitution of the erstwhile Soviet Union. The Swaran Singh Committee, which was set up in 1976, recommended the inclusion of these duties to balance the fundamental rights already present in the Constitution. The idea was that citizens should not only enjoy rights but also fulfill certain obligations towards the nation.
Originally, ten fundamental duties were added to the Constitution through this amendment, which were incorporated as Article 51A. These duties include respecting the Constitution, cherishing noble ideals of the freedom struggle, protecting sovereignty and integrity of India, defending the country, promoting harmony among all people, preserving our composite culture, protecting the environment, developing scientific temper, safeguarding public property, and striving for excellence in individual and collective activity.
It's worth noting that later, through the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2002, an eleventh fundamental duty was added. This duty makes it mandatory for parents or guardians to provide opportunities for education to children between the ages of six and fourteen years.
The 42nd Amendment is often called the "Mini Constitution" because it made extensive changes to the original Constitution. Besides adding fundamental duties, it also made several other significant modifications including changes to the Preamble, addition of new Directive Principles, and alterations to various articles. However, many of these changes were later modified or reversed by subsequent amendments, particularly the 44th Amendment Act of 1978, which restored much of the constitutional balance that had been altered during the Emergency period.
