Swaran Singh Committee on Fundamental Duties (1976)

Swaran Singh Committee of 1976 added list of 11 Fundamental Duties in the constitution by adding a new Part-IVA and Article-51A in the constitution.

Swaran Singh Committee was formed in 1976 after the internal emergency of 1975 which recommended to add a list of Fundamental Duties which every citizen of India should abide by. The 11 Fundamental Duties act as a moral obligation on every citizen of India and these Fundamental Duties are non-justiciable in nature i.e., one cannot move to court if someone is not obliging its duty as a citizen of India. The new Part IVA with Article 51A was added in the Constitution of India and it was inspired from the Constitution of USSR.

Swaran Singh Committee on Fundamental Duties (1976)

1) The Swaran Singh Committee was formed by the Congress government in 1976 after National Emergency (1975-1977).

2) Swaran Singh Committee was made to make recommendations about the Fundamental Duties, whose necessity was felt during operation of internal emergency.

3) What were the recommendations of Swaran Singh Committee?

a) The Swaran Singh Committee suggested to include a separate chapter on Fundamental Duties in the constitution i.e.,Part-IVA, Article-51A.

b) Swaran Singh Committee emphasized that citizens should be made conscious that along with enjoying Fundamental Rights, they have certain duties to be performed as well.

c)  Swaran Singh Commitee suggested incorporation of 8 Fundamental Duties in the Constitution but, finally constitution incorporated 10 Fundamental Duties by enacting 42nd Constitutional (Amendment) Act, 1976.

The 11th Fundamental Duty was added by 86th Constitutional (Amendment) Act, 2002 which stated that it is the responsibility of every citizen of India to provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of 6 and 14 years.

d) The 42nd Constitutional (Amendment) Act, 1976 incorporated a new chapter on Fundamental Duties in the constitution as Part-IVA and one article- Article-51A having a list of 10 Fundamental Duties.

4) The 11 Fundamental Duties are:

Every citizen of India needs to do the following 11 Fundamental Duties:

a) To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem,

b) To cherish and follow the noble ideals that inspired the national struggle for freedom,

c) To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India,

d)  To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so,

e) To promote harmony and spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities and to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women,

f) To value and preserve the rich heritage of the country's composite culture,

g) To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures,

h) To develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform,

i) To safeguard public property and to abjure violence,

j) To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievements, and

k) To provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of 6 and 14 years.

5) Some of the recommendations of Swaran Singh Committee not accepted by the Congress Government are :

a)  Parliament to provide by law to impose penalty or punishment for non-compliance with any fundamental duty.

b) Such a law imposing penalty or punishment cannot be called in question in any court on the ground of infringement of Fundamental Rights.

c) Duty to pay taxes should be a Fundamental Duty.

Read More: Fundamental Duties [Part-IV Article-51A]

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