Now-a-days, terms like ‘right to education’, ‘right to information’ and ‘right to protest peacefully’ are being used quite frequently. Many a time, you also feel that you have certain rights. Simultaneously, you may have been told by some one, may be your teacher, that you have certain duties towards other individuals, society, nation or the humanity. But do you think that every human being enjoys the rights or everyone performs the duties? Perhaps not. But everyone will agree that there are certain rights that must be enjoyed by individuals. Particularly, in a democratic country like ours, there are rights that must be guaranteed to every citizen. Similarly there are certain duties that must be performed by democratic citizens. Which is why, the Constitution of India guarantees some rights to its citizens. They are known as Fundamental Rights. Besides, the Indian Constitution also enlists certain core duties that every citizen is expected to perform. These are known as Fundamental Duties. This lesson aims atdiscussing the details about the Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties.
FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
It shall be the duty of every citizens of India-
(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 which inspired our 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 the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;
(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;
(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures;
(h) to develop the 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 endeavour and achievement.]
