Name: Singh Shubh Raj
Roll No: 23/30545
Course: B.A. English Hons.
Subject: Constitutional Values & Fundamental Duties (VAC)
Submitted to: Mrs. Poorvi
Fundamental Duties: A Civic Responsibility
The Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens, enshrined in Article 51A of the
Constitution, were introduced by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, based on the
recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee. These duties serve as a constant
reminder to every citizen that while enjoying Fundamental Rights, they must also be
conscious of their duties towards the nation. There are currently eleven
Fundamental Duties, and they reflect the values of nationalism, humanism,
environmental awareness, and a sense of collective responsibility.
These duties include respecting the Constitution, cherishing noble ideals from the
freedom struggle, upholding the unity and integrity of India, promoting harmony,
protecting the environment, and striving for excellence in all spheres of individual
and collective activity. Although they are not legally enforceable, they hold immense
moral and civic importance. If followed earnestly, they can foster a more responsible
and socially aware citizenry.
Unfortunately, awareness about Fundamental Duties remains low among the
general public. Most citizens are familiar with their rights but often overlook the
duties expected of them. This imbalance hampers the spirit of participatory
democracy. For a healthy democratic society, rights and duties must go hand in
hand.
Efforts such as civic education, community programs, and national campaigns are
essential to promote these duties, especially among the youth. Encouraging
voluntary compliance through education and public discourse can strengthen the
moral fabric of the nation. In essence, Fundamental Duties are a call to action for
every citizen to contribute meaningfully to the nation's growth, unity, and dignity.
Survey Report: Awareness about Fundamental Duties
The Indian Constitution outlines not only the rights of citizens but also their
responsibilities. Among these are the Fundamental Duties, added by the 42nd
Amendment Act in 1976 under Article 51A. These duties serve as moral obligations
to promote a sense of discipline and commitment among citizens towards the
nation. Despite their importance, there exists a substantial gap in public
understanding and practice of these duties. This survey was conducted with the
intent to bridge this informational divide, by first assessing the current level of
awareness, then analyzing the causes behind observed trends, and finally offering
practical solutions for improvement.
Objective:
To evaluate the awareness, understanding, and perceived importance of
Fundamental Duties among a diverse sample of citizens, and to propose actionable
recommendations to improve awareness.
Survey Methodology:
- Sample Size: 26 respondents
- Age Group: 100% between 18–25 years
- Occupations Represented:
- Students: 86.5%
- Working Professionals: 5.4%
- Street Vendors: 5.4%
- Homemaker: 2.7%
- Tool Used: Google Forms (Multiple Choice & Opinion-based Questions)
Key Findings (with Analysis):
Awareness of Fundamental Duties:
100% of respondents have heard about Fundamental Duties.
However, only 42.1% correctly identified that 11 duties are enshrined in the
Constitution. 36.8% were unsure.
Analysis: While general awareness is high (likely due to the student-heavy sample),
accurate knowledge is lacking, indicating superficial understanding.
Ability to Recall Duties:
A significant number of respondents could not name a specific Fundamental Duty or
were uncertain about the exact duties.
Understanding of Examples of Fundamental Duties:
The majority could correctly identify duties like promoting harmony and protecting
public property, but some confused non-duties (like paying taxes or obeying traffic
signals) as constitutional duties.
Analysis: There is confusion between legal/moral responsibilities and constitutional
duties. This indicates the need for clearer public messaging and educational
emphasis.
Relevance and Importance:
89.5% believe that these duties are important in day-to-day life.
100% agree they should be taught more actively in schools and colleges.
Analysis: There is strong public support for integrating civic education and
awareness of duties at the grassroots level.
Perceived Practice in Society:
47.4% feel people around them “sometimes” follow duties; 36.8% say they “rarely”
do.
Personal Practice:
52.6% follow duties 'sometimes without thinking about it'
Only 26.3% said they follow duties 'consciously'
Suggestions for Awareness:
42.1% voted for school education
21.1% each voted for public posters and social media
Few mentioned news/radio as effective mediums
Critical Observations:
- Strengths:
There is a foundational awareness and positive attitude towards Fundamental
Duties, especially among the youth. The willingness to learn more and accept the
importance of civic responsibilities is high.
- Weaknesses:
- Lack of exact knowledge and recall
- Confusion with other forms of civic duties
- Gap between awareness and actual practice in daily life
- Underrepresentation of marginalized or less-educated groups (due to sample
composition)
Recommendations:
- Curriculum Reinforcement: Integrate interactive sessions (debates, roleplays,
posters) in schools and colleges. Link each duty to real-life case studies or current
issues.
- Visual Public Campaigns: Put up pictorial posters and murals in local languages.
Use QR codes linking to explanatory videos.
- Digital Media Strategy: Use reels, shorts, and WhatsApp forwards. Involve
influencers during national events.
- Include in Public Service Messages: Integrate duties into Swachh Bharat-type
campaigns and PSAs.
- Grassroots Workshops: Partner with NGOs and RWAs to run plays, quizzes, and
games in rural and urban areas.
- Gamification & Incentives: Launch civic apps and quiz contests with rewards to
encourage learning.
Conclusion:
This survey demonstrates that while the youth are aware of Fundamental Duties in
concept, there’s an urgent need for deeper engagement and more relatable teaching.
The gap between knowledge and application must be bridged by integrating duties
into the cultural and educational narrative of India—not as a formality, but as a
lived responsibility of every citizen.
Extended Key Insights:
Our results strongly suggest that while formal awareness of Fundamental Duties is
widespread—at least in name—a deeper understanding of their content,
implications, and daily relevance is considerably lacking. For example, a surprisingly
large number of respondents confused 'obeying traffic signals' with a constitutional
duty. This points toward a larger pattern where civic duties are often lumped
together without distinguishing those that are explicitly enshrined in the
Constitution.
This lack of distinction is not trivial. It demonstrates that although the duties have
been included in textbooks, their application is not emphasized through everyday
examples or experiential learning. Awareness without engagement remains passive
knowledge. Civic consciousness can only thrive when there is a repeated and
reinforced exposure to these values, not only in schools but also through community
participation and government initiatives.
Another notable trend was the inconsistency between personal practice and societal
observance. While more than half claimed they personally adhered to the duties at
least occasionally, fewer believed that society at large did the same. This
discrepancy can either mean that individuals overestimate their own contribution
or feel disillusioned about the commitment of others. Either way, this points toward
the urgent need for communal action and reinforcement of civic behavior.
Barriers to Awareness and Practice:
1. Lack of continuous exposure post-schooling: Once out of the school curriculum,
Fundamental Duties are seldom revisited.
2. Urban-rural disparity: Even in this student-heavy sample, confusion prevailed.
Among less literate populations, the scenario could be worse.
3. Passive delivery of content: The duties are often taught as theory, devoid of
interaction or contemporary relevance.
4. Absence of accountability: Unlike Fundamental Rights, Duties are non-justiciable.
Hence, they lack enforcement, weakening their perceived importance.
Strategic Recommendations (Expanded):
To make Fundamental Duties a lived reality, the following multi-pronged approach
is recommended:
1. Educational Reforms:
- Include reflective activities, community service, and real-world application-based
projects in the curriculum.
- Teachers should receive training in civic engagement methods, not just textbook
delivery.
2. Mass Communication:
- Partner with media houses to develop series, documentaries, and animations that
explain each duty using real-life stories.
- Regular government-sponsored public advertisements, with engaging visuals and
local influencers.
3. Incentivized Civic Learning:
- Use technology to create gamified apps, civic badges, and reward-based
participation for students and community members.
4. Community Engagement:
- Host nukkad nataks (street plays), poster exhibitions, and civic responsibility
days in RWAs, villages, and mohallas.
- Provide toolkits to NGOs and youth organizations for neighborhood awareness
campaigns.
5. Policy Integration:
- Encourage local bodies and state governments to report on civic behavior and
duty-awareness through annual surveys.
- Make public display of duties in schools, courts, and government offices
mandatory with periodic reviews.
Final Thoughts:
Fundamental Duties represent the moral vision of the Indian Constitution. In an age
of increasing individualism and digital disconnection, it is more important than ever
to instill a shared sense of responsibility and national belonging. These duties are
not relics of past idealism, but a blueprint for a more participatory and
compassionate society.
Appendix: Survey Questions
Survey Questions Used in the Form:
1. What is your age group?
2. What is your occupation?
3. Have you heard about the Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens?
4. Do you know how many Fundamental Duties are mentioned in the Indian
Constitution?
5. What do you understand by the term 'Fundamental Duties'?
6. Where are the Fundamental Duties mentioned in the Constitution?
7. Which of the following are Fundamental Duties?
8. Do you think Fundamental Duties should be enforceable by law?
9. In your opinion, how well does society follow Fundamental Duties?
10. Do you personally try to follow the Fundamental Duties?
11. Do you think more awareness should be created about Fundamental Duties?
12. What medium do you think is the most effective in spreading awareness about
Fundamental Duties?
13. Do you believe Fundamental Duties should be part of job eligibility or
educational progress criteria?
14. Where did you first hear about Fundamental Duties?
15. Do you think children should be actively taught about Fundamental Duties from
an early age?
