It shall be the duty of every citizen 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; ]
2[(k) who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years.]
Every Indian citizen is duty bound obligation to wards the Constitution and adher ceratain duties.
Article 51A has total 11 duties enumarated under Clauses (a-k).
The Article 51A was added by Section 11 of 44th amendment in 1976. (w.e.f. 3-1-1977).
The Clause (k) was added by Section 4 of 86th amendment in 2002. (w.e.f. 1-4-2010).
- Dinesh Biwaji Ashtikar v. State of Maharashtra & Ors.3.
In this instance, while concluding on Art. 21A, the Court explicitly defined parents as duty bearers responsible for ensuring the education of children, those who aged between 6 and 14. - Lucknow Public School, Eldico And Anr. v. The State Of Uttar Pradesh & Ors.4
The Supreme Court case concerning the Right to Education, Article 21A, RTE Act. Highlighted duties oa all stake holders. The paramount responsibility of parents. - Kantaru Rajeevaru v. Indian Young Lawyers Association Thr. Its General Secretary And Ors.5.
Regarding the Sabarimala temple and the entry restrictions imposed on women of specific age groups. The Court has reaffirmed Article 51A concerning, clause (a) regarding respect for the Constitution and its institutions, clause (e) pertaining to the safeguarding of women's dignity, and clause (h) addressing human values and a reformative attitude. - Balaji Raghav Anr S.P. Anand v. Union Of India6
The National Awards posed issues when seen as a "title" awarded under Article 18(1), which was asserted to contravene the principle of equality. The Court cited Article 51A(1) and its Directive Principles of State Policy to ensure recognition of the excellence. - M K Ranjitsinh & Ors. v. Union Of India & Ors.7
The primary issue before the Court pertained to the conservation and protection of the endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) species. The court referenced Article 51A while adjudicating this dispute.
Footnotes:
- Ins. by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976, s. 11 (w.e.f. 3-1-1977). ↩
- Ins. by the Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002, s. 4 (w.e.f. 1-4-2010). ↩
- Dinesh Biwaji Ashtikar v. State of Maharashtra & Ors., 2026 INSC 56; [2026] 2 SCR 168.↩
- Lucknow Public School, Eldico And Anr. v. The State Of Uttar Pradesh & Ors., 2026 INSC 422↩
- Kantaru Rajeevaru v. Indian Young Lawyers Association Thr. Its General Secretary And Ors., 2019 INSC 1248; [2019] 17 SCR 599.↩
- Balaji Raghav Anr S.P. Anand v. Union Of India, 1995 INSC 900; 1995 SUPP. 6 SCR 694.↩
- M K Ranjitsinh & Ors. v. Union Of India & Ors., 2024 INSC 280; [2024] 3 SCR 1320.↩