Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties of India

CONSTITUTION_PREAMBLE

Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties of India

The Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties of India are sections of the Constitution of India that prescribe the fundamental obligations of the state to its citizens and the duties and the rights of the citizens to the state. These sections constitute a comprehensive framework that aims to ensure the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation.

Fundamental Rights

The Fundamental Rights are enshrined in Part III of the Constitution of India. They are essential for the overall development of individuals and are enforceable by the courts. The Fundamental Rights include:

• Right to Equality (Articles 14-18)
• Right to Freedom (Articles 19-22)
• Right against Exploitation (Articles 23-24)
• Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25-28)
• Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29-30)
• Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32)

Directive Principles of State Policy

The Directive Principles of State Policy are guidelines for the framing of laws by the government. These principles are contained in Part IV of the Constitution and are not enforceable by any court, but they are considered fundamental in the governance of the country. The Directive Principles aim to create social and economic conditions under which the citizens can lead a good life. They include:

• Promotion of welfare of the people (Article 38)
• Equal justice and free legal aid (Article 39A)
• Organization of village panchayats (Article 40)
• Right to work, to education, and to public assistance in certain cases (Article 41)
• Provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief (Article 42)
• Living wage, etc., for workers (Article 43)
• Uniform civil code for the citizens (Article 44)
• Provision for free and compulsory education for children (Article 45)
• Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other weaker sections (Article 46)
• Duty of the state to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health (Article 47)

Fundamental Duties

The Fundamental Duties are specified in Part IVA of the Constitution (Article 51A). These duties are moral obligations of all citizens to help promote a spirit of patriotism and to uphold the unity of India. The Fundamental Duties include:

• To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem
• To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom
• To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India
• To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so
• To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic, and regional or sectional diversities
• To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture
• To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures
• To develop the scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform
• To safeguard public property and to abjure violence
• To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement
• To provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years

Related Pages

• Constitution of India
• Right to Equality
• Right to Freedom
• Right against Exploitation
• Right to Freedom of Religion
• Cultural and Educational Rights
• Right to Constitutional Remedies
• Directive Principles of State Policy
• Fundamental Duties