Govt. dusts off Emergency-era provision on Basic Duties

Syllabus subtopic: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

News: The NDA govt. is dusting off an Emergency-era provision introduced in the Constitution by Indira Gandhi via her controversial 42^nd Amendment- its’s invoking “Fundamental Duties” asking Ministries to spread awareness about them.

Prelims and Mains Focus: about Fundamental Duties and the implications of the govt.’s move

Context:

This emphasis on fundamental duties will play out as part of the year-long celebration of the 70^th anniversary of Constitution Day that falls on November 26.
On Constitution Day the Premble of the Constitution will be read out in various govt. offices.

About Fundamental Duties

The Fundamental Duties, inducted as Article 51A under Part-IV A of the Constitution, is inspired from the Constitution of Russia.

Note: Only one of the 11 fundamental duties mentioned under Article 51A was inducted during the Vajpayee govt. as the 86^th Constitution Amendment in 2002 about educational opportunities for children.

Under Article 51-A, the fundamental duties are statutory and not enforceable by law. The idea behind their incorporation was to emphasize the obligation of the citizens in exchange of the fundamental rights enjoyed by them.
Part IV of the Constitution deals with Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs) that includes among its many items, the state’s obligation to enforce a uniform civil code and prevent cow slaughter.

Source: Indian Express

Join Our Telegram

US Resumes Nuclear Weapon Testing

Formation Day

03 Dec, 25
SHARE

On 1st November, eight Indian states—Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu—along with five Union Territories—Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Delhi, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry—celebrate their Formation Day. This date marks an important milestone in India

Turtle (Kachhua) Wildlife Sanctuary

02 Dec, 25
SHARE

The Turtle Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as the Kachhua Sanctuary, is located in the Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh. It is recognised as India’s first freshwater turtle wildlife sanctuary, established to conserve endangered turtle species and support the ecological health of the Ganga River. Location and Extent The sanctuary co

Introduction of AI and Computational Thinking (CT) in

02 Dec, 25
SHARE

The Ministry of Education plans to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Thinking (CT) from Class 3 onwards in the 2026–27 academic year. This initiative is part of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 and aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The aim is to prepare student

Sal Tree

02 Dec, 25
SHARE

Scientists from the Environment Department of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) in Shimla have recently revealed that the Sal tree (Shorea robusta) is the most effective natural air purifier for combating rising pollution levels. Their findings highlight the tree’s superior capacity to trap dust, absorb gases, and cleanse the air compared

US Resumes Nuclear Weapon Testing

02 Dec, 25
SHARE

The President of the United States has ordered the resumption of nuclear weapon testing after a gap of 33 years, the last test being in 1992. This decision marks a significant shift in global nuclear policy and has far-reaching implications for geopolitics, the environment, and international security. Status of Global Nuclear Weapon Testing