Punjab State Board PSEB 11th Class Political Science Book Solutions Chapter 20 Fundamental Duties Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
PSEB Solutions for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 20 Fundamental Duties
Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Critically evaluate the Fundamental duties given in the Indian Constitution.
Answer:
By 42nd amendment after Part IV of the Constitution, Part IV-A is inserted in the Constitution which lays down fundamental duties of the Citizens. The fundamental duties are intended to serve as a constant reminder to every citizen that while the Constitution specially conferred upon him certain fundamental rights, equally the citizens are also required to observe certain basic norms of democratic conduct and democratic behaviour.
For the first time a set of 10 Fundamental Duties of citizens has been enumerated. One more fundamental duty was incorporated in Part 4 A of 51 A by the 86th Amendment made in Dec, 2002. Part IV A of 11 Fundamental Duties is by far the most fundamental and very important for every generation, present as well as future:
- It is the duty of every citizen to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem.
- It is the duty of every citizen to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom.
- It is the duty of every citizen to uphold and protect sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
- It is the duty of every citizen to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so.
- It is the duty of every citizen 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.
- It is the duty of every citizen to value and preserve the rich heritage of its composite culture.
- It is the duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and to have compassion for living creatures.
- It is the duty of every citizen to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
- It is the duty of every citizen to safeguard public property and to abjure violence.
- It is the duty of every citizen to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievements.
- To provide facilities of education to children by their parents.
Evaluation of Fundamental Duties. Inclusion of Fundamental Duties in the Constitution is a progressive step:
By inserting Fundamental Duties, 42nd Amendment has removed one of the biggest drawbacks of the Constitution. No country can develop unless its citizens pay more attention towards duties rather than towards rights. Mahatma Gandhi defined right “as duty well performed”.
The new chapter on Fundamental Duties, according to H.R. Gokhale, the then Law Minister of India, is the palm embodying noble ideals, rhythm, harmony with the impress of the hand of Prime Minister.” Addressing a seminar attended by the teachers on Sept. 5, 1976, the then Prime Minister Mrs. Gandhi said, “The inclusion of the chapter on Fundamental Duties in the Constitution will ultimately bring a change in the outlook and psychology of the people. So a peaceful revolution can be brought in the country with the performance of these duties by heart.”
But on the other hand, fundamental duties have been criticised and healthy criticism is made by Mr. Bhupesh Gupta in a Communist Party Publication. According to him, the Committee (Swarn Singh Committee) has not critically examined as to why the duties are implied or arise from the Constitution and existing statutory laws including the duties of the government have not been duly observed.
Why, for instance, the monopolists could get away with their calculated defiance of the duty not to indulge in economic activities and other business practices that lead to the concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment? The implied duty under Article 39 (c) of the Constitution has been most cynically flouted. Or, how could the landlords escape their duty to respect the land ceiling laws? Why again despite many laws in favour of secularism and against communalism, the communal forces could grow so menacingly strong?
Some Duties are Vague. Another point of criticism is that some fundamental duties are vague and it is not possible for an average man to understand them. For example, the duties pertaining to upholding the noble ideals of the freedom struggle or the development of a “scientific temper and humanism and spirit of enquiry and reform” are not understood by ordinary citizens.
Lack of Legal Force. Another drawback of fundamental duties lies in their incorporation in Part IV of the Constitution. Without appropriate legal sanctions fundamental duties are mere pious wishes.
We conclude with the remarks of Bhupesh Gupta that the rights and duties of the citizens, fundamental or otherwise, must necessarily be such as would constantly strengthen the position of the toiling masses against the vested interests and reactions as well as their struggle for a better life and social progress. Whether the issue is one of rights or of duties, the correct answer can be found only from this popular and democratic approach.
Question 2.
Explain why the Fundamental Duties have been given an important place in the Indian Constitution?
Or
Assess the importance of Fundamental Duties in Indian Constitution. Is the status of Fundamental Duties the same as that of Fundamental Rights?
Answer:
The Indian Constitution in its original form did not contain fundamental duties of citizens. The fundamental duties were added in the Indian Constitution in 1976 through Forty-second Consitution Amendment Act. This forty second amendment added Article 51-A in the Consitution which contains ten fundamental duties for the Indian citizen.
The inclusion of fundamental duties in the Consitution itself bears testimony of the fact that fundamental duties have been given an important place in the Indian Consitution. The reasons there of are given below.
1. Inclusion of fundamental duties in the Constitution is a progressive step:
By inserting fundamental duties, 42nd Amendment has removed one of the biggest drawbacks of the Constitution. No country can develop unless its citizens pay more attention towards duties rather than towards rights. The proponents of the 42nd Amendment wanted to emphasise the dictum of Dharmashastras that ‘Your duty is your right’.
2. The fundamental duties are incorporated in the Constitution to develop a sense of nationalism and patriotic feelings among the citizens.
3. The fundamental duties help the citizens to follow a code of conduct that would strengthen the nation, protect its sovereignty and integrity.
4. The fundamental duties help the state in performing its diverse duties.
5. The fundamental duties promote ideals of harmony, unity, common brotherhood and religious tolerance.
6. The fundamental duties strive for excellence in individual and collective activities.
7. The fundamental duties have been given an important place in the Constitution because they inculcate a sense of social responsibility
among the citizens.
In brief, we can say that the purpose of giving to the fundamental duties an important place in the Consititution is to make the Indian citizens conscious of their individual and national reponsibilties. The status of fundamental duties is not the same as that of fundamental rights. Fundamental rights are justiciable whereas fundamental duties are not.
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Mention any four fundamental duties of the Indian citizen.
Answer:
- It is a fundamental duty of every citizen to abide by the constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and National Anthem.
- It is a duty of every citizen to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
- It is a duty of every citizen to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so.
- It is a fundamental duty of every citizen to safeguard public property and to abjure violence.
Question 2.
Why the Fundamental Duties have been given an important place in the Indian Constitution.
Answer:
By 42nd amendment Part IV A is inserted in the Constitution which lays down fundamental duties of the citizens. Fundamental duties have been given an important place in the Indian Constitution due to following reasons:
1. Inclusion of fundamental duties in the Constitution is a progressive step. By inserting fundamental duties, 42nd Amendment has removed one of the biggest drawbacks of the Constitution. No country can develop unless its citizens pay more attention towards duties rather than towards rights. The proponents of the 42nd Amendment wanted to emphasise the dictum of Dharmashastras that ‘your duty is your right.
2. The fundamental duties are incorporated in the Constitution to develop a sense of nationalism and patriotic feelings among the citizens.
3. The fundamental duties help the citizens to follow a code of conduct that would strengthen the nation, protect its sovereignty and integrity.
4. The fundamental duties help the state in performing its diverse duties.
Question 3.
Explain briefly the significance of fundamental duties.
Answer:
1. In the original constitution fundamental duties were not mentioned in the Constitution. Hence the citizens were conscious about their fundamental rights and not about their duties. Thus, by inserting fundamental duties in the constitution an important defect of the constitution is removed.
2. Inclusion of fundamental duties in the Constitution is in accordance with the modern view. According to modern view, rights and duties go side by side.
3. Fundamental duties included in the Constitution are not controversial. These duties are in accordance with the Indian culture.
4. Fundamental duties are having moral value.
Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Point out any two fundamental duties of the Indian citizen.
Answer:
- It is a fundamental duty of every citizen to abide by the constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and National Anthem.
- It is a duty of every citizen to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
Question 2.
What is our duty towards the ideals and institutions, National Flag and National Anthem?
Answer:
It is the duty of every citizen of India to obey the supreme law of the land as enshrined in the constitution. It is our duty to have respect towards national ideals and institutions and the symbols of national sovereignty and unity. Every citizen of the country should respect the National Flag and National Anthem.
Question 3.
Explain briefly the significance of fundamental duties.
Answer:
1. In the original constitution fundamental duties were not mentioned in the Constitution. Hence the citizens were conscious about their fundamental rights and not about their duties. Thus, by inserting fundamental duties in the constitution an important defect of the constitution is removed.
2. Inclusion of fundamental duties in the Constitution is in accordance with the modem view. According to modern view, rights and duties go side by side.
One Word to One Sentence Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
What is meant by Fundamental Duties?
Answer:
The duties of citizens, which have been mentioned in the constitution, are called Fundamental Duties,
Question 2.
Mention any one Fundamental Duty included in the constitution.
Answer:
To honour the constitution, national flag and national song.
Question 3.
Mention any one drawback of Fundamental Duty incorporated in the Indian Constitution.
Answer:
No provision has been made to enforce Fundamental Duties.
Question 4.
How many Fundamental Duties were incluued earlier in the con¬stitution?
Answer:
10 Fundamental Duties were included earlier (in 1976) in the constitution.
Question 5.
At present, how many Fundamental Duties are mentioned in the Indian Constitution?
Answer:
At present, 11 Fundamental Duties are mentioned in the Indian Constitution.
Fill in the blanks
1. Fundamental duties have been added in the Constitution by …………… amendment.
Answer:
42nd
2. …………… is inserted in the Constitution which lays down eleven Fundamental Duties.
Answer:
Part IV-A
3. The Indian …………… in its original form did not contain Fundamental Duties of citizens.
Answer:
Constitution
4. There is no …………… sanction behind Fundamental Duties.
Answer:
Legal
5. One duty is added by …………… amendment of the Constitution.
Answer:
86th.
True or False statement
1. There are 11 Fundamental Duties incorporated in the Constitution.
Answer:
True
2. One of the Fundamental duties is that it is the duty of every citizen to safeguard public property and to adjure violence.
Answer:
True
3. Inclusion of fundamental duties in the Constitution is not a progressive step.
Answer:
False
4. Critic said that some fundamental duties are vague.
Answer:
True
Choose The Correct Answer
Question 1. Fundamental duties of the citizens were added in the Constitution by the following amendment:
(A) 42nd
(B) 44th
(C) 45th
(D) 73rd.
Answer:
(A) 42nd
Question 2.
Fundamental duties are contained in the following part of the constitution:
(A) Part-I
(B) Part-IV
(C) Part-IV-A
(D) Part-VI.
Answer:
(C) Part-IV-A
Question 3.
In Indian Constitution, there are:
(A) 9 Fundamental Duties
(B) 10 Fundamental Duties
(C) 11 Fundamental Duties
(D) None of these.
Answer:
(C) 11 Fundamental Duties
Question 4.
In Part IV-A of the Constitution, how many Fundamental Duties are mentioned?
(A) Eleven
(B) Nine
(C) Seven
(D) Six.
Answer:
(A) Eleven
Question 5.
Fundamental Duties were incorporated in the Indian Constitution in the year:
(A) 1976
(B) 1977
(C) 1978
(D) 1979.
Answer:
(A) 1976