Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Part IV A
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
The Constitution of India is divided into various Parts, each dealing with a different aspect of the constitutional framework, such as citizenship, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, the Union, the States and so on. Fundamental Duties, which remind citizens of their obligations toward the nation, were inserted later into the Constitution. This question asks you to identify in which specific Part these Fundamental Duties are located, a fact frequently tested in Indian polity examinations.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Fundamental Duties were not part of the original Constitution. They were added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, in a new Part IV A immediately after Part IV (Directive Principles of State Policy). Article 51A in Part IV A lists these Fundamental Duties. This location emphasises their close relationship with the Directive Principles while keeping them distinct from enforceable Fundamental Rights in Part III. Therefore, among the options given, Part IV A is the correct Part where Fundamental Duties are mentioned.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Fundamental Rights are in Part III and Directive Principles are in Part IV of the Constitution.Step 2: Remember that the 42nd Amendment inserted Fundamental Duties after Directive Principles, creating a new Part labelled IV A.Step 3: Note that citizenship is covered in Part II and the Union executive and Parliament in Part V, neither of which deals with Fundamental Duties.Step 4: Identify Part IV A as containing Article 51A, which enumerates the Fundamental Duties.Step 5: Select Part IV A as the correct answer from the options provided.
Verification / Alternative check:
Any bare act or authoritative text on the Constitution lists "Part IV A – Fundamental Duties" and includes Article 51A under this heading. Textbooks on Indian polity invariably repeat that Fundamental Duties are found in Part IV A, coming after the Directive Principles in Part IV and before provisions relating to the Union and the States in later Parts. There is no reference to Fundamental Duties in Part II, III or V, which makes Part IV A the only accurate choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Because Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties are conceptually linked, students sometimes mistakenly think that both must be in the same Part (Part III). Others may remember that Duties were added near the Directive Principles and incorrectly choose Part IV. The correct recollection is that a distinct Part labeled IV A was created specifically to house Article 51A and the list of Fundamental Duties. Associating "IV A" with "additional duties" right after the Directive Principles can help fix this in memory.
Final Answer:
Fundamental Duties are mentioned in Part IV A of the Constitution of India.
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