Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Eleven
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Apart from Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles, the Constitution of India also contains Fundamental Duties of citizens, listed in Article 51A. These duties remind citizens of their obligations towards the nation and society. The number of Fundamental Duties has changed once since they were introduced, and this question asks you to recall the current count after all relevant amendments, especially the Eighty Sixth Amendment.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Fundamental Duties were added to the Constitution by the Forty Second Amendment Act of 1976, which inserted Article 51A. At that time, ten duties were listed. Later, the Eighty Sixth Amendment Act of 2002 added one more duty, which requires parents or guardians to provide opportunities for education to children between six and fourteen years of age. This increased the total number from ten to eleven. Therefore, the present count of Fundamental Duties is eleven.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the original Constitution did not contain Fundamental Duties.
Step 2: The Forty Second Amendment Act 1976 inserted Article 51A and listed ten Fundamental Duties.
Step 3: The Eighty Sixth Amendment Act 2002, which also dealt with the Right to Education, added an additional duty for parents and guardians regarding children s education.
Step 4: This raised the total number of Fundamental Duties from ten to eleven.
Step 5: Therefore, the current number of Fundamental Duties is eleven.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can mentally list the main themes of the duties, such as respecting the Constitution, cherishing the freedom struggle, defending the nation, promoting harmony, protecting the environment and ensuring education for children. When you count these themes in a standard textbook or chart, you reach eleven items. Since there has been only one amendment affecting the number of duties, and it added exactly one duty, the total must be eleven.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Nine: This number is less than the original ten duties introduced in 1976 and does not match any stage in constitutional history.
Twelve: There has been only one additional duty added after the original ten, so the total has not reached twelve.
Twenty: This is far higher than any actual count and is clearly incorrect. It may be used as a distractor in the options.
Common Pitfalls:
Some students remember that there were originally ten Fundamental Duties but forget that the Eighty Sixth Amendment added one more. Others may confuse the amendment numbers related to Fundamental Duties with those related to Fundamental Rights. To avoid this, it is helpful to revise timelines: ten duties were added in 1976 by the Forty Second Amendment, and an eleventh duty was added in 2002 by the Eighty Sixth Amendment. Keeping this simple story in mind helps you answer questions about both the number and the evolution of Fundamental Duties.
Final Answer:
After the Eighty Sixth Amendment, the Constitution of India lists eleven Fundamental Duties for citizens.
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