Introduction

to the Indian
Contitution
(GE)

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 INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIAN
CONSTITUION

SYLLABUS

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Obligations and duties are essential for the functioning of a democratic society,
and they ensure that the state and citizens work together to achieve the collective
goals of the country.

Obligations of State refer to the responsibilities that the government is expected

to fulfill towards its citizens. These responsibilities are outlined in the
Constitution and aim to ensure the welfare and well-being of the people.

Duties refer to the responsibilities that citizens have towards the state and
society. These responsibilities are also outlined in the Constitution and aim to
promote the ideals of a just and equitable society.

In a democracy, obligations and duties are crucial for ensuring the proper
functioning of the government and the well-being of the people. Obligations
ensure that the state is accountable to the people and works towards their
welfare, while duties ensure that citizens are active participants in the political
process and contribute towards the betterment of society.

Overall, the obligations of the state and the duties of citizens are two sides of the
same coin, and they work together to achieve the common goals of a democratic
society. In the following sections, we will explore the obligations of the state and
the duties of citizens in more detail to gain a better understanding of their
importance and practical implementation.
The obligations of the state refer to the responsibilities and duties that a
government has towards its citizens and the society as a whole. These
obligations encompass a wide range of areas, including social welfare,
economic development, justice, and governance. In the context of the Indian
Constitution, the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) includes these
obligations, guiding the government's efforts to create a just and equitable
society.

The DPSP are a set of guidelines enshrined in Part IV of the Indian

Constitution (Article 36 to Article 51). They provide a blueprint for the
government's actions in shaping the social, economic, and political landscape
of the country. While they are not legally enforceable like Fundamental Rights,
they are of immense importance in shaping public policy, legislation, and
administrative decisions.
The DPSP are derived from various sources, including the Irish Constitution
and socio-economic ideals from around the world. They serve as a moral
compass for governance and act as a reminder of the state's commitment to the
welfare of its citizens.
Indian Constitution has not originally classified DPSPs but on the basis of their
content and direction, they are usually classified into three types-

• Socialistic Principles,
• Gandhian Principles and,
• Liberal-Intellectual Principles.

They are the principles that aim at providing social and economic justice and
set the path towards the welfare state.
 The State shall strive to promote the welfare of the
people by securing and protecting a social order by ensuring social,
economic and political justice and by minimising inequalities in
income, status, facilities and opportunities
The State shall in particular, direct its policies towards
securing:
• Right to an adequate means of livelihood to all the citizens.
• The ownership and control of material resources shall be
organised in a manner to serve the common good.
• The State shall avoid concentration of wealth in a few hands.
• Equal pay for equal work for both men and women.
• The protection of the strength and health of the workers.
• Childhood and youth shall not be exploited.

To provide free legal aid to the poor.

To secure the right to work, to education and to public
assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disability.
The State shall make provisions for securing just and humane
conditions of work and for maternity relief.
The State shall endeavour to secure to all workers a living
wage and a decent standard of life.
The State shall take steps to secure the participation of
workers in the management of industries.
To raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living of
people and to improve public health.

These principles are based on Gandhian ideology used to represent the

programme of reconstruction enunciated by Gandhi during the national
movement.

The State shall take steps to organise village panchayats as

units of Self Government.
The State shall endeavour to promote cottage industries on an
individual or cooperative basis in rural areas.
 o To promote voluntary formation, autonomous
functioning, democratic control and professional management of
cooperative societies.

The State shall promote educational and economic interests of

the weaker sections of the people particularly that of the Scheduled Castes
(SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other weaker sections.

The State shall take steps to improve public health and prohibit
consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs that are injurious to health.

To prohibit the slaughter of cows, calves and other milch and

draught cattle and to improve their breeds.

These principles reflect the ideology of liberalism.

The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizen a Uniform

Civil Code through the territory of India.
To provide free and compulsory education for all children
until they complete the age of Fourteen years.
To organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and
scientific lines.

o To protect and improve the environment and to

safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
The State shall protect every monument or place of artistic or
historic interest.
The State shall take steps to separate judiciary from the
executive in the public services of the State.
It declares that to establish international peace and
security the State shall endeavour to:

• Maintain just and honourable relations with the nations.

• Foster respect for international law and treaty obligations.
• Encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration.
Citizens have certain responsibilities and duties that contribute to the
functioning and well-being of their society. These duties revolve around active
participation, adherence to laws, and the promotion of a harmonious
community. By fulfilling these duties, citizens can help build a stronger and
more inclusive society.

Fundamental duties refer to a set of moral obligations which every citizen is

expected to fulfill in order to contribute to the overall welfare and development of
the society.
There are eleven fundamental duties listed in Article 51A, under Part-IV(A) of the
Indian Constitution which are as follows:

A) To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the national
flag and the national anthem.
B) To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired the national struggle for
freedom.
C) To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.
D) To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so.
E) To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood among all the
people of India transcending religious, linguistic, and regional or
sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.
F) To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.
G) To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes,
rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.
H) To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
I) To safeguard public property and to abjure violence.
J) 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.
K) To provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the
age of six and fourteen years.

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