Fundamental Duties MCQs for UPSC Prelims

27 practice questions on Fundamental Duties from the Polity & Governance section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus. 27 come with a written explanation and 6 are actual previous year questions. Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.

21 Easy 5 Medium 1 Hard 6 from past papers

Sample questions

Q1
Previous year question easy

Under the Constitution of India, which one of the following is not a fundamental duty?

  1. A To vote in public elections
  2. B To develop the scientific temper
  3. C To safeguard public property
  4. D To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - To vote in public elections

The Fundamental Duties in Article 51A include developing scientific temper and humanism, safeguarding public property and abjuring violence, and abiding by the Constitution and respecting its ideals and institutions; all three of these are listed duties. Voting in public elections, though a civic and democratic responsibility, is not enumerated as a Fundamental Duty in Article 51A. Therefore voting is the one that is not a fundamental duty.

Q2
Previous year question medium

Which of the following is/are among the Fundamental Duties of citizens laid down in the Indian Constitution? 1. To preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture 2. To protect the weaker sections from social injustice 3. To develop the scientific temper and spirit of inquiry 4. To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  1. A 1 and 2 only
  2. B 2 only
  3. C 1, 3 and 4 only
  4. D 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - 1, 3 and 4 only

The Fundamental Duties in Article 51A include valuing and preserving the rich heritage of our composite culture (statement 1), developing the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform (statement 3), and striving towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity (statement 4), so these three are correct. Statement 2, protecting the weaker sections from social injustice, is a Directive Principle (Article 46) addressed to the State, not a Fundamental Duty of citizens, so it is wrong. Hence the answer is 1, 3 and 4 only.

Q3
Previous year question easy

In the context of India, which one of the following is the correct relationship between Rights and Duties?

  1. A Rights are correlative with Duties
  2. B Rights are personal and hence independent of society and Duties
  3. C Rights, not Duties, are important for the advancement of the personality of the citizen
  4. D Duties, not Rights, are important for the stability of the State
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - Rights are correlative with Duties

Rights and duties are correlative: every right enjoyed by one person implies a corresponding duty on others (and on the State), and the enjoyment of rights presupposes the discharge of duties. The other options wrongly treat rights as independent of society, claim rights matter more than duties for personal development, or claim duties matter more than rights for State stability; the balanced and correct view is that rights are correlative with duties.

Q4
Previous year question easy

Consider the following pairs : Provision in the Constitution of India - Stated under I. Separation of Judiciary from the Executive in the public services of the State - The Directive Principles of the State Policy II. Valuing and preserving of the rich heritage of our composite culture - The Fundamental Duties III. Prohibition of employment of children below the age of 14 years in factories - The Fundamental Rights How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

  1. A Only one
  2. B Only two
  3. C All the three
  4. D None
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - All the three

Article 50, a Directive Principle, directs the State to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services, so pair I is correct. Article 51A(f), a Fundamental Duty, asks every citizen to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture, so pair II is correct. Article 24, a Fundamental Right against exploitation, prohibits employment of children below fourteen years in factories, mines and other hazardous occupations, so pair III is also correct. As all three provisions are correctly located, the answer is (c) All the three.

Q5
Previous year question easy

"To uphold and protect the Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity of India" is a provision made in the

  1. A Preamble of the Constitution
  2. B Directive Principles of State Policy
  3. C Fundamental Rights
  4. D Fundamental Duties
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - Fundamental Duties

'To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India' is one of the Fundamental Duties listed in Article 51A (added by the 42nd Amendment). It is not in the Preamble, the Directive Principles (Part IV), or the Fundamental Rights (Part III), so those options are wrong.

Q6
Previous year question easy

Which one of the following objectives is not embodied in the Preamble to the Constitution of India?

  1. A Liberty of thought
  2. B Economic liberty
  3. C Liberty of expression
  4. D Liberty of belief
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - Economic liberty

The Preamble secures to all citizens Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. 'Economic liberty' is not among the freedoms listed in the Preamble, so it is the objective NOT embodied there. Liberty of thought, of expression and of belief are all explicitly mentioned, which is why those three options are incorrect for a 'not embodied' question.

Q7
easy

Which one of the following Fundamental Duties was NOT part of the original list inserted by the 42nd Amendment but was added later?

  1. A To provide opportunities for education to one's child or ward between the ages of six and fourteen years
  2. B To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife
  3. C To value and preserve the rich heritage of the country's composite culture
  4. D To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - To provide opportunities for education to one's child or ward between the ages of six and fourteen years

The original ten Fundamental Duties were added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976. The eleventh duty, to provide opportunities for education to one's child or ward between six and fourteen years, was added by the 86th Amendment, 2002, alongside the right to education under Article 21A. The other three were part of the original list under Article 51A.

Q8
easy

Which one of the following Fundamental Duties was NOT part of the original list inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, but was added later?

  1. A To safeguard public property and to abjure violence
  2. B To protect and improve the natural environment
  3. C To provide opportunities for education to one's child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years
  4. D To value and preserve the rich heritage of the composite culture
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - To provide opportunities for education to one's child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years

The duty of a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to a child or ward between six and fourteen years was added by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002, and was therefore NOT part of the original ten Fundamental Duties inserted by the 42nd Amendment, 1976. The other three duties listed were all part of the original ten duties under Article 51A. This addition made the total number of Fundamental Duties eleven.

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More Polity & Governance topics

Parliament 100 Constitutional Bodies 93 Schedules & Special Provisions 85 Centre-State Relations & Federalism 84 Fundamental Rights 57 Judiciary 57 Governance, Transparency & Accountability 54 Amendment of Constitution 49 Local Government 48 Directive Principles 45 Elections & Representation 44 Union Executive 43 Statutory & Regulatory Bodies 41 Social Justice & Welfare 39 State Legislature & Executive 38 Constitutional Framework 37 Citizenship 32 Emergency Provisions 32 Bills & Acts 31 Rights Issues & Mechanisms 31