Fundamental Duties Incorporation via 42nd Amendment

The question asks about the specific amendment that introduced the Fundamental Duties to the Constitution of India. The Constitution of India, originally, did not contain a list of fundamental duties for its citizens. These were added later to complement the rights guaranteed to citizens.

Understanding the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, passed in 1976 during the period of the Emergency, was a landmark amendment that brought about significant changes to the Indian Constitution. One of the key additions made by this act was the inclusion of a new Part, specifically Part IV-A, which enshrined the Fundamental Duties of the citizens.

• The idea of incorporating Fundamental Duties was based on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee.
• Initially, this part contained 10 Fundamental Duties.
• Later, the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002, added one more duty, making the total count 11.

Why the 42nd Amendment is Correct

The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 is the specific legislation responsible for adding the Fundamental Duties to the Constitution of India. This was a significant step towards emphasizing the responsibilities and obligations of citizens towards the nation alongside their fundamental rights.

Analysis of Options

• 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act 1976: This amendment introduced Part IV-A, containing the Fundamental Duties. This aligns with historical records.
• 43rd Constitutional Amendment Act 1977: This act made certain modifications to the 42nd Amendment but did not introduce Fundamental Duties.
• 44th Constitutional Amendment Act 1978: This amendment aimed at undoing some controversial aspects of the 42nd Amendment and also introduced changes related to Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles, but not Fundamental Duties.
• 45th Constitutional Amendment Act 1980: This act extended the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Tribes in Parliament and State Assemblies.

Therefore, the incorporation of Fundamental Duties was solely achieved through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.