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UPSC CSE Prelims 2011 · GS paper

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

A question from UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2011, General Studies, explained with its sources.

Prelims 2011 · archive

Easy

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

Answer & explanation

Answer: (a) To vote in public elections

Article 51A, in Part IVA of the Constitution, lists the Fundamental Duties. It covers developing the scientific temper, safeguarding public property and abiding by the Constitution. It has no duty to vote in public elections. Voting is a legal right of an eligible citizen, not a constitutional duty.

  • ✓ (a) Article 51A does not list voting among the duties of a citizen. This is therefore the option that is not a fundamental duty.
  • ✗ (b) Article 51A(h) makes it a duty to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
  • ✗ (c) Article 51A(i) makes it a duty to safeguard public property and to abjure violence.
  • ✗ (d) Article 51A(a) makes it a duty to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem.

Remember · Article 51A (Part IVA, added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976) lists the Fundamental Duties. Voting is not among them. Scientific temper is 51A(h) and public property is 51A(i).

Sources

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2011, General Studies paper. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·

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