Duty to promote harmony
Also called: Article 51A(e) · Topic: Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 2 "Rights in the Indian Constitution"
Meaning
Article 51A(e) is the fundamental duty to promote harmony and a spirit of brotherhood among all the people of India. It applies across differences of religion, language, region and section. It also asks citizens to give up practices that insult the dignity of women. The 42nd Amendment, 1976, added it. It matters because it links citizens' behaviour to fraternity, meaning a feeling of brotherhood, which is one of the ideals in the Preamble.
Example
The Verma Committee (1999) found that many duties were already backed by laws. For this duty it listed IPC sections 153A-153B, which punish promoting enmity between groups (now BNS sections 196-197), and the Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955.
Don't confuse with
- Article 51A(f): this asks citizens to value and preserve our composite culture, which means the shared culture many communities built together. Article 51A(e) is about harmony between people and the dignity of women.
Related concepts
- Fundamental duties
- Swaran Singh Committee
- Duty to abide by the Constitution
- Duty to defend the country
- Duty to protect the environment
- Scientific temper