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Fundamental Rights, Duties, DPSP ICSE Class 9 Civics

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History & CivicsICSE Class 9 · Our Constitution

Fundamental Rights, Duties and Directive Principles (ICSE Class 9 Civics)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950. It provides single citizenship and universal adult franchise (from age 18). Part III gives six justiciable Fundamental Rights; Part IV-A lists eleven Fundamental Duties; Part IV gives non-justiciable Directive Principles to make India a welfare state.

Only Fundamental Rights (Part III) can be enforced in court; Directive Principles and Duties are not, and the Directives aim at a welfare state.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Fundamental Rights, Duties and Directive Principles

1. Dates. The Constituent Assembly first met on 9 December 1946 (Dr Rajendra Prasad as President; Dr B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee). The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came fully into force on 26 January 1950, a date chosen in memory of 26 January 1930, when Purna Swaraj Day was observed; India became a republic.

2. Single citizenship. Although a federation, India has only one citizenship; there is no separate state citizenship. It promotes unity and lets citizens live and work anywhere.

3. Universal adult franchise. Every citizen aged 18 or above (lowered from 21 by the 61st Amendment, 1988) has the right to vote regardless of religion, race, caste, sex, wealth or education. It gives political equality: one person, one vote.

4. Fundamental Rights (Part III). Justiciable rights enforceable in the Supreme Court or High Courts: Right to Equality; Right to Freedom; Right against Exploitation; Right to Freedom of Religion; Cultural and Educational Rights; Right to Constitutional Remedies. The Right to Property was removed from this list by the 44th Amendment (1978).

5. Fundamental Duties (Part IV-A, Article 51A). Added by the 42nd Amendment (1976); now eleven, e.g. to respect the Constitution, the National Flag and Anthem, uphold unity and integrity, protect the environment, develop scientific temper and safeguard public property. They are not enforceable in courts.

6. Directive Principles (Part IV). Guidelines for governments, not justiciable, taken from the Irish Constitution: adequate livelihood, equal pay for equal work, prevention of concentration of wealth, protection of health of workers and children, organisation of village panchayats and protection of the environment. They aim at a *welfare state*.

Fundamental Rights, Duties and Directive Principles: key facts

Dates
  • Assembly first met 9 Dec 1946
  • Adopted 26 Nov 1949
  • Enforced 26 Jan 1950
Rights
  • Equality
  • Freedom
  • Against exploitation
  • Religion
  • Cultural and educational
  • Constitutional remedies
Duties
  • Part IV-A
  • 42nd Amendment 1976
  • Eleven duties
  • Not justiciable
DPSP
  • Part IV
  • From Irish Constitution
  • Not justiciable
  • Welfare state

Fundamental Rights, Duties and Directive Principles in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Rights and duties at school

Suppose a school gives students the right to express views in a debate, but also expects them to respect others and keep the premises clean.

Which constitutional ideas does this resemble?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Right to freedom of speech with limits.
  2. Duties: respect and care of public property.

Answer: Rights and duties are two sides of one coin.

Memory hook: Right plus responsibility.

Tricks to remember Fundamental Rights, Duties and Directive Principles

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • 6 rights

    Equality, Freedom, Exploitation, Religion, Cultural, Remedies.

    Use it when: Fundamental Rights.

  • Justiciable vs not

    Rights can be enforced in court; Directive Principles cannot.

    Use it when: Contrast.

Fundamental Rights, Duties and Directive Principles: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Dates · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

State the dates on which the Constitution was adopted and came into force. Why was 26 January chosen? [3]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Adopted on 26 November 1949.
  2. Came into force on 26 January 1950.
  3. Chosen to honour Purna Swaraj Day, 26 January 1930.

Answer: Adopted 26 November 1949; enforced 26 January 1950; 26 January honoured Purna Swaraj Day.

Example 2: Rights vs DPSP · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

A citizen complains that clean drinking water is a Directive Principle and wants a court to order it, while another wants a court order for a violated freedom. Explain which can succeed and why, on four points. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Part III versus Part IV.
  2. Justiciable versus not justiciable.
  3. Rights of individuals versus guidelines for the government.
  4. Rights protect individual freedom; principles aim at social and economic justice.

Answer: The freedom claim can succeed because Fundamental Rights (Part III) are justiciable and individual; the Directive Principle (Part IV) is not enforceable in court and is a guide for the state to build a welfare state.

Example 3: Single citizenship · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Explain why India has single citizenship although it is a federation. [3]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. To promote national unity.
  2. So that a citizen can live and work in any state.
  3. To prevent states from discriminating.

Answer: It promotes unity and equal rights across states.

Example 4: Franchise · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Explain the significance of universal adult franchise. [3]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Gives equal political rights to all adults.
  2. Makes governments accountable.
  3. Gives weaker sections a voice.

Answer: It gives political equality and makes governments answerable to people.

Example 5: Case: the petition · 6 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

Case. A citizen's freedom is violated by an official order. (i) Which right allows him to go directly to the court? [1] (ii) Which court(s)? [1] (iii) Why are Fundamental Rights called justiciable? [2] (iv) Would a failure to follow a Directive Principle give the same remedy? [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (i) Right to Constitutional Remedies.
  2. (ii) Supreme Court or High Court.
  3. (iii) Courts can enforce them.
  4. (iv) No, they are not justiciable.

Answer: (i) Constitutional Remedies (ii) Supreme Court or High Court (iii) Enforceable by courts (iv) No.

Where students lose marks in Fundamental Rights, Duties and Directive Principles

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Wrong amendment numbers

    Numbers mixed.

    Do this: 42nd: duties; 44th: property; 61st: voting age.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Calling Directive Principles justiciable

    Confusion.

    Do this: They are not justiciable.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Listing rights without names

    Vague.

    Do this: List all six by name.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Use Part numbers: III, IV, IV-A.
  • Learn amendment numbers.
  • Compare in a table.
  • Give an example for each right or principle.

Practice questions on Fundamental Rights, Duties and Directive Principles

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    The amendment that lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 was the:
    (a) 42nd Amendment
    (b) 44th Amendment
    (c) 61st Amendment
    (d) 86th Amendment

    Hint

    1988.

    Answer

    (c) 61st Amendment.

  2. Q2 · 1 mark · Very short answerBoard level

    Who chaired the Drafting Committee? [1]

    Hint

    Ambedkar.

    Answer

    Dr B.R. Ambedkar.

  3. Q3 · 3 marks · Very short answerBoard level

    Name three Fundamental Rights. [3]

    Hint

    Six.

    Answer

    Right to Equality, Right to Freedom and Right to Constitutional Remedies (any three).

  4. Q4 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

    Assertion (A): Directive Principles aim at a welfare state.
    Reason (R): They direct the state to secure social and economic justice.
    (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
    (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
    (c) A is true but R is false.
    (d) A is false but R is true.

    Hint

    Justice.

    Answer

    (a).

  5. Q5 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Give four Directive Principles. [4]

    Hint

    Part IV.

    Answer

    Adequate livelihood, equal pay for equal work, prevention of wealth concentration and organisation of village panchayats.

  6. Q6 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

    Why are Fundamental Duties included although they are not enforceable? [2]

    Hint

    Remind.

    Answer

    They remind citizens that rights come with responsibilities.

  7. Q7 · 2 marks · Very short answerHarder board level

    Why was the Right to Property removed from the Fundamental Rights? State the amendment. [2]

    Hint

    44th.

    Answer

    It was removed because it obstructed land reforms and the redistribution of wealth needed for social and economic justice (a welfare state). It was removed from the list of Fundamental Rights by the 44th Amendment (1978) and became a legal right under Article 300A.

  8. Q8 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    What is meant by a welfare state? Give two services. [3]

    Hint

    Social.

    Answer

    A state that works for the well-being of all through services such as education and health care.

  9. Q9 · 4 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

    Case. A state wants to reserve all jobs for its natives. (i) Which constitutional idea does this go against? [1] (ii) Give a reason. [2] (iii) Name the right that supports equal opportunity. [1]

    Hint

    Citizenship.

    Answer

    (i) Single citizenship and the Right to Equality. (ii) A citizen of India can live and work anywhere. (iii) Right to Equality.

  10. Q10 · 3 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    Evaluate the statement that Directive Principles are meaningless because they cannot be enforced. [3]

    Hint

    Moral force.

    Answer

    Though not enforceable, they guide laws and policies and express the goals of the Constitution; governments are answerable to voters for them.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Enforced on?Show answer

    26 January 1950.

  2. 2.Voting age?Show answer

    18.

  3. 3.Rights in which Part?Show answer

    Part III.

  4. 4.Duties added in?Show answer

    1976.

  5. 5.DPSP idea from?Show answer

    Irish Constitution.

Fundamental Rights, Duties and Directive Principles: frequently asked questions

Why Republic Day on 26 January?

Purna Swaraj Day, 1930.

How many rights?

Six.

Can duties be enforced?

No.