The Constitution of
India provides for a single citizenship for the whole of India. Every person
who was at the commencement of the Constitution (26 January 1950) domiciled in
the territory of India and :
(a) who was born in India; or
(b) either of whose parents was born in India; or
(c) who has been ordinarily resident in India for not less than five years became a citizen of India.
The Citizenship Act, 1955, deals with matters relating to acquisition, determination and termination of Indian citizenship after the commencement of the Constitution.
(a) who was born in India; or
(b) either of whose parents was born in India; or
(c) who has been ordinarily resident in India for not less than five years became a citizen of India.
The Citizenship Act, 1955, deals with matters relating to acquisition, determination and termination of Indian citizenship after the commencement of the Constitution.
Fundamental Rights
1. Right
to Equality – The right to equality includes equality before
law, prohibition of discrimination
on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth and equality of opportunity in matters of employment and abolition of untouchability.
on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth and equality of opportunity in matters of employment and abolition of untouchability.
2. Right to Freedom – The right to
freedom includes freedom of speech and expression; right to assemble peacefully
and without arms, formation, association or union; free movement throughout the
territory of India; residence and the right to practise any profession or occupation;
control and disposal of property.
3. Right Against
Exploitation – The right against exploitation prohibits all
forms of forced labour, child labour and traffic in human beings.
4. Right to Freedom of
Religion – The right to freedom of religion contains
religious freedom to all. All persons are entitled to freedom of conscience and
the right to profess, practise and propagate religion freely.
5. Cultural and
Educational Rights – It includes right of any section of the citizens
to conserve their culture, language or script and right of minorities to
establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
6. Right
to Constitutional Remedies – This right guarantees the right to constitutional
remedies to the citizens for enforcement of their Fundamental Rights.
7. Right to Compulsory
and free Education – The right to compulsory and free education for
all the children of 6 to 14 years age. It is the fundamental duty of parents
and guardians to provide opportunities for education to their children in the 6
to 14 age group.
Note : The right to property was also
one of the fundamental rights, according to the original constitution. This
right was omitted by the 44th Amendment Act in December, 1978. It is now only a
legal right.
Fundamental Duties
Duties of a citizen of
India were not included in the original constitution. These have been added by
the 42nd Amendment in 1976. There are ten Fundamental Duties :
- To abide by the Constitution and
respect its ideals and Institutions, the National Flag and the National
Anthem;
- To cherish and follow the noble
ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom;
- To uphold and protect the
sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
- To defend the country and
render national service when called upon to do so;
- To promote harmony and the
spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending
religious, linguistic and regional diversities; to renounce practices
derogatory to the
dignity of women; - To value and preserve the rich
heritage of our composite culture;
- To protect and improve the
natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to
have compassion for living creatures;
- To develop the scientific
temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
- To safeguard public property
and to abjure violence; and
- To strive towards excellence in
all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation
constantly rises to higher level of endeavour and achievement.
·
To provide
opportunities for education to their children in the 6 to 14 age group.
Directive Principles of State Policy
- To secure the right of all men
and women to an adequate means of livelihood;
- To ensure equal pay for equal
work;
- To make effective provision for
securing the right to work, education and to public assistance in the
event of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement;
- To secure to workers a living
wage, humane conditions of work, a decent standard of life,
etc; - To ensure that the operation of
the economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth;
- To provide opportunities and
facilities for children to develop in a healthy manner;
- To provide free and compulsory
education for all children up to 14 years of age;
- To promote educational and
economic interests of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other weaker
sections;
- To organize village panchayats;
- To separate judiciary from the
executive;
- To promulgate a uniform civil
code for the whole country;
- To protect national monuments;
- To promote justice on a basis
of equal opportunity;
- To provide free legal aid;
- To protect and improve
environment and forests and wildlife;
- To promote international peace
and security;
- To promulgate a uniform civil
code for the whole country;
- To settle international
disputes by arbitration.
