While Part III of the Constitution specifies an individual's rights in relation to the state, and Part IV of the Constitution (Directive Principles) lists the state's responsibilities, there were no specific provisions listing the responsibilities of Indian citizens in relation to other citizens, the country, or society at large.

In fact, in a society without duties, there can be no rights. The two sides of the same coin, rights and duties, are inextricably linked. Every right comes with a responsibility. The fundamental responsibilities are meant to govern behaviour and encourage citizens to strive for greatness.

Part IVA, including the ten Fundamental Duties, was inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976 via Article 51A, and the 11th Fundamental Duty was added by the 86th Amendment Act in 2002 to fill the void. As a result, the Constitution currently has 11 Fundamental Duties. The Swaran Singh committee, which advocated an eight-point code of fundamental duties, recommended the addition of a chapter on Fundamental Duties.

Article 29(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone has responsibility to the community in which alone the free and full development of his individuality is possible."