Home The Constitution Part IVA Article 51A(e)

Art. 51A(e) Part IVA: Fundamental Duties

Promote Harmony and Renounce Practices Derogatory to Women's Dignity

Exact text — Constitution of India

(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This duty has two connected strands: promoting communal and social harmony across India's religious, linguistic and regional diversity, and specifically renouncing practices that demean women's dignity — a notable early constitutional recognition (1976) of gender-dignity as a distinct civic value, well before many of India's later women's-rights statutes.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This duty is often cited (alongside actual enforceable laws) in the reasoning behind India's laws against practices seen as derogatory to women — though the concrete legal protections themselves come from specific statutes like the POSH Act and PWDVA covered in our Women's Rights & Safety category, not this duty directly.

Read alongside this one

Women's Rights & Safety

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 51A(e)

Does this duty create an enforceable right for women against specific practices?

Not directly — the enforceable protections come from specific statutes (POSH Act, PWDVA, BNS provisions), which this duty's spirit supports and informs but doesn't itself create.

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The text above reproduces Article 51A(e) of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.