{"id":83170,"date":"2026-01-19T18:07:55","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T12:37:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=83170"},"modified":"2026-01-19T18:07:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T12:37:55","slug":"swaran-singh-committee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/swaran-singh-committee\/","title":{"rendered":"Swaran Singh Committee, Recommendations, Key Details"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Swaran Singh Committee was formed in <\/span><b>1976<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to review the Indian Constitution and suggest ways to strengthen national unity and governance. It was headed by <\/span><b>Sardar Swaran Singh<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and recommended the inclusion of <\/span><b>Fundamental Duties<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for citizens. The committee emphasized that citizens should balance their <\/span><b>rights with responsibilities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> toward the nation. Its suggestions were implemented through the <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/42nd-constitutional-amendment-act\/\" target=\"_blank\">42nd Constitutional Amendment Act<\/a>, 1976<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which added <\/span><b>Part IV-A (Article 51A)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on Fundamental Duties. All the key recommendations of this committee have been discussed below in detail.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Swaran Singh Committee made several landmark recommendations. Although not all were accepted by the government, many shaped constitutional reform, especially through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>I. System of Government<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Committee recommended retaining the <\/span><b>Parliamentary system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in India rather than adopting the Presidential or any other system.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It observed that, due to India\u2019s vast size and <\/span><b>regional diversity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the Parliamentary system best preserves <\/span><b>national unity and integrity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It ensures <\/span><b>greater responsiveness to the voice of the people<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> compared to other systems.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>II. The Preamble<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Committee recommended that <\/span><b>Secularism and Socialism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> be explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proposed amendment to the Preamble: replace &#8220;Sovereign Democratic Republic&#8221; with <\/span><b>&#8220;Sovereign, Democratic, Secular, Socialist Republic&#8221;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suggested inserting the words <\/span><b>&#8220;and integrity&#8221;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> after &#8220;unity&#8221; to emphasize the nation\u2019s territorial and cultural integrity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>III. Amendment of the Constitution<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommended that the <\/span><b>constituent power of Parliament under Article 368<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should be unquestionable.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proposed a new clause stating that <\/span><b>any amendment passed according to Article 368 cannot be challenged in any court<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emphasized that the Constitution is the <\/span><b>supreme law of the land<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and amendments should have the same sanctity as the original text.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>IV. Power of Judicial Review<\/b><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Constitutional Validity of Laws<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommended that challenges to the <\/span><b>validity of Central laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> be made only in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/supreme-court-of-india\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Supreme Court<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and challenges to <\/span><b>State laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the respective <\/span><b>High Courts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with an appeal to the Supreme Court.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bench composition:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><b>Supreme Court<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: minimum 7 judges, decision supported by at least <\/span><b>two-thirds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><b>High Court<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: minimum 5 judges, decision supported by at least <\/span><b>two-thirds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emphasized that legislatures generally act within constitutional limits but judicial oversight is necessary.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 226<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suggested deleting <\/span><b>&#8220;and for any other purpose&#8221;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from Article 226 to limit extraordinary powers of High Courts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommended that High Courts continue issuing writs for fundamental rights and cases of <\/span><b>substantial failure of justice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Introduced conditions for <\/span><b>interim orders<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, requiring prior notice to the respondent and opportunity to be heard.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Service Matters<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommended the establishment of <\/span><b>Administrative Tribunals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at both the State and Central levels to decide <\/span><b>service-related disputes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Industrial and Labour Disputes<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommended setting up an <\/span><b>All-India Labour Appellate Tribunal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to hear appeals from Labour and Industrial Courts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Revenue, Land Reforms, and Food Distribution<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suggested tribunals for disputes relating to:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Revenue collection<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Land reforms and urban property ceilings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Procurement and distribution of foodgrains and other essential commodities<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Writ jurisdiction of Supreme Court and High Courts over these matters to be excluded, but <\/span><b>appeals under Article 136<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> remain.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Election Matters<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommended that <\/span><b>no writs should lie in relation to election disputes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 227<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proposed omitting references to tribunals in Article 227.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><b>V. Directive Principles<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommended <\/span><b>widening the scope of Article 31-C<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to include all <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/directive-principles-of-state-policy-dpsp\/\" target=\"_blank\">Directive Principles<\/a><\/strong> in Part IV.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Laws implementing Directive Principles should <\/span><b>not be challenged for contravening <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/fundamental-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\">Fundamental Rights<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, except for protections for <\/span><b>minorities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>VI. Disqualification for Membership<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommended creating a <\/span><b>9-member body<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to determine disqualification of MPs and MLAs.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 members from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/rajya-sabha\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Rajya Sabha<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 3 from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/lok-sabha\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Lok Sabha<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and 3 nominated by the <\/span><b>President<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suggested amending Articles 102(1)(a) and 191(1)(a) to clarify disqualification for holding <\/span><b>offices of profit<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, reducing ambiguity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>VII. Emergency: Article 352<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommended clarifying that the <\/span><b>President may declare emergency<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> only for the <\/span><b>specific part of India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> concerned.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suggested provisions to <\/span><b>lift emergency selectively<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in parts of the territory.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>VIII. Centre-State Coordination<\/b><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Concurrent Subjects<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommended including <\/span><b>Agriculture and Education<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the <\/span><b>Concurrent List<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clarified that <\/span><b>administration remains with State Governments<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while policies are centrally coordinated.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Deployment of Forces<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suggested empowering the <\/span><b>Centre to deploy police or similar forces<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under its control in States during grave law and order situations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommended that <\/span><b>consultation with States<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should occur wherever possible.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><b>Swaran Singh Committee on Fundamental Duties<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among all recommendations, the most enduring contribution is the concept of Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens. These duties were inserted into the Constitution as Part IV-A under Article 51A via the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on its recommendation, Part IV-A (Article 51A) was added to the Constitution containing 10 Fundamental Duties, later increased to 11 by the 86th Amendment Act, 2002.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee emphasized that citizens must respect the Constitution, National Flag, and National Anthem, which was fully accepted and incorporated in Article 51A(a).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It recommended promoting unity, sovereignty, and integrity of India, which was accepted and included as a constitutional duty.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The suggestion to promote harmony, brotherhood, and renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women was accepted and included among the duties.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The recommendation to protect the environment, forests, wildlife, and show compassion for living creatures was accepted and added under Article 51A(g).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The idea of developing scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry was accepted and included to promote rational and progressive thinking in society.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee suggested safeguarding public property and abjuring violence, which was accepted and made part of the Fundamental Duties.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The recommendation that citizens should strive for excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity was also accepted and included.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the major recommendations was that <\/span><b>Fundamental Duties should be made legally enforceable<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but this was <\/span><b>not accepted<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> because it could lead to excessive state control and misuse of power.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee proposed that violation of Fundamental Duties should attract punishment, but this was rejected to protect democratic freedoms and individual liberty.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also recommended that laws made to enforce Fundamental Duties should be kept beyond judicial review, which was not accepted as it would weaken the basic structure of the Constitution.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The suggestion to make payment of taxes a Fundamental Duty was rejected since taxation is already governed by statutory law and enforcement mechanisms exist.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee supported stronger central authority and restrictions on Fundamental Rights, but many such ideas were later reversed by the <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/44th-constitutional-amendment-act\/\" target=\"_blank\">44th Constitutional Amendment Act<\/a>, 1978<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to restore democratic balance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Swaran Singh Committee (1976) reviewed the Constitution and led to Fundamental Duties under Article 51A through the 42nd Amendment, shaping governance and unity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":83318,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[4829],"class_list":{"0":"post-83170","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-swaran-singh-committee","9":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83170"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83170\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}