Which of the following is not an obligation of a citizen?

1. Analyze the question The question asks which option is not an obligation of a citizen. We need to separate obligations (duties) from rights (privileges).

2. Explain the concept

• Obligations (duties) are things a citizen must do, and failing to do them can attract sanctions. Examples: paying taxes, obeying laws, being loyal to the state, respecting others' rights, and performing national service or jury service when called upon.
• Rights (privileges) are things a citizen is entitled to do but is not forced to do. Examples: the right to vote, the right to contest an election, freedom of speech, and freedom of movement.

3. Step-by-step solution

• A. Payment of taxes: Compulsory. Evading tax is punishable by law. This is an obligation.
• B. Loyalty to the state: Citizens owe allegiance to their country. Acts against it, such as treason, are punishable. This is an obligation.
• C. Obedience to law: Every citizen must obey the laws of the land. This is an obligation.
• D. Contesting an election: This is a political right. No one is compelled to run for office, and a citizen who chooses not to contest faces no penalty. Contesting also depends on meeting certain qualifications, such as age and party membership, so it is not a universal duty. This is not an obligation.

4. Answer The correct option is D. Contesting an election.

5. Exam tip Ask yourself, "Can I be punished for not doing it?" If yes, it is an obligation (taxes, law, loyalty). If it is something you are free to choose (voting, contesting, joining a party), it is a right. Questions with "not" in them often test this exact difference.