Omar Bennett
The Indian Constitution, the largest written constitution in the world, was drafted in 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days. The Constituent Assembly, led by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, held 11 sessions over 165 days, with 114 days spent on the consideration of the Draft Constitution. The assembly's final session was convened on January 24, 1950, and the Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, marking India's transition to a republic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total time taken to draft the constitution | 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days |
| Total expenditure | ₹6.4 million |
| Number of sessions held by the Constituent Assembly | 11 |
| Total number of days the sessions were held | 165 |
| Number of days spent on the consideration of the Draft Constitution | 114 |
| Number of members of the Constituent Assembly | 299 |
| Number of members present to sign the final approved Constitution | 284 |
| Number of total words in the Constitution | 1.45 lakh |
| Number of total amendments | 2000 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Constituent Assembly of India approved the Constitution in 1949
- The Constitution was signed on 26 November 1949
- The Constitution was drafted by a committee led by Dr B. R. Ambedkar who chaired the committee
- The Constitution was published in Dehradun and photolithographed by the Survey of India
- The original 1950 Constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case in New Delhi
The Constituent Assembly of India approved the Constitution in 1949
The Constituent Assembly of India approved the Constitution on 26 November 1949, and it came into effect on 26 January 1950, commemorated as Republic Day. The Constituent Assembly of India was a partly elected and partly nominated body to frame the Constitution of India. It was conceived and created by V. K. Krishna Menon, who first outlined its necessity in 1933. The official demand for a Constituent Assembly was raised in 1936, and the demand was voiced again in 1939 based on adult franchise. The demand was accepted by the British in 1940.
The Constituent Assembly was elected by the Provincial assemblies of British India following the Provincial Assembly elections held in 1946, and nominated by princely states. After India's independence in August 1947, its members served as the nation's Provisional Parliament, as well as the Constituent Assembly. The Assembly's first session began on 9 December 1946, with 207 members in attendance.
The process of drafting the Constitution took almost three years, with eleven sessions covering a total of 165 days. The drafting committee was headed by Dr B R Ambedkar, who, in his concluding speech, gave credit to the Constitutional Advisor to the Constituent Assembly, Sir B.N. Rau, and the members of the Drafting Committee. The original 1950 constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi.
The Indian Constitution is the longest in the world, with 448 Articles in 25 Parts and 12 Schedules. It consists of a Preamble, 22 Parts, 448 Articles, 12 Schedules, 5 Appendices, and a total of 1.46 lakh words. It is also known as the "Bag of Borrowings" because it has borrowed many provisions from the constitutions of various other countries.
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The Constitution was signed on 26 November 1949
The Indian Constitution was signed on 26 November 1949, and it became the law of the land on 26 January 1950. The Constituent Assembly, a 389-member body (reduced to 299 after the partition of India) took almost three years to draft the constitution, holding eleven sessions over a 165-day period. The constitution was prepared in 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days. The assembly's final session was convened on 24 January 1950, and each member signed two copies of the constitution, one in Hindi and the other in English. The original constitution is hand-written, with each page decorated by artists from Shantiniketan, including Beohar Rammanohar Sinha and Nandalal Bose. Its calligrapher was Prem Behari Narain Raizada.
The constitution was formulated by a drafting committee headed by Dr B. R. Ambedkar, who studied the constitutions of about 60 countries while drafting the Indian Constitution. He is recognised as the "Father of the Indian Constitution". The constitution replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the country's fundamental governing document, and the Dominion of India became the Republic of India. The Indian Constitution is the longest in the world, consisting of a preamble, 22 parts, 448 articles, 12 schedules, 5 appendices, and a total of 1.46 lakh words. It has undergone 2000 amendments in 74 years.
The Constituent Assembly of India first met on 9 December 1946, and reassembled on 14 August 1947 as a sovereign body and successor to the British Parliament's authority in India. The assembly's constitutional advisor, Sir B. N. Rau, prepared the constitution's initial draft in February 1948. This draft consisted of 243 articles and 13 schedules, which came to 395 articles and 8 schedules after discussions, debates, and amendments. Rau's draft was considered, debated, and amended by the seven-member drafting committee, which was appointed on 29 August 1947, with B. R. Ambedkar as its chair.
The Indian Constitution is celebrated on 26 January as Republic Day. The day it was signed, 26 November, is also celebrated as National Law Day, or Constitution Day. The day was chosen to spread the importance of the constitution and to spread the thoughts and ideas of Ambedkar.
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The Constitution was drafted by a committee led by Dr B. R. Ambedkar who chaired the committee
The drafting of the Indian Constitution was a lengthy and complex process, taking almost three years to complete. The Constituent Assembly, with 389 members, held eleven sessions over 165 days, with 114 days dedicated to discussing the Draft Constitution. The Assembly's task was to create a constitution for an independent India, replacing the Government of India Act 1935.
The committee that led the drafting process was chaired by Dr B. R. Ambedkar, a renowned socio-political reformer and scholar. Ambedkar, born into a Dalit family, experienced discrimination and segregation first-hand due to his family's low-caste status. He became a key figure in the constitution-making process, not only because of the offices he held but also because of his interventions and speeches in the Assembly. Appointed as India's first Law Minister after independence, he was chosen to chair the Drafting Committee, a position in which he played a pivotal role.
Ambedkar's academic prowess and reputation as a scholar were instrumental in his appointment. He obtained degrees in economics and political science, including two doctoral degrees from the University of London and Columbia University. His higher education was sponsored by the Maharaja of Baroda, for whom he worked after completing his studies. Ambedkar's intellect and passion for individual freedom, particularly his stance against caste society, made him a respected figure across the political spectrum in post-Independence India.
As chairman of the committee, Ambedkar was responsible for defending the Draft Constitution. He intervened in nearly every debate, patiently explaining each clause and addressing suggested amendments. He accommodated all interests, despite his reputation as a champion of India's "depressed classes". Ambedkar's contributions extended beyond the committee room; he wrote and submitted "States and Minorities" to the Constituent Assembly's Sub-Committee on Fundamental Rights, providing a framework for strong constitutional protection for the Scheduled Caste community.
Ambedkar's legacy is deeply intertwined with the Indian Constitution, and he is often referred to as the "father of the Indian Constitution". His influence extended to ensuring the inclusion of administrative provisions, arguing for a social democracy, and emphasising the importance of responsibility and accountability in the parliamentary system of governance.
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The Constitution was published in Dehradun and photolithographed by the Survey of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India and is the longest written national constitution in the world. It lays down the framework that demarcates the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions. It also sets out the fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of citizens. The Constitution was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, which was made up of elected members of the provincial assemblies. The 389-member assembly (which was reduced to 299 after the partition of India) took almost three years to draft the constitution. To be precise, it took 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days. During this period, the assembly held eleven sessions over a 165-day period.
The original Constitution of India is hand-written in English and Hindi. Each page is beautifully decorated by artists from Shantiniketan, including Beohar Rammanohar Sinha and Nandalal Bose. The illustrations represent styles from different civilisations of the subcontinent, ranging from prehistoric Mohenjodaro in the Indus Valley to the present. The calligraphy in the book was done by Prem Behari Narain Raizada.
The Constitution of India has undergone numerous amendments since its enactment. It is also known as the "Bag of Borrowings" because it has borrowed provisions from the constitutions of various other countries. The Constitution declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic, assuring its citizens justice, equality, and liberty.
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The original 1950 Constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case in New Delhi
The Indian Constitution is the world's longest for a sovereign nation. At its enactment, it had 395 articles in 22 parts and 8 schedules. At about 145,000 words, it is the second-longest active constitution in the world, after the Constitution of Alabama. The Constituent Assembly took almost three years to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India. During this period, it held eleven sessions covering a total of 165 days. The Indian Constitution was prepared in 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days. The Constitution was signed and accepted with 395 articles, 8 schedules, and 22 parts.
The original 1950 Constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi. The original copies of the Indian Constitution, written in both Hindi and English, are kept in a special helium-filled case in the library of the Parliament. The original copy of the Indian Constitution was initially kept wrapped in flannel cloth and stored with naphthalene balls. In 1994, India, like America, decided to keep the original copy of the Constitution in a gas chamber at the library of Parliament House. The Indian Constitution is written entirely in black ink.
The Constituent Assembly of India met for the first time on 9 December 1946. B. N. Rau, a civil servant, was appointed as the assembly's constitutional advisor in 1946. Rau prepared its initial draft in February 1948. The draft consisted of 243 articles and 13 schedules, which came to 395 articles and 8 schedules after discussions, debates, and amendments. Rau's draft was considered, debated, and amended by the seven-member drafting committee, which was appointed on 29 August 1947, with B. R. Ambedkar as chair.
The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949 and became effective on 26 January 1950. The assembly's final session convened on 24 January 1950. Each member signed two copies of the constitution, one in Hindi and the other in English. The original constitution is hand-written, with each page decorated by artists from Shantiniketan, including Beohar Rammanohar Sinha and Nandalal Bose. Its calligrapher was Prem Behari Narain Raizada. The constitution was published in Dehradun and photolithographed by the Survey of India. Production of the original constitution took nearly five years. Two days later, on 26 January 1950, it became the law of India.
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Frequently asked questions
The Indian Constitution was written in 2 years, 11 months and 18 days.
The Constituent Assembly held 11 sessions over 165 days.
284 members of the Constituent Assembly signed the Constitution.
The Constituent Assembly first met on 9 December 1946.
114 days were spent on the consideration of the Draft Constitution.
