Simone Lawson
The Indian Constitution, the supreme legal document and the longest written national constitution in the world, was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950. The Constituent Assembly, which was elected by the people of India, took almost three years to draft the constitution, which consists of 395 Articles, 8 Schedules, and 22 Parts. The constitution provides for a parliamentary form of government, with a Prime Minister as the head of a Council of Ministers to aid and advise the President, who is the constitutional head of the Executive of the Union.
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What You'll Learn
The Constituent Assembly
A seven-member drafting committee, appointed on 29 August 1947 with B. R. Ambedkar as chair, revised Rau's draft. The committee submitted a revised draft constitution to the assembly on 4 November 1947. Before adopting the constitution, the assembly held eleven sessions in 165 days. The Constituent Assembly's final session was on 24 January 1950, with each member signing two copies of the constitution, one in Hindi and the other in English. The constitution was then published in Dehradun and photolithographed by the Survey of India.
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The role of B.N. Rau
The Indian Constitution is the country's supreme legal document and the world's longest written national constitution. It lays down the framework that demarcates the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on November 26, 1949, and it came into effect on January 26, 1950.
Sir Benegal Narsing Rau CIE, a civil servant, jurist, diplomat, and statesman, played a critical role in the Indian constitution-making process. Appointed as the assembly's constitutional advisor in 1946, Rau was responsible for the constitution's general structure and prepared its initial draft in February 1948. The draft consisted of 243 articles and 13 schedules, which, after discussions, debates, and amendments, became 395 articles and 8 schedules. Rau's draft was considered, debated, and amended by the seven-member drafting committee, appointed on August 29, 1947, with B. R. Ambedkar as chair.
Rau's expertise and contributions to the Indian Constitution were significant. He was a distinguished civil servant known for his constitutional temperament, having drafted numerous notes and memoranda and serving as chairman of enquiry commissions. Rau's understanding of constitutional precedents and human rights in India informed his work on the Indian Constitution. As the constitutional advisor, he played a vital role in the administrative machinery, working behind the scenes to support the Constituent Assembly. Rau's draft was a result of his research, which included travel to the US, Canada, Ireland, and the UK, where he held personal consultations.
In addition to his work on the Indian Constitution, Rau was also involved in other significant constitutional developments in India. He played a central role from 1935 onwards, particularly in implementing the Government of India Act 1935, which required the British government to transfer the running of provincial governments to Indian representatives elected by the people. Rau's work extended beyond India's borders, as he also helped draft the constitution of Burma in 1947.
Rau's contributions to the Indian Constitution and other constitutional developments demonstrate his commitment to India's democratic framework and his expertise in constitutional matters. His role as constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly was instrumental in shaping the foundation of India's governance.
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The drafting committee
- B. R. Ambedkar (Chairman)
- Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
- N. Gopalaswami
- K. M. Munshi
- Mohammad Saadulla
- B. L. Mitter
- D. P. Khaitan
The committee was responsible for scrutinising the text and ensuring it aligned with the decisions and resolutions of the Constituent Assembly. They worked to address any supplementary issues and incorporate feedback from Assembly members, provincial governments, central ministries, and the public. The Drafting Committee's work resulted in a draft constitution that served as the basis for discussions and amendments by the Constituent Assembly.
B. R. Ambedkar, also known as Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, was a key figure in the process. He was an Indian lawyer, economist, politician, and social reformer who fought against social prejudice. As the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, he played a pivotal role in shaping the constitution.
The Draft Constitution contained 315 articles, organised into eighteen parts and eight schedules, covering topics such as government structure, centre-state relations, and citizens' rights. The committee included footnotes for clarification where the draft differed from Rau's version or where there were unclear points. This draft was widely circulated, and the committee reviewed feedback and suggestions before introducing the final draft in the Assembly.
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The adoption and enactment
The Indian Constitution 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 and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. It espouses constitutional supremacy and was adopted with a declaration in its preamble.
The Constituent Assembly, which was responsible for drafting the constitution, met for the first time on 9 December 1946. The Assembly's constitutional advisor, Sir B. N. Rau, prepared the initial draft in February 1948, consisting of 243 articles and 13 schedules. This draft was then considered, debated, and amended by the seven-member drafting committee, appointed on 29 August 1947, with B. R. Ambedkar as its chair. The committee submitted a revised draft to the Assembly on 4 November 1947. Before adopting the constitution, the assembly held eleven sessions in 165 days.
The Constitution of India was passed and adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, a day now celebrated as National Law Day or Constitution Day. The day was chosen to spread the importance of the constitution and the thoughts and ideas of Ambedkar. The Constituent Assembly ceased to exist and was transformed into the Provisional Parliament of India. The Constitution replaced the Government of India Act of 1935 as the fundamental governing document.
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 final session of the Assembly was convened on 24 January 1950, and each member signed two copies of the constitution, one in Hindi and the other in English. Two days later, on 26 January 1950, it became the law of India, a date chosen to commemorate the declaration of Purna Swaraj in 1930. The Constitution provides for a parliamentary form of government, which is federal in structure with certain unitary features. The constitutional head of the Executive of the Union is the President, who exercises their functions in accordance with the advice of the Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister.
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The constitution's implementation
The Indian Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950. The process took almost three years and cost around ₹6.3-6.4 million. The constitution was signed by 284 members, each signing two copies—one in Hindi and one in English. The original constitution is hand-written, with each page decorated by artists from Shantiniketan. It was published in Dehradun and photolithographed by the Survey of India.
The constitution is the supreme legal document of India and is the longest written national constitution in the world. It lays down the framework for the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions. It also sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. The constitution provides for a parliamentary form of government, which is federal in structure with certain unitary features. The constitutional head of the Executive of the Union is the President. The President, along with the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha), make up the council of the Parliament of the Union.
The constitution replaced the Government of India Act of 1935 as the fundamental governing document. It was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, which met for the first time on 9 December 1946. The Assembly held eleven sessions before adopting the constitution. The Assembly's constitutional advisor, Sir B. N. Rau, prepared the initial draft in February 1948. Rau's draft consisted of 243 articles and 13 schedules, which were debated and amended by a seven-member drafting committee chaired by B. R. Ambedkar. The committee submitted a revised draft to the Assembly on 4 November 1947.
The Constituent Assembly ceased to exist and was transformed into the Provisional Parliament of India after the constitution came into effect. The constitution was adopted with a declaration in its preamble, stating that India, or Bharat, is a Union of States and a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic.
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Frequently asked questions
The Indian Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949.
The Constituent Assembly took two years, eleven months, and seventeen days to draft the Indian Constitution.
The day the Indian Constitution was adopted is celebrated as National Law Day, or Constitution Day, to spread the importance of the constitution and the thoughts and ideas of Ambedkar.
The Indian Constitution was signed by 284 members, with each member signing two copies, one in Hindi and the other in English.
The Indian Constitution is the supreme legal document of India and lays down 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.
