Isabella Carter
The Indian Constitution, the supreme legal document of India, came into effect on 26 January 1950, the day India became a sovereign, democratic republic. The Constituent Assembly, responsible for the constitution's creation, first met on 9 December 1946 and held eleven sessions over a 165-day period. The final document, signed on 24 January 1950, was handwritten and decorated by artists.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date written | 26 November 1949 |
| Date signed | 24 January 1950 |
| Date came into effect | 26 January 1950 |
| Time taken to draft | Almost three years, 11 sessions over 165/166 days |
| Number of articles at enactment | 395 |
| Number of schedules at enactment | 8 |
| Number of words | 145,000 |
| Number of amendments | More than 100 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Indian Constitution became law on 26 January 1950
- The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949
- The Constitution's first draft was prepared in February 1948
- The Constituent Assembly's final session was on 24 January 1950
- The Indian Constitution is the world's longest for a sovereign nation
The Indian Constitution became law on 26 January 1950
The Constituent Assembly, elected by the members of the provincial assemblies, was responsible for drafting the constitution. The assembly first convened in December 1946 and, over almost three years, held eleven sessions across 165 days. The assembly's final session was on 24 January 1950, when 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, and its calligrapher was Prem Behari Narain Raizada.
The constitution was published in Dehradun and photolithographed by the Survey of India. The estimated cost of the Constituent Assembly was ₹6.3 crore. Since its enactment, the Indian constitution has had more than 100 amendments. At the time, it consisted of 395 articles in 22 parts and 8 schedules, with approximately 145,000 words.
The constitution repealed the Indian Independence Act 1947 and the Government of India Act 1935. It drew inspiration from the constitutions of many other countries. For example, it borrowed the idea of a parliamentary form of government and single citizenship from Britain and the concept of fundamental rights and a federal government structure from the US.
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The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949
The Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949, marking a significant milestone in the country's transition to independence and democracy. The Assembly's work on the Constitution spanned three years, from 1946 to 1949, during which it held eleven sessions over a period of 165 days.
The Assembly's goal, as expressed by Jawaharlal Nehru, was not only to free India through a new constitution but also to address the pressing social issues of the time, such as hunger and poverty. The Assembly's constitutional advisor, Sir B. N. Rau, played a crucial role in this process. He was responsible for the constitution's general structure and prepared its initial draft in February 1948, which consisted of 243 articles and 13 schedules. This draft underwent extensive discussions, debates, and amendments, eventually expanding to 395 articles and 8 schedules.
A seven-member Drafting Committee, appointed on 29 August 1947 with B. R. Ambedkar as its chair, carefully considered, debated, and amended Rau's draft. This committee included prominent figures such as Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer, C. Rajagopalachari, G.V. Mavalankar, K.M. Munshi, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. The committee's work culminated in the submission of a revised draft constitution to the Assembly on 4 November 1947.
The Constituent Assembly's adoption of the Constitution on 26 November 1949 was a pivotal moment in India's history. It laid the foundation for the country's governance, establishing a parliamentary form of government with a federal structure and enshrining fundamental rights and duties of citizens. The Constitution also outlined the framework for the political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions.
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The Constitution's first draft was prepared in February 1948
The Indian Constitution is the supreme legal document of India and the world's longest written national constitution. It lays down the framework for the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out the fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of citizens.
The Constituent Assembly's first meeting was held in New Delhi on December 9, 1946, and its final session was convened on January 24, 1950. During this time, the Assembly held eleven sessions over a 165-day period, with the constitution finally coming into effect on January 26, 1950.
On August 29, 1947, a seven-member Drafting Committee was appointed, with B. R. Ambedkar as its chairman, to consider, debate, and amend Rau's draft. The committee submitted a revised draft constitution to the Assembly on November 4, 1947. The Assembly then held eleven sessions over a period of 165 days before finalizing the Constitution.
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The Constituent Assembly's final session was on 24 January 1950
The Constituent Assembly's final session was held on 24 January 1950, marking the end of a three-year process to draft India's constitution. The Assembly first met on 9 December 1946, and over the course of 11 sessions and 165 days, they crafted the supreme legal document of India.
The Assembly's task, as expressed by Jawaharlal Nehru, was to "free India through a new constitution, to feed the starving people, and to clothe the naked masses, and to give every Indian the fullest opportunity to develop himself according to his capacity." The Assembly was made up of 389 members, reduced to 299 after the partition of India, and included prominent figures such as Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer, B.R. Ambedkar, C. Rajagopalachari, G.V. Mavalankar, K.M. Munshi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.
The constitution was drafted by borrowing features from previous legislation, including the Government of India Acts of 1858, 1919, and 1935, as well as the Indian Independence Act of 1947. The initial draft was prepared by constitutional advisor Sir B.N. Rau in February 1948 and consisted of 243 articles and 13 schedules. This draft was then debated and amended by the seven-member drafting committee, chaired by B.R. Ambedkar, and a revised version was submitted to the Assembly on 4 November 1947.
The final session of the Assembly on 24 January 1950, saw each member sign 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, and its calligrapher was Prem Behari Narain Raizada. The constitution was published in Dehradun and photolithographed by the Survey of India. It came into effect two days after the final session, on 26 January 1950, and India officially became a sovereign, democratic republic with the constitution as its supreme law.
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The Indian Constitution is the world's longest for a sovereign nation
The Indian Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950, and it is the world's longest written constitution for a sovereign nation. With 145,000 words in its original form, it is the second-longest active constitution in the world after the Constitution of Alabama. The Indian Constitution has had over 100 amendments since its enactment, with the latest amendment being made on 28 September 2023. The amended constitution now has a preamble and 470 articles, which are grouped into 25 parts, 12 schedules, and five appendices.
The constitution-making process in India began in December 1946, with the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly in New Delhi. The Assembly, composed of elected members of the provincial assemblies, was tasked with drafting a constitution that addressed the needs and conditions of India. The Assembly held eleven sessions over a period of 165 days, with the final session concluding on 24 January 1950. On this day, each member of the Assembly signed two copies of the constitution, one in Hindi and the other in English.
The length of the Indian Constitution can be attributed to several factors, including the country's diversity in terms of language, race, religion, culture, and geography. Additionally, the constitution borrows from various sources, including previous legislation such as the Government of India Acts of 1858 and 1935, the Indian Councils Acts of 1861, 1892, and 1909, and the Indian Independence Act of 1947. The constitution also incorporates ideas from other countries, such as the parliamentary form of government and single citizenship from Britain, and the concept of fundamental rights and a federal government structure from the United States.
The Indian Constitution is considered a unique document as it is the world's biggest written liberal democratic constitution. It is the supreme legal document of India, laying down the framework for 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 espouses constitutional supremacy, and while it does not contain a provision to limit the powers of Parliament to amend it, the Supreme Court has held that certain features of the constitution are integral and cannot be removed.
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Frequently asked questions
The Indian Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950.
The Indian Constitution was written between 1946 and 1949.
The Indian Constitution was signed on 24 January 1950.
