Malcolm Rivera
The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950, when the country became a sovereign, democratic republic. The Constituent Assembly first met in December 1946 and by November 1949, the draft constitution was approved. The constitution was signed and accepted at the last meeting of the Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the Constitution of India was passed and adopted by the assembly | 26 November 1949 |
| Date of the last meeting of the Constituent Assembly | 24 January 1950 |
| Date the Constitution came into force | 26 January 1950 |
| Date India became independent | 1947 |
| Date the Constituent Assembly first met | 9 December 1946 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Constituent Assembly
On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India, which came into force on January 26, 1950, marking India's transition from a dominion of the British Crown to a sovereign, democratic republic. The Constitution provided for a parliamentary form of government with a federal structure and established the rights and duties of citizens.
Understanding Bicameralism in India's Constitution
You may want to see also
The Constitution's adoption
The Constitution of India was adopted and passed by the assembly on 26 November 1949. The Constituent Assembly's last meeting was on 24 January 1950, when the Constitution was signed and accepted, with 395 Articles, 8 Schedules, and 22 Parts. The Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950, which is celebrated annually in India as Republic Day. The process of adopting the Constitution took 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days, and cost ₹6.4 million.
The Constituent Assembly for undivided India met for the first time on 9 December 1946. The Congress Party, which had a majority, the Muslim League, the Scheduled Caste Federation, the Indian Communist Party, and the Union Party were all represented in the Constituent Assembly. By November 1949, the draft constitution was approved, and the Constituent Assembly was transformed into a Provisional Parliament when the constitution went into effect in January 1950.
The Constituent Assembly was indirectly elected by the provincial legislatures, comprising 278 representatives and 15 women. The Congress Party won 208 seats, and the Muslim League 73 in the 1946 elections. However, relations between the two parties deteriorated, and the Muslim League demanded a separate assembly for Muslims.
The task of drafting the Constitution fell largely on Dr B. R. Ambedkar, who, in his concluding speech in the Constituent Assembly on 25 November 1949, acknowledged the contributions of others, including Constitutional Advisor to the Constituent Assembly, Sir B.N. Rau, and the members of the Drafting Committee.
Indian Treaties: Exploring the Constitution's Impact and Legacy
You may want to see also
The Constitution's enforcement
The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950. This date is celebrated annually in India as Republic Day.
The Constituent Assembly for undivided India met for the first time on 9 December 1946. The Congress Party held the majority, with 208 seats, and the Muslim League held 73. However, relations between the two groups deteriorated, and the Muslim League demanded a separate assembly for Muslims.
The Constituent Assembly's last meeting was on 24 January 1950. During this time, it held 11 sessions and met for 166 days. The Constitution was signed and accepted with 395 Articles, 8 Schedules, and 22 Parts.
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of the nation and governs all laws. It defines the framework of basic political principles and establishes the different government institutions' procedures, powers, and duties. It contains fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. It is the longest written constitution of any country in the world.
The Constitution was drafted by Dr B. R. Ambedkar, the Constitutional Advisor to the Constituent Assembly, and a Drafting Committee. In his concluding speech on 25 November 1949, Ambedkar stated:
> The credit that is given to me does not really belong to me. It belongs partly to Sir B.N. Rau [...] the Constitutional Advisor to the Constituent Assembly who prepared a rough draft of the Constitution for the consideration of Drafting Committee. A part of the credit must go to the members of the Drafting Committee who [...] have sat for 141 days and without whose ingenuity to devise new formulae and capacity to tolerate and to accommodate different points of view, the task of framing the Constitution could not have come to so successful a conclusion.
The Indian Constitution: Rights, Duties, and Freedoms
You may want to see also
Explore related products
India's independence
During the early 18th century, when India was annexed by the British East India Company, the groundwork for colonial rule was laid. The company's presence in the region led to increased trade and economic exploitation, with the company governing local territories and collecting taxes. By the mid-19th century, the British colonial administration, known as the British Raj, had firmly established its dominance over the Indian subcontinent.
The struggle for independence from colonial rule was led by prominent figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. They advocated for non-violent resistance and civil disobedience, inspiring millions of Indians to join the movement. The All India Congress Committee, formed in 1885, played a pivotal role in organising and leading the independence movement.
In the years leading up to independence, the demand for self-rule intensified. The Indian National Congress, a key political force, passed the Purna Swaraj declaration in 1929, demanding complete independence. The Salt March of 1930, led by Gandhi, further galvanised the movement, as Indians protested against the British salt tax by boycotting foreign goods and marching to the sea to make their own salt.
As the call for independence grew stronger, the British government attempted to find a resolution. In 1946, the British Cabinet Mission was dispatched to India to discuss the framework for independence and to set up a constituent assembly. The Constituent Assembly, with over 200 representatives, met for the first time in December 1946. However, tensions between different factions, particularly the Congress Party and the Muslim League, led by Jinnah, posed significant challenges.
The Muslim League advocated for a separate nation for Muslims, leading to the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan. The partition was a deeply traumatic event, causing mass migrations and tragic outbreaks of communal violence. Millions of people were displaced, and it is estimated that over a million lives were lost during the partition.
On August 15, 1947, India gained independence from British rule, marking the end of nearly 200 years of colonial domination. The Indian Independence Act of 1947 established the Dominion of India as a sovereign nation, with Jawaharlal Nehru serving as the first Prime Minister. However, the country still had a long way to go in crafting its permanent constitution and establishing its democratic framework.
The Constitution of India, the lengthiest written constitution of any country in the world, came into force on January 26, 1950. This constitution, with its 395 articles and 10 appendixes, transformed India into a sovereign, democratic republic. The constitution defines the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, as well as outlining the rights and duties of citizens.
The Indian Constitution: A Living Document
You may want to see also
The Constitution's authors
The Constitution of India, the supreme law of the country, came into force on 26 January 1950. The Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949, and it became effective on 26 January 1950, when India became a sovereign, democratic republic. The Constitution of India is the world's longest written constitution for a sovereign nation, with 395 articles in 22 parts and 8 schedules. It has since been amended 106 times, with the latest amendment added on 28 September 2023.
The Constituent Assembly, which was responsible for drafting the Constitution, was formed following elections held in 1946. The Congress party won 208 of the 296 seats, while the Muslim League secured 73. The Constituent Assembly for undivided India convened for the first time on 9 December 1946. However, due to deteriorating relations between the Muslim League and the Congress, the former demanded a separate assembly for Muslims.
Several key figures played a significant role in the Constituent Assembly, including B. R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, C. Rajagopalachari, Rajendra Prasad, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. Dr B. R. Ambedkar, a jurist, economist, politician, and social reformer, is often regarded as the principal architect of the Constitution of India. In his concluding speech to the Constituent Assembly on 25 November 1949, Ambedkar acknowledged the contributions of Sir B. N. Rau, the Constitutional Advisor, and the members of the Drafting Committee.
The Constitution of India guarantees fundamental rights, establishes the structure and procedures of government institutions, and sets out the duties of citizens. It ensures that the government functions within a defined framework of fundamental political principles.
The Evolution of India's Constitution
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950.
The Constitution of India was passed and adopted by the assembly on 26 November 1949.
The Constituent Assembly's first meeting was held in New Delhi on 9 December 1946.
India attained independence in 1947.
