Malcolm Rivera
Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated annually on 26 November to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949. The Constitution of India, the largest written constitution in the world, came into effect on 26 January 1950, and the day is observed as Republic Day. The Indian Constitution ensures justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, upholding the nation's democratic values. The day is dedicated to promoting awareness of constitutional values, rights, and duties among citizens and honouring Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 26 November |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Purpose | To commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India, and to honour Dr BR Ambedkar, the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution |
| Other names | Samvidhan Divas, Constitution Day of India |
| Year of first celebration | 2015 |
| Year of adoption of the Constitution of India | 1949 |
| Year the Constitution of India came into effect | 1950 |
| Number of articles in the Constitution of India | 395 |
| Number of schedules in the Constitution of India | 8 |
| Number of words in the English version of the Constitution of India | 1,17,360 |
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What You'll Learn
The Indian Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949
Constitution Day in India is celebrated annually on 26 November to honour Dr B.R. Ambedkar and commemorate the adoption of the Indian Constitution by the Constituent Assembly in 1949.
The Constituent Assembly, tasked with drafting the Constitution of India, held its first session on 9 December 1946, with 207 members in attendance. The Assembly, which initially had 389 members, including prominent leaders like Dr Rajendra Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel, alongside Dr B.R. Ambedkar, was chaired by Prasad, who would go on to become India's first President. The Assembly spent over three years drafting the constitution, deliberating on more than 7,600 amendments and consulting various sources, including the constitutions of other countries and the Government of India Act of 1935. The final session of the Constituent Assembly took place on 26 November 1949, when the Indian Constitution was formally adopted.
The Indian Constitution, which came into effect on 26 January 1950, is the largest written constitution in the world, with 117,360 words in its English version. It established India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic, guaranteeing its citizens justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. These fundamental principles enshrined in the Constitution underscore the importance of national unity and strengthening Indian democracy.
Constitution Day celebrations aim to promote awareness of constitutional values, rights, and duties among citizens. Various programmes, competitions, debates, and rallies are organised to engage citizens and spread the ideas and legacy of Dr Ambedkar, who chaired the Drafting Committee of the Constitution. The day also serves as an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of the Constituent Assembly members who played a pivotal role in shaping India's future.
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It came into effect on 26 January 1950
The Indian Constitution, the largest written constitution in the world, came into effect on 26 January 1950. It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949, after being debated and amended over eleven sessions and almost three years. The date of 26 January was chosen as it was the anniversary of the Congress' Poorna Swaraj resolution in 1930.
The Constitution contained 395 Articles and 8 Schedules, totalling 145,000 words in its original form. Each Article was debated by the members of the Constituent Assembly, who sat for 11 sessions and 167 days over a period of 2 years and 11 months. The Constitution declares India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic, with the aim of securing justice, liberty, and equality for all citizens.
The Indian Constitution is celebrated annually on 26 November, known as Constitution Day or 'Samvidhan Divas'. The day was established in 2015 to honour Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, and to promote awareness of constitutional values, rights, and duties among citizens. It was also the year of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar. Constitution Day is not a public holiday, but it is marked by various programmes, competitions, and celebrations organised by the Government of India.
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It is the largest written constitution in the world
Constitution Day in India, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated on 26 November every year to commemorate the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1949. The Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950, when India became a republic.
The Indian Constitution is the largest written constitution in the world. It is the supreme legal document of India and lays down the framework for the country's political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions. It also sets out the fundamental rights and duties of citizens. The Constitution contains 395 Articles and 8 Schedules and is about 145,000 words long, although the number of Articles has since increased to 448 due to over 100 amendments. The English version of the Constitution is 117,360 words long, while the Hindi version is 183,472 words. The Constitution is hand-written, with each page decorated by artists from Shantiniketan, and the calligraphy was done by Prem Behari Narain Raizada.
The process of drafting the Indian Constitution took almost three years, with the Constituent Assembly sitting for eleven sessions over a period of 165 or 167 days. The Assembly was composed of 389 members, which was reduced to 299 after the partition of India. The drafting committee was chaired by Dr B. R. Ambedkar, whose 125th birth anniversary was celebrated in 2015, the same year that Constitution Day was established. Other members of the committee included Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. The Constitution was adopted after being debated and amended across these eleven sessions, with each Article being debated by the members of the Constituent Assembly.
Constitution Day celebrations aim to honour Dr B. R. Ambedkar and promote awareness of constitutional values, rights, and duties among citizens. Various programmes and activities are held by different ministries and departments, such as quizzes, essay competitions, and symbolic runs. The preamble of the Constitution is read in all schools, and universities are requested to arrange mock parliamentary debates. The Ministry of External Affairs has also directed embassies to translate the Constitution into local languages and distribute it to various academies, libraries, and faculties of Indology.
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It was drafted over three years
Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated on 26 November every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India. The Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution of India on 26 November 1949, and it came into effect on 26 January 1950. The Constitution of India is the largest written constitution in the world, with 117,360 words in the English version. At its inception, it had 395 Articles and 8 Schedules and was about 145,000 words long, making it the longest national Constitution ever adopted.
The process of drafting the Constitution of India was a meticulous and lengthy one. It took the assembly over three years to draft the constitution, with 114 days spent solely on considering the content of the draft. The Constituent Assembly, led by Dr B.R. Ambedkar, carefully deliberated and debated each article of the Constitution during eleven sessions held over a period of two years and eleven months. The members of the Constituent Assembly sat for 167 days to frame the Constitution, ensuring that every article was thoroughly discussed and refined.
The draft constitution was presented to the Constituent Assembly in 1948 and was adopted on 26 November 1949, after incorporating a few amendments. The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950, a date chosen to commemorate the declaration of the Congress' Poorna Swaraj resolution in 1930. This date is celebrated as Republic Day in India.
The Government of India's Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment officially declared 26 November as Constitution Day in 2015. The year 2015 marked the 125th birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution. The decision to celebrate Constitution Day was made to honour Dr Ambedkar and promote awareness of constitutional values, rights, and duties among citizens.
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26 November was previously celebrated as National Law Day
Constitution Day in India, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated annually on 26 November to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly of India in 1949. The Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950, which is observed as Republic Day.
The Indian Constitution is the largest written constitution in the world, with 117,360 words in the English version. At its inception, it had 395 Articles and 8 Schedules and was about 145,000 words long, making it the longest national Constitution ever adopted. The Preamble of the Constitution declares the country as a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic, aiming to secure justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity for all citizens. These key principles uphold the nation's democratic values.
The celebration of Constitution Day was officially announced in 2015 by the Government of India, honouring Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution, and promoting awareness of constitutional values, rights, and duties among citizens. The year 2015 marked the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar.
Prior to the establishment of Constitution Day, 26 November was celebrated as National Law Day, as Dr Ambedkar was also the first Law Minister of India. The day is not a public holiday, but it is marked by various programmes, competitions, and activities to engage citizens in constitutional awareness.
Constitution Day celebrations include speeches from prominent leaders, quiz and essay competitions, mock parliamentary debates in colleges, and symbolic runs such as the "Run for Equality". The Ministry of External Affairs directs all overseas Indian schools to celebrate the day, translating the Constitution into local languages and distributing it to various academies, libraries, and faculties.
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Frequently asked questions
26 November is celebrated as Constitution Day in India to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949.
The Constitution of India, the largest written constitution in the world, came into effect on 26 January 1950, which is observed as Republic Day. The document ensures justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, key principles that uphold the nation's democratic values.
The Constituent Assembly spent over 114 days considering the content of the draft alone, consulting a range of sources, including the constitutions of other countries. The draft was then adopted after being deliberated across eleven sessions and for more than two years.
Constitution Day celebrations include speeches from prominent leaders and activities like the ''Samvidhan Yatra' to engage citizens in constitutional awareness. There are also quiz and essay competitions, mock parliamentary debates, and symbolic runs named "Run for Equality".
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution. Constitution Day, established in 2015, honours him and his work in drafting the Indian Constitution.
