Context:

The 71st anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India was celebrated on 26 November.

Key points

• Constitution Day, also known as ‘Samvidhan Divas’, is celebrated in our country on 26th November to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India.
• On 26th November 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution of India, which came into effect from 26th January 1950.

The significance of commemoration

• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 19th November 2015 notified the decision of the Government of India to celebrate the 26th day of November every year as ‘Constitution Day’ to promote Constitution values among citizens.
• The Constitution Day is also celebrated as a mark of tribute to India’s first Law Minister BR Ambedkar, who played a pivotal role in drafting the Indian Constitution.

Indian Constitution

• The Constituent Assembly of India was established in 1946. It met for 166 days spread over 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days.
• Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, was elected as the President of the Constituent Assembly and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was the head of the drafting committee.
• The original constitution document was signed by 283 members of the parliament.
• The original hand-written copies of the Constitution are preserved in helium-filled cases in the Library of Parliament House.
• The original Constitution of India was handwritten by Prem Behari Narain Raizada
• Each page was uniquely decorated by artists from Shantiniketan including Beohar Rammanohar Sinha and Nandalal Bose.
• It has been amended 104 times.

Constituent Assembly

• The first formal demand for the Constituent Assembly was made at the Swaraj Party Conference on 3rd May 1934 which rejected the White Paper proposals (which was incorporated in the Government of India Act, 1935).
• The plan formulated by the Cabinet Mission, 1946 created the Constituent Assembly of India. The Assembly was recognized by Section 8 of the Indian Independence Act, 1947.
• Under the Plan, the members of the 1946 Provincial Legislative Assemblies, who were elected by the limited franchise, would select the members of the Constituent Assembly through a single transferrable vote.
• Additionally, a Negotiating Committee worked to involve the Princely States in the Constituent Assembly.
• On 9th December 1946, the Constituent Assembly of India met for the first time in the Constitution Hall now popularly referred to as Central Hall of Parliament House.
• 207 members were present who signed the register and submitted their credentials. As of December 1947, the Assembly had 299 members: 229 members elected from 12 Indian Provinces and 70 members nominated from 29 Princely States.
• The Constituent Assembly met for 166 days for two years, 11 months, and 18 days before the Constitution was finally adopted.
• The Drafting Committee had seven members: AlladiKrishnaswamiAyyar, N. Gopalaswami; B.R. Ambedkar, K.M Munshi, Mohammad Saadulla, B.L. Mitter, and D.P. Khaitan. At its first meeting on 30th August 1947, the Drafting Committee elected B.R Ambedkar as its Chairman.