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Constitution of India

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The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document for the nation of India. It is the longest written national constitution in the entire world. This document acts as a fundamental framework for the entire country. It defines the political code and the structure of the government. It also outlines the specific procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions. Furthermore, it establishes the fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of all citizens. Because it was created by a constituent assembly, it follows the principle of constitutional supremacy. This means the constitution is the highest authority, rather than the parliament itself.

Indian constitution in Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum
Indian constitution in Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum

The creation of this document involved a complex legal process. The framers drew from many previous laws to meet India's specific needs. They used the Government of India Act 1935 as a primary basis. This act was significantly drafted by Samuel Hoare.

Sir Samuel Hoare GGBain
Sir Samuel Hoare GGBain

They also borrowed features from several other historical acts. These included the Government of India Act 1858 and various Indian Councils Acts. They even utilized parts of the Indian Independence Act 1947. The drafting process required many layers of review and debate. A legal adviser named B. N. Rau prepared an initial draft in early 1948. This draft contained 243 articles and 13 schedules. Later, a seven-member drafting committee revised this into the final version.

A Constituent Assembly of India meeting in 1950
A Constituent Assembly of India meeting in 1950

The Constituent Assembly was the group responsible for drafting the document. The assembly was elected by members of the provincial assemblies. It originally had 389 members, but this number dropped to 299 after the partition of India. The assembly held eleven sessions over a period of 165 days. This intense work took 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days to complete. During the process, the assembly discussed and disposed of 2,473 amendments. This was out of a total of 7,635 proposed changes. The total expenditure for this massive task was ₹6.4 million.

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, chairman of the Drafting Committee, presenting the final draft of the Indian Constitution to Dr. Rajendra Prasad on 25 November, 1949
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, chairman of the Drafting Committee, presenting the final draft of the Indian Constitution to Dr. Rajendra Prasad on 25 November, 1949

Many influential leaders guided the assembly through these decisions. B. R. Ambedkar served as the chairman of the drafting committee. He presented the final draft to the assembly president, Rajendra Prasad. Jawaharlal Nehru played another vital role by presenting the Objective Resolution. This resolution laid down the underlying principles and became the Preamble. Other key figures included Sardar Patel and Louis Mountbatten. The assembly also included many women, such as Sarojini Naidu and Hansa Mehta. It even included representatives from various communities, like the Gorkhas and Parsis.

Jawaharlal Nehru signing Indian Constitution
Jawaharlal Nehru signing Indian Constitution

The constitution was officially adopted on 26 November 1949. It became effective on 26 January 1950. This date marks when India officially became a sovereign, democratic republic. It also marked the end of India's status as a dominion of the British Crown. On that day, the constitution repealed the Indian Independence Act 1947. This transition is celebrated every year as Republic Day. The original document was hand-written by Prem Behari Narain Raizada. Artists from Shantiniketan decorated the pages, and the work took nearly five years to produce.

A Constituent Assembly of India meeting in 1950
A Constituent Assembly of India meeting in 1950

India's constitution was influenced by many different global systems. From the United Kingdom, it took the concept of a parliamentary government. The United States provided ideas for the Bill of Rights and the federal structure. Ireland contributed the directive principles of state policy. Even the Soviet Union influenced the idea of fundamental duties. This mix of ideas helps India manage its large and diverse population. Today, the original hand-written constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case. It is kept in the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi to ensure its safety.

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🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:Sir Samuel Hoare GGBain.jpg
Sir Samuel Hoare GGBain.jpg
File:Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, chairman of the Drafting Committee, presenting the final draft of the Indian Constitution to Dr. Rajendra Prasad on 25 November, 1949.jpg
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, chairman of the...
File:A Constituent Assembly of India meeting in 1950.jpg
A Constituent Assembly of India meeting...
File:Jawaharlal Nehru signing Indian Constitution.jpg
Jawaharlal Nehru signing Indian Constitution.jpg
File:Indian constitution in Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum.jpg
Indian constitution in Rashtrapati Bhavan...
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