Adoption and enactment of the Constitution

Historical Context

1. The Constitution of India was framed by the Constituent Assembly, established under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946.
2. The drafting process took 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days, from December 9, 1946, to November 26, 1949.
3. The Assembly held a total of 11 sessions to deliberate and finalize the Constitution.
4. The Constitution was influenced by various global documents, including the Government of India Act 1935 and the Constitutions of other nations.
5. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, played a pivotal role in the Constitution's creation.

Adoption of the Constitution

1. The final draft of the Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949.
2. This day is celebrated as Constitution Day or Samvidhan Diwas in India.
3. The adoption marked the culmination of nearly three years of extensive debate and deliberation.
4. Out of 299 members, 284 members of the Constituent Assembly signed the Constitution.
5. The adopted Constitution declared India as a Sovereign, Democratic Republic.

Enactment of the Constitution

1. The Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950, a day chosen to honor the Purna Swaraj Declaration of 1930.
2. From this date, India officially became a Republic.
3. The Government of India Act 1935 was replaced by the new Constitution as the guiding framework for governance.
4. The first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, was sworn in on the same day.
5. The Constitution established the framework for a parliamentary system of government.

Key Features of the Constitution

1. The Indian Constitution is the longest written Constitution in the world.
2. It includes 22 parts, 395 articles (originally), and 8 schedules (originally).
3. The Constitution embodies the principles of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity.
4. It established India as a secular and socialist republic through later amendments.
5. The Constitution provides for fundamental rights, directive principles of state policy, and fundamental duties.

Significance of Adoption and Enactment

1. The adoption and enactment marked India's transition from a colony to an independent republic.
2. It provided a democratic framework for governance, ensuring the separation of powers between the legislature, executive, and judiciary.
3. The Constitution established India as a nation based on the principles of equality and rule of law.
4. It reflected the aspirations of the Indian people for freedom, dignity, and prosperity.
5. The enactment of the Constitution laid the foundation for India’s sovereign identity on the global stage.