Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas)

India is celebrating Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas – संविधान दिवस). on 26 November every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India. It was on this day in 1949 that the Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly and it came into effect on 26 January 1950.

After the independence of India in 1947,  the Constituent Assembly entrusted the job of drafting the Constitution to a committee and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar was elected as Chairman of this Drafting Committee and played a pivotal role in the drafting of the constitution. At the beginning of 1948, Dr Ambedkar completed the draft of the Constitution and presented it in the Constituent Assembly. On November 26, 1949, this draft was adopted with very few amendments.

The Government of India declared 26 November as Constitution Day on 19 November 2015 by a gazette notification in order to spread the importance of the constitution that was defined by Dr Ambedkar’s noble and humanitarian philosophy.

Here is the Preamble of Constitution of India:

“WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION”.

Popular Festivals and National Days in India