Context: Marking Constitution Day on November 26, President Droupadi Murmu unveiled a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar at the Supreme Court premises in New Delhi. 

• Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution of India, which was adopted on this day in 1949 and came into effect on January 26, 1950.

Significance of Celebrating Constitution Day

• Uphold Democratic Principles: Constitution is a sacred document in a democracy, which acts as a foundation for a parliamentary democracy to function.

• Guiding Light: Constitution is the guiding light that helps law-making in the country. It also puts checks on powers of the state.

• Citizen Rights: The constitution is the supreme document that serves as the protector of citizen rights.

• Structure of Polity: The constitution lays down the outline for the political structure to exist in a country.

• Responsibilities of Different State Organs: The constitution defines the 3 organs of the Indian state – the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary and provides them power as well as demarcates their responsibilities.

What is Constitution Day?

• It is celebrated on 26th November every year.

• It is also known as National Law Day.

• On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India formally adopted the Constitution of India that came into force on 26th January 1950.

• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 19th November 2015, notified the decision of the Government of India to celebrate 26 November as 'Constitution Day’.

How was the Constitution Framed?

• In 1934, M N Roy first proposed the idea of a constituent assembly.

• Under the Cabinet Mission plan of 1946, elections were held for the formation of the constituent assembly.

• The Constitution of India is framed by the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly of India appointed a number of committees to deal with different tasks related to the framing of the constitution.

The 8 major committees and their heads are mentioned below

1. Drafting Committee – B. R. Ambedkar

2. Union Power Committee – Jawaharlal Nehru

3. Union Constitution Committee – Jawaharlal Nehru

4. Provincial Constitution Committee – Vallabhbhai Patel

5. Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas – Vallabhbhai Patel

6. Rules of Procedure Committee – Rajendra Prasad

7. States Committee (Committee for Negotiating with States) – Jawaharlal Nehru

8. Steering Committee – Rajendra Prasad

What are the Key Facts about the Constitution of India?

• World's lengthiest Constitution.

• Federal System with Unitary Features.

• Parliamentary Form of Government.

• The framing of the Constitution took over 2 years, 11 months and 18 days.

• The original copies of the Indian Constitution weren’t typed or printed. They have been handwritten and are now kept in a helium-filled case within the library of the Parliament.

• Prem Bihari Narain Raizada had written the unique copies of the Constitution of India.

• Originally, the Constitution of India was written in English and Hindi.

• The basic structure of the Indian Constitution stands on the Government of India Act, 1935.

• The Constitution of India has also borrowed some of its features from a number of countries.

Features of Indian Constitution

• Length: Indian constitution has earned the distinction of being the longest written Constitution in the world containing 395 Articles, 22 Parts and 12 Schedules.

• Written Material: The constitution is not typed but was written in calligraphy in both English and Hindi. It was entirely handcrafted by the artists of Shantiniketan, with the chief calligrapher being Prem Behari Narain Raizada.

Road Ahead

• The Constitution should get due recognition across the educational system. 

• Celebrating November 26 as Constitution Day is fine, but we should not restrict ourselves to symbolism. We should look at the substantive issues dealt with by the Constitution, thereby enriching our life.