CONSTITUTION DAY (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Recently, the President of India attended the Constitution Day Celebrations organized by the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi.

Constitution Day

• About: Constitution Day also known as 'Samvidhan Divas', is celebrated in India on 26th November every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India.
• Declaration: The Government of India declared 26 November as Constitution Day on 19 November 2015 by a gazette notification.
• Adoption of theConstitution: On 26th November 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution of India, which came into effect on 26th January 1950.
• Aim: To promote constitutional values among citizens.
• Note: Constitution Day is not a public holiday. 

About Constituent Assembly (CA)

• Formation: The Constituent Assembly was established in 1946 under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946.
• Assembly Session: On December 9, 1946, the Assembly convened its first meeting and elected Dr. Sachhidanand Sinha as the Provisional President.
• Chairman Election: Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent Chairman of the Constituent Assembly on December 11, 1946.
• Drafting Period: The drafting of the Constitution spanned three years, from 1946 to 1949.
• Composition: The CA comprised 299 elected members from provincial legislative assemblies.
• Committee Structure: The Constituent Assembly featured 13 committees, with B.R. Ambedkar heading the drafting committee.
• Adoption of the Constitution: In 1949, the Constitution was adopted, marked by the signing of 284 members, signifying the completion of the Constitution-making process.