Constitution Day (India)

Constitution Day (National Law Day), also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated in India on 26 November every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India. On 26 November 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution of India, and it came into effect on 26 January 1950.[1]

Constitution Day
Original text of the Preamble of the Indian constitution
Official nameSamvidhan Divas
Also calledNational Law Day
Observed byIndia
SignificanceIndia adopted its constitution in 1950
CelebrationsConstitution-related activities in schools, Run for Equality, Special Parliamentary Session
Begins1950
Date26 November
Next time26 November 2020 (2020-11)
Frequencyannual
First time2015
Related toConstitution of India, Republic Day (India)
B. R. Ambedkar, Chairman of the Drafting Committee

The Government of India declared 26 November as Constitution Day on 19 November 2015 by a gazette notification. The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi made the declaration on 11 October 2015 while laying the foundation stone of the B. R. Ambedkar's Statue of Equality memorial in Mumbai.[2] The year of 2015 was the 125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar, who had chaired the drafting committee of the Constituent Assembly and played a pivotal role in the drafting of the constitution.[1] Previously this day was celebrated as Law Day.[3] 26 November was chosen to spread the importance of the constitution and to spread thoughts and ideas of Ambedkar.[4]

Background

Since 2015 was the 125th birth anniversary year of B. R. Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956), who is known as the drafter of the Indian constitution, the government decided in May 2015 to celebrate this year "in a big way".[5][6][7] A special committee chaired by Prime Minister of India was announced for year-long celebrations. Various programmes will be held by various ministries and departments throughout the year to spread thoughts and ideas of Ambedkar.[6][8] As part of the celebrations while laying foundation stone for an Ambedkar memorial at the Indu Mills compounds in Mumbai in October 2015, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced that 26 November will be celebrated as "Constitution Day".[9][10][11][12] In November 2015, the government officially announced celebration of the day.[13]

Celebrations

Constitution Day is not a public holiday. Various departments of the Government of India celebrated the first Constitution day. As per the Department of Education and Literacy, the preamble of the constitution was read in all schools by all students. In addition, there were quiz and essay competitions both online and offline on the subject of the constitution of India. There was a lecture on salient features of the constitution in each school. The Department of Higher Education requested various universities to arrange mock parliamentary debates in colleges, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) arranged an all-India quiz competition at Ambedkar University, Lucknow, where quiz winners of all states participated.[13]

The Ministry of External Affairs directed all overseas Indian schools to celebrate 26 November as Constitution Day and directed embassies to translate the constitution into the local language of that nation and distribute it to various academies, libraries and faculties of Indology. The work of translating the Indian constitution into Arabic has been completed.[13][14] Department of Sport arranged symbolic run named "Run for Equality".[13][15] There was also a special session of Indian parliament on 26 November 2015 to give tribute to the constitution and Ambedkar. The Parliament House complex was also illuminated on this occasion.[13]

Students of Andhra University participated in the 'Run for Ambedkar' rally to mark the occasion of the 70th Constitution Day, on Beach Road in Visakhapatnam on 27 November 2019.[16]

See also

References
  1. "Government of India formally notifies November 26 as Constitution Day". onelawstreet.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  2. "Govt. to observe November 26 as Constitution Day". The Hindu. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  3. "Law Day Speech" (PDF). Supreme Court of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  4. "November 26 to be observed as Constitution Day: Facts on the Constitution of India". India Today. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  5. PTI (30 May 2015). "Modi government to observe BR Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary in a big way". The Economic Times. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  6. "Government to observe BR Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary in a big way". IBNLive. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  7. "Government to observe Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary in a big way". The Indian Express. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  8. Shishir Sinha. "PM to head panel on Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary celebrations". Thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  9. India, Press Trust of (11 October 2015). "Nov 26 to be observed as 'Samvidhan Divas': Modi". Business Standard News. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  10. "Govt. to observe November 26 as Constitution Day". The Hindu. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  11. "PM Narendra Modi Lays Foundation Stone of Ambedkar Memorial in Mumbai". Ndtv.com. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  12. "PM Narendra Modi to lay foundation stone of Ambedkar memorial today". The Indian Express. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  13. "26th November to be observed as 'Constitution Day'". Pib.nic.in. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  14. "First Arabic translation of Indian constitution launched in Egypt". Firstpost. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  15. "Mass Run Held on Constitution Day". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  16. "Tributes paid to Ambedkar on Constitution Day". The Hindu. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
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