Republic Day Special: Indian Constitution has taken inspiration from various sources, know interesting facts about the same
1. The Indian Constitution was adopted on 26th November 1949 with a Preamble, 395 Articles and 8 Schedules.
2. It came into force on 26th January 1950. 26th January was chosen particularly because it represented ‘Purna Swaraj’ day that had been declared in 1930 after the Lahore Session in 1929.
3. The Preamble of the Constitution is based on the Objective Resolutions that were given by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946.
4. It was one of the longest constitutions in the World.
5. Prem Behari Narain Raizada was the calligrapher of the Indian Constitution. He had handwritten the original constitution!
6. The Constitution was decorated by artists from Shantiniketan. Famous artists Nand Lal Bose and Beohar Rammanohar Sinha were also a part of it.
7. The Constituent Assembly that drafted the Constitution had its first meeting on 9th December 1946.
8. The Constituent Assembly had 11 sessions in 2 years, 11 months and 18 days!
9. 64 lakhs rupees was the expenditure in making the Constitution.
Read more: State Legislature: How does it work?
The Constitution of India has taken inspiration from various sources.
1. Irish Constitution- Directive Principles of State Policy, Nomination of members to the Rajya Sabha, Election of President
2. British Constitution- Rule of Law, Parliamentary form of government, single citizenship, writs
3. U.S Constitution- Judicial Review, Fundamental Rights, Impeachment of the President and Removal of Judges.
4. Canadian Constitution- Federation with a strong centre, Residuary powers to be with the Centre, how State governors are appointed Centre and the advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
5. French Constitution- Ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
6. Australian Constitution- Concurrent list, freedom of trade and commerce, a joint sitting of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha
– The term ‘secular’ was not earlier there in the Preamble, it was added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976.
– The Fundamental Duties were also added later through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976.
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