January 26 is celebrated as Republic Day in India, marking the day in 1950 when the Constitution came into effect
Constitution Day is celebrated on November 26 to commemorate its formal adoption by the Constituent Assembly in 1949
The Constituent Assembly, elected by provincial assemblies, took almost 3 years and 11 sessions to draft the Constitution
On January 24, 1950, members of the Constituent Assembly signed two handwritten copies of the Constitution in English and Hindi, and it came into effect on January 26
On January 26, 1950, Dr Rajendra Prasad began his first term as President of India, and the Constituent Assembly became the Parliament of India under the new Constitution
January 26 was chosen as the proclamation of the Declaration of Indian Independence by the Indian National Congress in 1930, known as the Declaration of Purna Swaraj
Republic Day not only marks the adoption of the Constitution but also signifies India's new identity as a Republic, distinct from British colonial rule
The longest-written national constitution globally defines the powers and responsibilities and enshrines fundamental rights, directive principles, and citizen duties