Making of the Constitution

🎯 Learning Objective

Learn who framed the Constitution, the key dates and its borrowed features.

💡 Concept

• The Constituent Assembly was formed under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 and first met on 9 December 1946.
• Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the chairman of the Drafting Committee and is called the 'Father of the Indian Constitution'.
• The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 (now celebrated as Constitution Day) and came into force on 26 January 1950 (Republic Day).
• Framing the Constitution took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days.
• The Parliamentary system and Rule of Law were borrowed from Britain.
• Fundamental Rights, Judicial Review and an independent judiciary were borrowed from the USA, while the Directive Principles came from Ireland.
• Fundamental Duties and the ideals of the planning process were inspired by the erstwhile USSR, and Emergency provisions by Germany (the Weimar Constitution).

✏️ Easy Example

Q. On which date did the Constitution of India come into force?

1. It was adopted on 26 November 1949
2. It came into effect on 26 January 1950, celebrated as Republic Day

Answer: 26 January 1950

🇮🇳 Real-Life Example

The two dates (adopted 26 Nov 1949, in force 26 Jan 1950) and 'who was the drafting chairman' (Ambedkar) are among the most repeated Polity questions and explain why we celebrate Republic Day.

📝 Exam-Level Example

Q. Who was the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution?

1. He is called the 'Father of the Indian Constitution'
2. It was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Answer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

📝 Exam-Level Example

Q. The Directive Principles of State Policy were borrowed from which country?

1. Fundamental Rights came from the USA
2. The Directive Principles came from Ireland

Answer: Ireland

🪄 Memory Trick

Two dates — 'adopted 26 Nov 1949, applied 26 Jan 1950'. Borrowed: FRs from USA, DPSP from Ireland, Duties from USSR.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

• ❌ Swapping the two dates — adopted on 26 Nov 1949, but enforced on 26 Jan 1950.
• ❌ Confusing the source countries — Fundamental Rights (USA) versus Directive Principles (Ireland).

🏆 Exam Tips

• ✅ 26 January was chosen to honour the 1930 'Purna Swaraj' declaration.
• ✅ Ambedkar (Drafting Committee) and Rajendra Prasad (Assembly President) are a common pair.

📌 Summary

• Constituent Assembly first met 9 December 1946
• Ambedkar = Drafting Committee chairman ('Father of the Constitution')
• Adopted 26 Nov 1949; in force 26 Jan 1950
• Borrowed: Parliament-UK, FRs-USA, DPSP-Ireland, Duties-USSR