Constitution Day, also known as National Law Day, is a national holiday in India that is celebrated on November 26th every year. The day marks the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly on November 26th, 1949, which came into effect on January 26th, 1950. The holiday was officially declared as Constitution Day by the Government of India through a gazette notification on November 19th, 2015, at the suggestion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who made the declaration while laying the foundation stone for B. R. Ambedkar’s Statue of Equality memorial in Mumbai. November 26th was chosen to honor Ambedkar, the chair of the Constituent Assembly’s drafting committee and a key figure in the creation of the constitution, as it marks the 131st anniversary of his birth. On Constitution Day, the Prime Minister, President, Vice President, and Speaker of the Lok Sabha also deliver speeches to mark the occasion. Previously, this day was celebrated as Law Day.
Background
In 2015, the government of India decided to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of B. R. Ambedkar, known as the father of the Indian constitution, “in a big way”. A special committee chaired by the Prime Minister of India was formed to oversee year-long celebrations. Various programs were held by various ministries and departments throughout the year to spread Ambedkar’s thoughts and ideas. As part of the celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that November 26th would be celebrated as Constitution Day while laying the foundation stone for an Ambedkar memorial at the Indu Mills compounds in Mumbai in October 2015. The government officially announced the celebration of the day in November 2015.
Celebrations
Constitution Day is not a public holiday, but various government departments in India still celebrate it. For example, the Department of Education and Literacy has arranged for the preamble of the constitution to be read in all schools, and has organized online and offline quiz and essay competitions on the subject of the constitution. Universities have been requested to hold mock parliamentary debates, and the University Grants Commission has held an all-India quiz competition. The Ministry of External Affairs has directed overseas Indian schools to celebrate Constitution Day and has translated the constitution into the local language of various nations. The Department of Sports has organized a symbolic “Run for Equality,” and the parliament held a special session to pay tribute to the constitution and B. R. Ambedkar. The Parliament House complex was also illuminated for the occasion. In 2019, students at Andhra University participated in a “Run for Ambedkar” rally to mark the 70th Constitution Day.