Republic Day: History and significance
Laws in Indian were based on a modified version of the British established, Government of India Act 1935.
Republic Day on January 26 is celebrated to commemorate the Indian Constitution replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India. It is celebrated across India with a lot of fervor and zeal. India celebrates its 72nd Republic Day this year. Let’s read about the history and significance of the day…
While India became independent from British Raj following the Indian Independence movement in 1947, it didn’t have a constitution of its own. Laws in Indian were based on a modified version of the British established, Government of India Act 1935.
Drafting and adoption of Constitution
On August 29, 1947, a Drafting Committee with Dr B R Ambedkar as chairman was appointed for drafting a permanent Indian Constitution. The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, but it came into force on January 26, 1950.
The significance of January 26 is that on that day in 1929, the Indian National Congress made the well-known declaration of “Poorna Swaraj” or complete self-rule and Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the tricolour on the banks of the Ravi River.
Country-wide celebrations
In Delhi, magnificent parades by regiments of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, police and paramilitary forces are witnessed on the Rajpath. India’s defence prowess is on display with the latest missiles, aircraft, and weapon systems. Tableaus, representing the uniqueness of all the States of India are also showcased during the parade.
Salient features of Constitution
The lengthiest Constitution in the world: The Indian Constitution is the lengthiest and the most detailed of all the written Constitutions of the world containing 449 articles in 25 parts, 12 schedules, 5 appendices and 103 Amendments.
Parliamentary Government: The constitution of India establishes a parliamentary form of a government both at the Centre and the State. The essence of the parliamentary government is its responsibility to the Legislature.
Blend of rigidity and flexibility: It has been the nature of the amending process itself in federations which had led political scientists to classify federal Constitution as rigid.
Fundamental Rights: Constitution of India grants and guarantees Fundamental Rights to its citizens. Initially, seven Fundamental Rights were granted but after the deletion of the Right to Property from the list of Fundamental Rights (44th Amendment Act 1979) their number came down to six.
Directive Principles of State policy: The Directive Principles set out the aims and objectives to be taken up by the States in the governance of the country.
A federation with strong centralizing tendency
The most remarkable feature of the Indian Constitution is that being a federal Constitution it acquires a unitary character during the time of emergency. During the proclamation of emergency the normal distribution of powers between Centre and State undergoes a vital change.
Adult Suffrage: Under the Indian Constitution every man and women above 18 years of age has been given the right to elect representatives for the legislature.
An Independent Judiciary : An independent and impartial judiciary with power of judicial review has been established under the Constitution of India. It is a custodian right of citizens.
A Secular State: A Secular State has no religion of its own as recognized religion of State. It treats all religions equally. It guarantees to every person the freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practice and propagate religion.
Single Citizenship: India is a single Independent and Sovereign integrated State. All citizens enjoy a common uniform citizenship. They are entitled to equal rights and freedoms.
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