The Evolution of the Constitution and Main Provisions
The constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950. Since then the day is celebrated as
Republic Day . But before 1950, 26 January was called Independence Day . Since 26 January
1930, it was the day on which thousands of people, in villages, in mohallas, in towns, in small and
big groups would take the independence pledge, committing themselves to the complete
independence of India from British rule. It was only fitting that the new republic should come into
being on that day , marking from its very inception the continuity between the struggle for
independence and the adoption of the constitution that made India a republic.
The process of the evolution of the constitution began many decades before 26 January 1950
and has continued unabated since. Its origins lie deeply embedded in the struggle for
independence from Britain and in the movements for responsible and constitutional government
in the princely states.
More than passing resolutions on the need for, or framing proposals for constitutional reform,
the heart of the national movement’s contribution lay in its concrete political practice. This
popularized among the people the notions of parliamentary democracy , republicanism, civil
liberties, social and economic justice, which were among the essential principles of the
constitution. For example, the idea of a parliamentary form of government was introduced into
the Indian political consciousness by the inclusion of the term ‘Congress’ (the Lower House in the
US), in the name of the Indian National Congress. The actual functioning of the Congress
organization, especially from 1920 onwards, after Gandhiji modified the Congress constitution,
was based on the elective principle. All office-bearers were chosen through election, be it the
president of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) or the secretary of the village-level
Congress Committee. The AICC, which consisted of delegates elected by the Provincial Congress
Committees (PCCs), was the equivalent of the Lok Sabha or parliament, and the Working
Committee was the equivalent of the cabinet. The Congress president was the counterpart of the
prime minister. Thus, when the constitution in 1950 adopted a parliamentary form of
government, with a cabinet led by a prime minister, it was not, as is commonly supposed, the
British parliament that it was emulating. It was formalizing nationalist practices, which the people
were already familiar with.
The constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950. Since then the day is celebrated as
Republic Day . But before 1950, 26 January was called Independence Day . Since 26 January
1930, it was the day on which thousands of people, in villages, in mohallas, in towns, in small and
big groups would take the independence pledge, committing themselves to the complete
independence of India from British rule. It was only fitting that the new republic should come into
being on that day , marking from its very inception the continuity between the struggle for
independence and the adoption of the constitution that made India a republic.
The process of the evolution of the constitution began many decades before 26 January 1950
and has continued unabated since. Its origins lie deeply embedded in the struggle for
independence from Britain and in the movements for responsible and constitutional government
in the princely states.
More than passing resolutions on the need for, or framing proposals for constitutional reform,
the heart of the national movement’s contribution lay in its concrete political practice. This
popularized among the people the notions of parliamentary democracy , republicanism, civil
liberties, social and economic justice, which were among the essential principles of the
constitution. For example, the idea of a parliamentary form of government was introduced into
the Indian political consciousness by the inclusion of the term ‘Congress’ (the Lower House in the
US), in the name of the Indian National Congress. The actual functioning of the Congress
organization, especially from 1920 onwards, after Gandhiji modified the Congress constitution,
was based on the elective principle. All office-bearers were chosen through election, be it the
president of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) or the secretary of the village-level
Congress Committee. The AICC, which consisted of delegates elected by the Provincial Congress
Committees (PCCs), was the equivalent of the Lok Sabha or parliament, and the Working
Committee was the equivalent of the cabinet. The Congress president was the counterpart of the
prime minister. Thus, when the constitution in 1950 adopted a parliamentary form of
government, with a cabinet led by a prime minister, it was not, as is commonly supposed, the
British parliament that it was emulating. It was formalizing nationalist practices, which the people
were already familiar with.
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