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• The drafting of the Constitution was done by an assembly of elected representatives called the
Constituent Assembly.

• Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in July 1946, and its first meeting was held in
December 1946.
• When the country was divided into India and Pakistan and the Constituent Assembly was also divided
into the Constituent Assembly of India and Pakistan.

• The Constituent Assembly that wrote the Indian Constitution had 299 members.
• The Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949, but it came into
effect on 26 January 1950. To mark this day, we celebrate January 26 as Republic Day every year.

Institutional Design
• A Constitution, apart from stating the values and philosophy, gives a long and detailed description
of each and every aspect of law, administration, and governance which are to be followed in the
country.

• The Preamble to the Constitution of India portrays the principles of the Constitution and indicates
the sources of its authority.
• The Preamble is based on the Objectives Resolution, which was moved in the Constituent Assembly
by Jawaharlal Nehru and accepted on 22 January 1947. It was initially drafted by V. K. Krishna Menon.

• The Amendment of the Constitution refers to the process of making modification and changes in the
Constitution according to the procedure laid down for the purpose. The purpose of Constitutional
Amendments is to preserve its relevance while upholding its fundamental principles and values.

Features of the Indian Constitution borrowed from other countries
British Parliamentary form of government, single citizenship, Rule of law, Institution of
Constitution Speaker and his role, Law-making procedure, Procedure established by Law
United States Fundamental Rights, Federal structure of government, Independence of the judiciary,
of America President as supreme commander of armed forces, Equal Protection under law

Ireland Directive Principles of State Policy

Freedom of trade and commerce within the country and between the states, Power
Australia of the national legislature to make laws for implementing treaties even on matters
outside normal Federal jurisdiction, Concurrent List

France Ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity

Canada Quasi-federal form of government, Residual Powers

Soviet Union Fundamental Duties u/a 51-A, Planning Commission

Weimar Emergency Provisions
Constitution

South Africa Amendment of the Constitution

Japan Due Procedure of Law

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