The Republic Edition — 26 January 1950

Drafted in 2 years, 11 months, 18 days
The longest democratic constitution ever written

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Constitution

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470 articles. 106 amendments. Your rights, cited.

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From the Drafting Room

The Best Ideas, Borrowed Openly

The Constituent Assembly studied every major constitution in force and took what worked: parliamentary government from Britain, fundamental rights from America, directive principles from Ireland. The Assembly called it working out the best in the light of India's needs. Tap a flag to see what was borrowed.

Each card cites the borrowed feature and where it landed in the text.
The definitive study: Granville Austin, The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation (Oxford Univ. Press), the standard history of the drafting.

The original Constitution was never printed. Prem Behari Narain Raizada wrote every page by hand in a flowing italic script, with a nib pen, over roughly six months. He asked for no payment. His one condition was that his name appear on every page, and his grandfather Ram Prasad Saxena’s on the last.What would you like to ask the Constitution of India?

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Your Rights, By Who You Are

Nobody thinks in article numbers. Pick who you are, and see where the Constitution touches your life.

♀ A woman 🎭 A comedian or artist 🏛 A government servant ✈ An OCI or NRI 🎓 A student 📰 A journalist 🔧 A worker 🏪 A business owner

The Constituent Assembly shipped the longest constitution ever written, then built in the power to amend it. 106 amendments later, it is still in production.

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