Q. Consider the following statements in respect of the Constitution Day:
- Statement-I: The Constitution Day is celebrated on 26th November every year to promote constitutional values among citizens.
- Statement-II: On 26th November, 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India set up a Drafting Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar to prepare a Draft Constitution of India.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? (UPSC Prelims 2023)
Answer:
Statement-1 is correct but Statement-2 is incorrect
Notes: The correct answer is
[C] Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect. This question distinguishes between the adoption of the Constitution and the procedural timeline of the Constituent Assembly.
- Statement-I (Correct): Constitution Day, also known as 'Samvidhan Divas', is celebrated on 26th November every year. The Government of India declared this in 2015 (the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar) to promote constitutional values among citizens and spread awareness about the importance of the Constitution.
- Statement-II (Incorrect): The Drafting Committee was not set up on 26th November 1949. It was actually established much earlier, on 29th August 1947, shortly after independence. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was appointed as its Chairman. The significance of 26th November 1949 is that it marks the date the Constituent Assembly adopted, enacted, and gave to themselves the final Constitution of India.
The Constitution formally came into force on 26th January 1950 to commemorate the Poorna Swaraj declaration of 1930. While many provisions (like citizenship and elections) became active on 26th November 1949, the setup of the Drafting Committee belongs to the very beginning of the drafting process, not its conclusion.