Constitution of India

The worlds longest written national constitution, adopted in 1949 and effective January 26, 1950.

Overview

Drafted by a Constituent Assembly over nearly three years chaired by B. R. Ambedkar, the Indian Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, making India a sovereign democratic republic. It is the longest written national constitution, originally 395 articles in 22 parts, drawing on the Government of India Act 1935, British parliamentary practice, American judicial review, and Irish directive principles. It establishes a federal structure with a strong union, a parliamentary system, fundamental rights, and an independent judiciary. Formally amended more than one hundred times, it has sustained democracy across enormous diversity.