The Constituent Assembly first met on 9 December 1946 with Rajendra Prasad as its president. B. R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee.
Adopted on 26 November 1949 and in force from 26 January 1950, which is why we celebrate Republic Day. Drafting took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days.
It begins 'We, the People of India' and declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. 'Socialist' and 'secular' were added in 1976.
Articles 12 to 35 of Part III. Ambedkar called the Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32) the heart and soul of the Constitution.
Directive Principles are in Part IV (Articles 36 to 51). Fundamental Duties, Article 51A, were added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976.
The President, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha lasts five years, while the Rajya Sabha is permanent, with one-third of its members retiring every second year.
India is federal with a strong Centre. The Seventh Schedule has three lists: Union, State and Concurrent.
Article 368 deals with amendments. The 73rd and 74th Amendments of 1992 created Panchayati Raj and urban local bodies.
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