Commencement of the Constitution

Polity & Governance glossary

Also called: Republic Day · Topic: Making of the Constitution: Constituent Assembly, Sources and Salient Features · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 1 "Constitution: Why and How?"

Meaning

Commencement means the date the Constitution came into force. India's Constitution came fully into force on 26 January 1950, now celebrated as Republic Day. The date was chosen to recall Purna Swaraj Day (26 January 1930), when Congress declared complete independence as its goal. Art. 395 then repealed the Government of India Act 1935 and the Indian Independence Act 1947, ending the legal link with the British Parliament.

Example

Some provisions started early, on 26 November 1949, under Art. 394. These included citizenship (Arts. 5–9), the Election Commission (Art. 324) and the provisional Parliament (Art. 379). They were needed at once to prepare voter lists for the first elections. Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles began only on 26 January 1950. Members signed the Constitution two days before commencement: 284 of them signed on 24 January 1950.

Don't confuse with

  • Adoption (26 November 1949): the day the Assembly passed the Constitution, now Constitution Day. Commencement is when it came into force.

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