Constitution of India: Features borrowed from other countries

Indian Constitution came into existence on November 26, 1949. The Constituent Assembly of India drafted it, with the consideration of features included in the Constitutions of the other countries and also from the Government of India Act 1935. Know here which countries have contributed to the Constitution of India.

Constitution of India: features taken from other countries

Indian Constitution is a mixed bag of borrowings. On November 26, 1949, the Constitution was adopted. It came into force on January 26, 1950. It was on this day that the members of the Constituent Assembly signed the documents. Many countries have been an inspiration for the framing of the Constitution of India. Take a look at such countries below and the parts that have been borrowed from them. Indian Constitution Day is observed on November 26 every year.

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What is a Constitution?

The Constitution is a set of laws and rules that sets up the machinery of the Government of a state, which defines and determines the relations between the different institutions and components of the government, the executives, the legislature, the judiciary, the central, and the local government.

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The Indian Constitution is unique in its contents and spirit. Although it had picked up many best features from other constitutions of the world. The constitution of India has several salient features that distinguish it from the constitutions of other countries.

Many people criticise that the Indian Constitution is a bag of borrowings or just paper and scissor work.

It is true that it had borrowed some features but was drafted according to the Historical perspective, Geographical diversity, Cultural and traditional characteristics of India.

The chairman of the drafting committee Dr Ambedkar had said –

“As to the accusation that the Draft Constitution has reproduced a good part of the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935, I make no apologies. There is nothing to be ashamed of in borrowing. It involves no plagiarism. Nobody holds any patent rights in the fundamental ideas of a Constitution….”

When is Constitution Day celebrated?

It is celebrated on 26 November and is also known as Samvidhan Divas or National Law Day or National Constitution Day. On 26 November 1949, the Constitution of India was adopted and came into force on 26 January 1950. To acknowledge the contribution of the framers of the Constitution and to aggravate the people regarding the prominent values, 26 November is celebrated as "Constitution Day."

The BJP led Government declared 26 November as Constitution Day on 19 November 2015 by a gazette notification.