It is well known that the day India acquired a written Constitution and became an independent Republic, is the day celebrated as Republic Day on January 26

every year. As India gears up to celebrate 69 years of being a Republic, here’s a quick look at some interesting facts about one of the most important events in

the country’s history:

1) January 26 was earlier celebrated as India’s Independence Day or Purna Swaraj Day, when the Declaration of Independence was officially promulgated in

1930
2) However, in 1947, since August 15 became the official Independence Day, the Indian Constitution was adopted on this day in 1950, to mark the 1930

declaration
3) The Assembly met for 166 days, spread over a period of 2 years, 11 months and 18 days before adopting the Constitution
4) Dr BR Ambedkar – the then Chairman of the Constitution Committee – completed the first draft of India’s Constitution in about two years and 11 months
5) Among other influences, five-year plans were taken from the Constitution of USSR and concepts of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity from the French

Constitution

6) India has the longest written Constitution in the world with 448 articles in 22 Parts, 12 Schedules and 97 Amendments
7) There are two hand-written copies of the Constitution — in Hindi and in English which are kept in helium-filled cases in the Parliament’s library
8) The original Constitution of India is hand-written with beautiful calligraphy, each page beautified and decorated by artists from Shantiniketan
9) Illustrations on the cover and pages represent styles from different civilizations of the subcontinent, ranging from the prehistoric Mohenjodaro civilization to

the present
10) The calligraphy inside the book was done by Prem Behari Narain Raizda and published in Dehradun
11) Indonesia’s President Sukarno was the first chief guest at the R-Day celebrations held on 26 January, 1950
12) On the same day, the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad took oath at Durbar Hall

13) India adopted the Lion Head from the Ashoka Pillar in Sarnath, on Republic Day in 1950

14) During 1950–1954, the celebrations were organised at different venues, until Rajpath became the permanent location
15) Republic Day celebrations span over 3 days and end with the Beating Retreat Ceremony on January 29