Constitution Day | Dr. Verghese Kurien

Constitution Day

Polity & Governance

In News

• 26th November is being celebrated as Constitution Day to mark the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly (CA).

Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas, National Law Day)

• In 2015, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment notified the GOI’s decision to celebrate the 26th November as Constitution Day.
• The day was celebrated as a tribute to Dr B R Ambedkar as Chairman of the Drafting Committee.

Historical Background:

• 1934: Demand for the Constituent Assembly was made by M.N. Roy.
• 1940: Demand was accepted by the British government.
• 1946: 9th December, CA conducted the first session on Draft Constitution.
• 1949: 26th November, CA finally adopted the Constitution of India.
• 1950: 26th January, the Constitution of India came into force.

Key Facts about Constituent Assembly

• Took 2 years, 11 months & 18 days for drafting the Constitution of India.
• Dr Sachchidananda Sinha was appointed as 1st President of CA.
• Dr Rajendra Prasad was the chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
• Jawaharlal Nehru (PM) made the ‘Objectives Resolution’ on 13th December 1946, later adopted as Preamble on 22nd Jan 1947.
• The constituent assembly acted as the temporary legislature until a new one was to be constituted.

Brief About Constitution Of India

• The longest written constitution of the World (25 Parts & 12 Schedules)
• The Constitution of India wasn’t typed or printed and is handwritten & stored in a Helium filled case.
• It was handcrafted by the artists of Shantiniketan under the guidance of Acharya Nandalal Bose.

Dr. Verghese Kurien

Economy

In News

• 26th November commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien.

Dr. Verghese Kurien (1921-2012)

• He was the architect of India’s White Revolution and is celebrated as the “Father of the White Revolution.”
• Born in Kozhikode, Kerala, he spearheaded Operation Flood in 1970, which transformed India from a milk-deficient country into the world’s largest milk producer.
• He was instrumental in establishing the Anand cooperative model, exemplified by Amul, which became a blueprint for dairy development across Indi
• His efforts also led to the creation of institutions such as the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA).
• Kurien revolutionized the edible oil industry by launching the brand ‘Dhara’ in 1979.
• Awards received –  Padma Vibhushan, Ramon Magsaysay Award, and the World Food Prize.