Which Census? Constitutional Implications of the Delimitation Amendment
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2026 allows Parliament to determine which census to use for any delimitation exercise without requiring a constitutional amendment.
Constitutional Amendments and India’s Political History
A brief historical and analytical overview of constitutional amendments in India.
'Can a leader run the country from jail?'
Constitutional imagination on the role of ministers suggests that the need for governmental stability must temper debate on the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The Constituent Assembly Petitions Archive
We are excited to launch an archive of petitions submitted by diverse individuals and groups to the Constituent Assembly between 1946 - 1950 on the new Constitution.
The Making of India’s Constitution
Watch this exclusive animated video that traces the long history of Indian constitution-making and highlights the radical constitutional choices made by the Indian Constituent Assembly.
Constituent Assembly Debates
Historical Constitutions
Declaration of Purna Swaraj (Indian National Congress, 1930)
The Indian National Congress, on 19 December 1929, passed the historic ‘Purna Swaraj’ – (total independence) resolution – at its Lahore session. A public declaration was made on 26 January 1930 – a day which the Congress Party urged Indians to celebrate as ‘Independence Day’.
Search through Indian Constitutional History Archives
Explore the fascinating history of India's Constitution with our robust search engine. Our extensive database features meticulously tagged and edited primary materials from 1874 to 1950, including plenary debates and committee reports of the Indian Constituent Assembly, Historical Constitutions, and the Constitution of India 1950. With powerful search filters and sorting options, you can engage with these materials in exciting new ways that promote discovery, insight, and analysis around India's constitutional origins.
Explore how the Indian Constitution was made
STAGES
First Session of the Constituent Assembly
13 DEC 1946 - 22 JAN 1947
Committee Stages and Second Session of Constituent Assembly Debates
27 FEB 1947 - 30 AUG 1947
Draft Constitution by the Constitutional Adviser
01 FEB 1947 - 31 OCT 1947
First Draft Constitution
27 OCT 1947 - 21 FEB 1948
Public Circulation of First Draft
21 FEB 1948 - 26 OCT 1948
Debates on the Draft Constitution
4 NOV 1948
Second Reading of the Draft Constitution
14 NOV 1948 - 17 OCT 1949
Revision of the Draft Constitution
Third Reading of Drafting Constitution
14 NOV 1949 - 26 NOV 1949
Enactment and Adoption of the Constitution of India
26 JAN 1950
INSTITUTIONS
Constituent Assembly
The Constitution making process was organised around the deliberations of the Constituent Assembly. On 9 December 1946, the Constituent Assembly sat for the first time. In the span of 2 years and 11 months, it completed its task of framing India's Constitution. During this period the Constituent Assembly had 11 sessions and sat for a total of 167 days.
Engage with ideas and insights around the Constitution of India
Constitutional Amendments and India’s Political History
31 July 2026 • By Sudhir Krishnaswamy
A brief historical and analytical overview of constitutional amendments in India.
Which Census? Constitutional Implications of the Delimitation Amendment
7 August 2026 • By Niharika Mukherjee
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2026 allows Parliament to determine which census to use for any delimitation exercise without requiring a constitutional amendment.
Videos
Podcasts
The Making of India’s Constitution
Podcast
Events
Talks
Book Discussion | Dr. Mathew John’s Book ‘India’s Communal Constitution: Law, Religion, and the Making of a People’
National Law School of India University (NLSIU)
The National Constitution Society (NCS) is a ConstitutionofIndia.net led network of student groups at schools, colleges and universities across India that work towards building and sustaining a vibrant constitution culture.
Stay up-to-date on new content, initiatives, and upcoming events by subscribing to our Desk Briefs!