The central government on Monday said that 26 November would henceforth be marked as Constitution Day.

On this day in 1949, the Indian Constitution was adopted, and came into force on 26 January, 1950.

The ministry of social justice and empowerment would be the nodal ministry for organising the Constitution Day activities.

“This year, the country is celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. BR Ambedkar. ‘Constitution Day’ will be part of these year-long nationwide celebrations. This will be a tribute to Dr. Ambedkar,” said an official statement.

A number of activities will be taken up by other ministries and departments on 26 November.

The ministry of parliamentary affairs will illuminate Parliament House complex to commemorate the day.

The preamble to the constitution will be read out in school assemblies by all students to mark Constitution Day. One period will be devoted for a talk on the salient features of the constitution and its making. A guest speaker or one of the teachers will give the talk.

“Essay competitions and quizzes will be organised on the constitution. An online essay competition will be held on the subject by all CBSE-affiliated schools,” the statement added.

The external affairs ministry has instructed all missions/stations abroad where Indian schools are located to ensure observance of Constitution Day.

“It is proposed that these missions/posts may undertake translation of the constitution in local language and consider its distribution among academic and research institutions, parliaments and Indology centres,” it said.