The Constituent Assembly completed its task and the final draft of the Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949. On the seventieth anniversary of the occasion, the government is set to launch nation celebrations for a year, with special programmes on Tuesday.

The day, celebrated earlier as the National Law Day, was adopted as the Constitution Day (‘Samvidhan Divas’) in 2015, after prime minister Narendra Modi’s announcement during the 125th birth anniversary year of the architect of the Constitution, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Government departments and various sections of society will do a mass reading of the Preamble to the Constitution at 11.00 am to mark the occasion. Talks, discussions and seminars will also take place all over the country, an official release said. “These activities aim to reiterate and reorient the citizens towards the values and principles expressed in the Indian Constitution and encouraging all Indians to play their rightful role in strengthening the Indian democracy.”

The aim is to publicise the glorious and rich composite culture and diversity of the nation, it added. “It aims to create awareness of Fundamental Duties as enshrined in the Indian Constitution. As citizens of our great nation, we believe firmly in Gandhian thought that ‘The true source of rights is duty. If we all discharge our duties, rights will not be far to seek’ and as said by Sardar Patel, ‘Every Indian should forget that he is a Rajput, a Sikh, or a Jaat. He must remember that he is an Indian and he has every right in his country but with certain duties’.”

To make it a people’s movement, the prime minister spoke about it in his radio address, ‘Mann ki Baat’, on Sunday. The president, vice president, the prime minister, the speaker of Lok Sabha, the minister for law & justice and all MPs will participate in a special function in the Central Hall of parliament on Tuesday.

A digital photo exhibition will be inaugurated and a portal on the youth parliament scheme will also be launched on this occasion.