On January 26, 1950, the Indian Constitution came into force, turning India into a sovereign democratic republic after nearly three years of intense debate and drafting.
Dr Rajendra Prasad, Chairman of the Constituent Assembly and India’s first President, signing the Constitution—an image that marks the formal birth of the Republic.
Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru signed the Constitution of India, sealing the vision of a free, secular, and democratic nation.The Makers Behind the Pages: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Baldev Singh and other members of the Constituent Assembly signing the Constitution on January 24, 1950—just two days before it came into force.These rare photographs were taken by legendary photographer Kulwant Roy, who documented moments that altered the course of the nation. In this image, Roy’s handwritten note reads: “Signing of the Constitution of India. S Patel & others.” “24 1/50 ” — his unique way of marking January 24, 1950, now a priceless historical detail preserved in the Ministry of Culture archives. (All images: Archive/Government of India)
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As India marks its 77th Republic Day on January 26, 2026, we revisit rare moments from the making of the Constitution—the document that shaped the world’s largest democracy.
