Happy Republic day(26th January 2016)

on the auspicious 67th  republic day I want to share some of the facts ;

• It was on 26th January 1950 that the Constitution of India came into force and India formally became a Republic.
• The date 26th January was especially selected since it was the anniversary of Purna Swaraj Day (26th January 1930).
• India has the longest written Constitution in the world, incorporating 448 Articles in 22 Parts, 12 Schedules and 97 Amendments.
• It took Dr. B.R.Ambedkar 2 years 11 months and 18 days to draft the Indian Constitution.
• Two hand-written copies of the Constitution were prepared: in English and in Hindi.
• Both were signed by 308 members of the Assembly on 24th January 1950. It became effective two days later, and came into force throughout the country.
• The original hand-written copies of the Constitution are kept in helium-filled cases in the Library of Parliament House.
• It has seen 94 Amendments since inception.
• India’s motto “Satyamev Jayate” is taken from the Mundaka Upanishad,from the Atharvaveda It was translated into Hindi by Abid Ali in 1911.
•  Madan Mohan Malviya was responsible for selecting the Indian motto.
• Rabindranath Tagore wrote Jana Gana Mana in Bengali first. It was translated by Abid Ali into Hindi, in 1911, and officially adopted as the Indian National Anthem in 1950.
• It takes 52 seconds to sing the complete National Anthem.
• The Indian emblem is adapted from the Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath, dating back to 250 BC.
• The Indian flag was conceptualized and designed by Pingali Venkayya, a farmer from Machilipatnam.
• The ratio of the Indian flag’s width to length is two to three.
• The Indian flag, by law, is made of khadi and can be only made in nine specified sizes.
• Flying an Indian flag made from any material other than khadi is punishable by law with upto three years of imprisonment and a hefty fine.
• The Indian flag should never touch the ground or water, or ever be used as drapery.
• Dr. Rajendra Prasad took oath as India’s first President on 26th January 1950.
• A 21 gun salute is fired as the President of India unfurls the tricolour, as a naval and military mark of honour.

source: http://blog.buzzintown.com/2014/01/26-january-special-top-20-unknown-facts-about-republic-day-india/