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• Constitution is a set of basic rules that citizens and the government must follow in a democracy
• Constitution determines the rights of citizens, the powers of the government, and how the government should function
• Constitutions can be changed later as required by changing conditions
• South Africa's constitution was designed after the struggle against apartheid, with Nelson Mandela playing a key role
• Apartheid divided people based on skin color, with whites having privileges and non-whites facing oppression and segregation
• The African National Congress (ANC) led the struggle against apartheid in South Africa
• Constitutions specify how the government is constituted, who has power, limits on government powers, and the rights of citizens
• Constitutions express the aspirations of the people about creating a good society
• The experience gained by Indians in the working of the legislative institutions proved to be very useful for the country in setting up its own institutions
• India's Constitution was drawn up under very difficult circumstances
• At least ten lakh people were killed on both sides of the border in partition-related violence
• The merger of these princely states was a difficult and uncertain task
• The Indian constitution adopted many institutional details and procedures from colonial laws like the Government of India Act, 1935
• The makers of the Indian Constitution were inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution, parliamentary democracy in Britain, the Bill of Rights in the US, and the socialist revolution in Russia
• The Constituent Assembly had 299 members and adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949, coming into effect on 26 January 1950
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee and played a key role in the making of the Constitution
• Dr. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi had different views on how inequalities could be removed in India
• The future is one of incessant striving to fulfil pledges and serve the millions who suffer
• Values that inspired and guided the freedom struggle form the foundation for India's democracy
• The Preamble of the Indian Constitution contains the philosophy on which the entire Constitution is built
• All are equal before the law and the government should ensure equal opportunity for all