President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday termed the Constitution of India as the national text, which guaranteed individual dignity for all citizens while continuing to serve as the source of peaceful social, economic, and political transformation in the world’s largest democracy.
Speaking at the Constitution Day celebrations at the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi, the President said the Constitution stands as the foundation of “unity in diversity” and institutionalises equality against a backdrop of historic disparities, multilayered governance structures, and the ongoing interplay of continuity and change.
She emphasised that it was the national duty of every citizen to conduct both public institutions and personal lives in accordance with the values enshrined in the Constitution.
Paying homage to the founding fathers of the Constitution, the President noted that they crafted the world’s largest written constitution for the world’s largest democracy and adopted the parliamentary system after extensive deliberations.
She highlighted that the Constitution provides detailed provisions regarding the powers, duties, and procedures of the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary. The President expressed confidence that these three organs of the State would continue to strengthen India’s constitutional system by discharging their responsibilities with mutual coordination. Such harmony, she said, would benefit citizens and help India progress faster toward becoming a developed nation.
Calling it a matter of national pride, President Murmu observed that the faith of both ordinary citizens and experts in the Constitution has only grown stronger. Despite being a legislative document, the Constitution has become a reference book for the people due to public participation and widespread representation. What the Constitution says on any given matter becomes the standard against which the validity of any action or system is judged, she noted.
She suggested that children should be taught about the Constitution in an engaging manner, so that future generations remain connected to the document. A child-friendly version of the Constitution should be created through a collaboration between constitutional scholars and children’s literature authors in various Indian languages. She observed that instilling constitutional ideals and duties at the stage when a child’s worldview is forming would help shape responsible citizens.
The President hailed the passage of the 106th Amendment to the Constitution, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, calling it the true tribute to the 15 women members of the Constituent Assembly. She, however, observed that women were still far behind in this aspect, calling for greater participation of females in all three pillars of democracy.
From the Constituent Assembly to today’s Parliament, the representatives of women, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and backward classes have moved the nation forward in the direction of social justice, she noted, adding that chapters related to the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes were notable examples of the inclusivity and transformative capabilities of the Constitution.
The President further emphasised that justice must be delivered at the doorsteps just like other essential services. Legal aid should be accessible and easily available to people at the grassroots level. The progress made by India since Independence must be reflected in the justice delivery system and the country must continue its unwavering efforts to ensure justice for all, she added.
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