With the aim of taking our Constitution to every citizen of India

On the eve of ‘Constitution Day’, celebrated on 26^th November every year and as a part of celebrations of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ for 75 years of India’s Independence, Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister for Law & Justice launched ‘Online Course on Indian Constitution’ at Bhim Auditorium, Dr. Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC), New Delhi.

The Online Course on Indian Constitution has been launched by the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice in collaboration with National Academy of Legal Studies & Research (NALSAR), University of Law.

The occasion was graced by Shri Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs and Secretaries of the Legislative Department, Department of Justice and Prof. (Dr) Faizan Mustafa, Vice Chancellor, NALSAR University of Law.

Anoop Kumar Mendiratta the Law Secretary, pointed out that the importance of the day lies in the fact that in the preceding two centuries while the governance acts were imposed by the imperial power, the Constitution of India has been framed by the people of India themselves through representatives assembled in a sovereign Constituent Assembly.

He expressed the hope that Online Course will make the people realize that the Constitution is a functional manual that aids and empowers each citizen of the country than merely being a document of governance. He further underlined the objective of these initiatives as to enhance the awareness of the constitutional values to understand the fundamental rights and duties by the citizens and at the same time also reinforce our obligations towards the democratic values. It would ensure in helping the citizens familiarize themselves with the glorious constitutional journey, the debates that took place in Constituent Assembly and also help to understand the supreme law of the land including the right to life, personal liberty and privacy issues.

He further appealed to the students to nurture the views of Mahatma Gandhi when he said “Be the change that you wish to see in the world” and further urged them to prove themselves to the growing legal challenges by rendering pro-bono public services as professed by the leaders of this country.

The Salient features of the course

• The course will be available on the website at legalaffairs.nalsar.ac.in.
• Class 10 pass & above can enroll for this course.  
• The online course has 15 conceptual videos
•  The first video lecture shall be available upon registration. Once the previous video is completed the next video will be available and shall be available for 6 months from the date of registration.
• The registration for this course is free of cost.
• To obtain a certificate of appreciation a fee of Rs 100 will be charged.
• The course contains – the fundamental right constitution guarantees through the great rights revolution, the relationship between fundamental rights and fundamental duties, the futurist goals of the constitution as incorporated in directive principles and the relationship between fundamental rights and directive principles, powers of union and state executive, powers and the role of our judiciary particularly its role of taking sufferings of people seriously through the Public Interest Litigation, President — Prime Minister relationship, Ordinance making power and amending powers of the Parliament.

Addressing the eminent gathering,  Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister for Law & Justice, underlined the values of our freedom movement as enshrined in the Constitution, especially Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy, which have been the key drivers for social, economic and political justice for all. He mentioned that while being the lengthiest Constitution of the World, the Indian Constitution remains as dynamic and relevant as ever, as having a unique blend of rigidity and flexibility.

He highlighted the giveaway of the Constitution in terms of an independent Judicial system, guaranteed rights and values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity for the masses. He emphasized that as citizens of the world’s largest democracy, it is incumbent upon us to know the ethos and content of the Constitution so as to meaningfully lay a claim over, and actualize, the guaranteed rights in practice.

He quoted Babasaheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, saying “Constitution is not a mere lawyer’s document. It is a vehicle of life, and its spirit is always the spirit of age” and expressed his anguish when he hears some people say that we do not believe in the law and in the constitution, which he termed as a sad state of affairs and said that if we understand our duties truly, the rights will never be affected.

He stressed that the Constitution as a transformative document is required to be imbibed by the citizens and hence, the online course is indeed a step towards enlightening all citizens with a spirit of Constitutional morality and visions of our founding fathers. He further accentuated that the online course, with the teachings of the Constitution, shall play a definite role in helping citizens to become future defenders of the liberties given by this great Document.

The 5th edition of the book on Constitution in diglot form both Hindi and English was also released in the event.

The launch of online course of the Indian Constitution was made in the enthusiastic presence of students, faculty and top functionaries of the leading Law universities of India as also senior officers of the Ministry of Law & Justice. 

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