Chief Justice of Bharat, Justice Sanjiv Khanna ji, Justice B.R. Gavai ji, Justice Surya Kant ji, my colleague from the Union Cabinet, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal ji, Attorney General Shri Venkataramani ji, Bar Council Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra ji, Supreme Court Bar Association President Shri Kapil Sibal ji, Justices of the Supreme Court, former Chief Justices, other distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen!
Greetings to you and to all citizens on Constitution Day. The 75th year of Bharat’s Constitution is a matter of immense pride for the entire nation. Today, I humbly pay tribute to the Constitution of Bharat and all the members of the Constituent Assembly.
Friends,
As we commemorate this significant democratic festival, we must not forget that today also marks the anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attacks. I pay homage to those who lost their lives in this attack and reiterate the nation’s resolve to respond decisively to any terrorist organisation that challenges Bharat’s security.
Friends,
Serious discussions took place regarding the democratic future of Bharat during the extensive debates in the Constituent Assembly. You are all well-versed with those debates. At the time, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar said, “The Constitution is not a mere lawyers' document... its spirit is always the spirit of the Age.” The spirit mentioned by Babasaheb is of paramount importance. The provisions of our Constitution allow us to interpret it in line with changing times and circumstances. The framers of our Constitution recognised that Bharat’s aspirations and dreams would reach new heights over time and that the needs and challenges of independent Bharat and the citizens of Bharat would evolve. Thus, they did not leave our Constitution as just a legal document but made it a dynamic, continuously flowing stream.
Friends,
Our Constitution serves as a guide for our present and our future. Over the past 75 years, whatever challenges the country faced, our Constitution provided suitable solutions. Even during the Emergency, a period of significant challenge to democracy, our Constitution emerged strong. Our Constitution has lived up to every need and every expectation of the country. This strength of the Constitution has ensured that today Babasaheb’s Constitution is fully implemented in Jammu and Kashmir as well. For the first time, Constitution Day is being celebrated there.
Friends,
Bharat is undergoing a period of tremendous transformation, and during such critical times, our Constitution is showing us the way and remains a guiding light for us.
Friends,
The path forward for Bharat is one of fulfilling great dreams and resolutions. Today, every citizen is united by a single aim—the creation of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). ‘Viksit Bharat’ means a nation where every citizen enjoys a quality of life and dignity of life. This is a major vehicle for social justice, which is also a core spirit of the Constitution. Hence, several steps have been taken to promote economic and social equality in recent years. Over the past decade, more than 53 crore Indians who previously lacked access to banks have opened accounts. In the last ten years, four crore homeless citizens have been provided permanent housing who did not have their homes for generations. Over the last 10 years, more than 10 crore women received free gas connections, who were waiting for gas connections at their homes for several years. In today's life, it seems very simple that we turn on a tap at home, and water flows. However, even 75 years after the country's independence, only 3 crore households had access to tap water. Millions of people were still waiting for tap water in their homes. I am satisfied that our government has provided tap water to more than 12 crore households in the span of 5-6 years making the lives of citizens, especially women, easier and strengthening the spirit of the Constitution.
Friends,
As you are aware, the original manuscript of our Constitution features illustrations of Lord Ram, Mother Sita, Hanuman ji, Buddha, Mahavira, and Guru Gobind Singh ji, symbols of Bharat’s culture. These illustrations in the Constitution remind us of the importance of human values. These values form the basis of modern Bharat’s policies and decisions. To ensure that Indians receive swift justice, a new judicial code has been implemented. The punishment-based system has now been transformed into a justice-based system. A historic decision has been made with the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to increase women's political participation. We have also taken steps to ensure recognition and rights for the third gender. Additionally, we have implemented measures to make the lives of differently-abled individuals easier.
Friends,
Today, the nation is heavily focused on improving the Ease of Living for its citizens. There was a time when senior citizens receiving pensions had to visit banks to prove that they were alive. Now, the senior citizens can avail the convenience of submitting digital life certificates from the comfort of their homes. Nearly 1.5 crore senior citizens have benefited from this facility so far. Today, Bharat is a country that provides free treatment up to 5 lakh rupees to every poor family. It is also a country that offers free healthcare to every elderly individual above 70 years of age. Affordable medicines are available at an 80 percent discount at thousands of Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country. There was a time when immunization coverage in our country was less than 60 per cent and millions of children missed vaccinations each year. Today, I am satisfied to see that Bharat’s immunization coverage is reaching 100 percent, thanks to Mission Indradhanush. Even in remote villages, children are now being vaccinated on time. These efforts have significantly reduced the worries of the poor and the middle class.
Friends,
An example of how the country is working today is the Aspirational Districts campaign. Over 100 districts that were once considered backward have been redefined as Aspirational Districts, where development across all parameters has been accelerated. Today, many of these aspirational districts are performing much better than other districts. Building on this model, we have now launched the Aspirational Block Program.
Friends,
The country is now placing great emphasis on eliminating the everyday challenges people face. Just a few years ago, there were 2.5 crore households in Bharat that would plunge into darkness every evening because they lacked electricity connections. By providing free electricity connections to all, the nation has illuminated their lives. In recent years, thousands of mobile towers have been installed even in remote areas to ensure people have access to 4G and 5G connectivity. Earlier, if you visited the Andaman or Lakshadweep Islands, broadband connectivity was unavailable. Today, undersea optical fiber cables have brought high-speed internet to these islands. We are also well aware of the numerous disputes that arise over village homes and land in rural areas. Even developed countries worldwide face significant challenges with land records. However, today’s Bharat is taking the lead in addressing this issue. Under the PM Svamitva Yojana, drone mapping of village homes is being conducted, and legal documents are being issued to residents.
Friends,
The rapid development of modern infrastructure is equally essential for the country's progress. Completing infrastructure projects on time not only saves the nation’s resources but also significantly enhances the utility of these projects. With this vision, a platform named PRAGATI has been created, where regular reviews of infrastructure projects are conducted. Some of these projects had been pending for 30-40 years. I personally chair these meetings. You’ll be pleased to know that projects worth 18 lakh crore rupees have been reviewed so far, and obstacles hindering their completion have been resolved. Projects being completed on time are having a profoundly positive impact on people's lives. These efforts are accelerating the nation’s progress and strengthening the core values of the Constitution as well.
Friends,
I would like to conclude my speech with the words of Dr. Rajendra Prasad. On this very day, November 26th, in 1949, Dr. Rajendra Prasad during his concluding speech in the Constituent Assembly said, “Bharat today needs nothing more than a group of honest people who will put the country's interest ahead of their own”. The spirit of ‘Nation First, Nation Above All’ will keep Bharat’s Constitution alive for many centuries to come. The work given to me by the Constitution, I have tried to remain within its boundaries, I have not attempted any encroachment. Since the Constitution has entrusted me with this work, I have presented my thoughts while maintaining my limits. Here, a mere hint is enough, there is no need for much more to be said.
Thank you very much.
