Why was 26 January 1950 chosen as the date for the Constitution of India to come into force?

Introduction / Context:
India Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 but did not immediately come into force. Instead, it was decided that the new republican Constitution would commence on 26 January 1950. Understanding why this specific date was chosen helps connect modern constitutional history with the earlier freedom struggle and is a favourite topic in Indian polity questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The event in question is the promulgation and coming into force of the Constitution of India on 26 January 1950. - We are asked to identify the main historical reason for selecting this particular date. - The options include reasons related to the freedom movement, farmers demands, British decisions and auspiciousness. - We assume familiarity with the concept of Poorna Swaraj and the pre independence Independence Day observances.

Concept / Approach:
In December 1929, the Lahore session of the Indian National Congress passed the Poorna Swaraj resolution, which demanded complete independence from British rule. The Congress declared that 26 January 1930 would be observed as India Independence Day. For several years, this date was celebrated as Independence Day during the freedom struggle. After independence was actually achieved on 15 August 1947, the framers of the Constitution decided to honour the earlier symbolic date by making 26 January the day the Constitution came into effect, thereby making it the official Republic Day.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 but commenced on 26 January 1950. Step 2: Remember that long before 1947, the Congress had declared 26 January as Independence Day following the Poorna Swaraj resolution of 1929. Step 3: Understand that by choosing 26 January 1950 for the Constitution to come into force, the new republic honoured the significance of that date in the freedom struggle. Step 4: Recognise that farmers demands or British preferences were not the primary reasons recorded in constitutional history for selecting this date. Step 5: Therefore, select the option linking 26 January with the earlier Independence Day observances arising from the 1929 declaration.

Verification / Alternative check:
Indian polity books and history texts consistently explain that 26 January was chosen to commemorate the declaration of Poorna Swaraj adopted in December 1929 and celebrated on 26 January 1930. They clearly state that this date had already become symbolic of India desire for complete independence. These sources make no mention of farmer specific demands or British imposed deadlines for this date, confirming the correctness of option a.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The idea that 26 January was chosen because farmers desired it is not supported by historical records of constitutional deliberations. There is no evidence that the British government dictated this date or refused to leave India before it; independence actually occurred earlier on 15 August 1947. While some people may see the date as auspicious, the documented primary reason for its selection was the connection to the Poorna Swaraj declaration and earlier Independence Day celebrations.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners mix up the two important dates 15 August and 26 January and may assume that both must be linked directly to British decisions. Others accept vague explanations about auspiciousness without checking historical sources. To avoid these errors, it is crucial to remember the narrative that 26 January 1930 was first celebrated as Independence Day after the Poorna Swaraj resolution and that the Republic deliberately chose that date in 1950 to connect constitutional authority with the freedom movement legacy.

Final Answer:
26 January 1950 was chosen for the Constitution of India to come into force because this day had been celebrated as Independence Day since the 1929 Poorna Swaraj declaration.