The Odisha government has directed all public universities and colleges under its Higher Education Department to observe ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ on June 25, 2025, commemorating 50 years since the imposition of the Emergency in India in 1975.
The observance aligns with a national notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on July 11, 2024.
According to the official directive, institutions are required to conduct a full day of events aimed at spreading awareness about constitutional values, democratic rights, and the impact of the Emergency. Activities include student and faculty marches, seminars, and interactive discussions, with a special focus on the Preamble of the Constitution and rights suspended during the Emergency.
Departments, especially Political Science, are expected to host lectures and panel discussions featuring legal experts, academicians, and students on democracy and civic responsibility. A range of competitions — such as essay writing, poster-making, street plays, quizzes, and slogan contests — will be organized under the theme “Save the Constitution.” Screenings of films or documentaries on constitutional history are also encouraged.
All institutions have been asked to document and report their events, with photographs and attendance details, to the Higher Education Department by June 28, 2025.
Calling the Emergency “the darkest chapter in India’s democratic history,” the department emphasized that the observance aims to foster reflection and reinforce the commitment to constitutional values, especially among the youth.
