Jonah Patel
The Indian Constitution was drafted over a period of almost three years, from 9 December 1946 to 26 November 1949. During this time, the Constituent Assembly held eleven sessions, covering a total of 165 days, 114 of which were spent considering the Draft Constitution. Dr B. R. Ambedkar, the chairman of the drafting committee, is recognized as the Father of the Indian Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total time taken to draft the constitution | 2 years, 11 months and 18 days |
| Number of sessions held by the Constituent Assembly | 11 |
| Total number of days the sessions consumed | 165 |
| Number of days spent on the consideration of the Draft Constitution | 114 |
| Date the constitution was adopted | 26 November 1949 |
| Number of members of the Constituent Assembly | 299 |
| Number of members present to sign the final approved Constitution | 284 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constituent Assembly
Dr B. R. Ambedkar, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, is recognised as the "Father of the Indian Constitution." He studied the constitutions of about 60 countries during the drafting process. In a speech, he acknowledged the time taken by the Constituent Assembly, noting that it had been almost three years since its first meeting. Rajendra Prasad was appointed as the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly during its meeting on 11 December 1946.
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Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's role
The drafting of the Indian Constitution took two years, eleven months, and eighteen days. During this period, the Constituent Assembly held eleven sessions covering a total of 165 days.
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, a legal scholar, played a crucial role in this process. He was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee and is often regarded as the "Father of the Indian Constitution". Ambedkar studied the constitutions of about 60 countries while drafting India's constitution. He was appointed as the first Law Minister of independent India in 1947 and was a key figure in the constitution-making process due to his interventions and speeches in the Assembly.
Ambedkar's interventions were insightful, well-reasoned, and scrupulously researched, winning him the support and respect of other Assembly members. He passionately believed in individual freedom and criticised caste society, making him controversial among Hindus. He defended the inclusion of Directive Principles of State Policy in the Draft Constitution, arguing that they were binding and served as instructions regulating the power of the Legislature and Executive for peace, order, and good governance.
Ambedkar also played a significant role in attempting to pass the Hindu Code Bill, which aimed to reform Hindu personal laws on matters such as marriage, divorce, succession, and adoption. He introduced the Draft Constitution to the Assembly on November 4, 1948, and defended the inclusion of administrative provisions by invoking 'constitutional morality'. On November 25, 1949, a day before the Constitution was adopted, Ambedkar emphasised that India must strive to become a social democracy.
Ambedkar's contributions extended beyond the Assembly as well. He founded the All-India Scheduled Castes Federation in 1942 as a political front for the Dalits and wrote "States and Minorities," which provided strong constitutional protection for the Scheduled Caste community. On November 26, 1949, the day the Constitution was adopted, 284 members of the Constituent Assembly signed the final approved Constitution of the Indian Assembly.
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The number of sessions
The Indian Constitution, the longest written constitution of any sovereign country in the world, took approximately two years and eleven months to draft. The number of sessions held during this time was indeed remarkable, with a total of sixteen sessions of the Constituent Assembly being convened to discuss, debate, and finalize the text of the Constitution.
The first session of the Constituent Assembly was held on December 9, 1946, and the final session, where the Constitution was adopted, took place on January 24, 1950. These sixteen sessions were not evenly spaced out but were convened as needed to address the various aspects of the Constitution. The frequency and duration of these sessions varied, with some being relatively short and focused on specific issues, while others were more extended and intensive, lasting several weeks or even months.
The first ten sessions, from December 1946 to October 1949, were the most active and crucial periods for the drafting process. These sessions laid the foundation for the Constitution, with the Assembly debating and deciding on the fundamental principles, structure, and various articles of the document. The initial sessions also witnessed the appointment of key committees, such as the Drafting Committee headed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, which played a pivotal role in shaping the Constitution.
The final six sessions, from November 1949 to January 1950, focused on finalizing the text, addressing any remaining issues, and making necessary amendments. These sessions were marked by a sense of urgency as the Assembly worked towards completing the Constitution before the self-imposed deadline of January 26, 1950, which was eventually achieved. The sixteen sessions of the Constituent Assembly were intense, rigorous, and comprehensive, reflecting the Assembly's dedication and commitment to crafting a robust and enduring Constitution for the world's largest democracy.
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The number of days
The Constituent Assembly of India took almost three years to draft the Indian Constitution. To be precise, it took two years, eleven months and eighteen days. The Constituent Assembly first met on the 9th of December 1946 and the final Constitution was signed on the 26th of November 1949.
During this period, the Assembly held eleven sessions, covering a total of 165 days. Of these, 114 days were spent on the consideration of the Draft Constitution. The Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth and the Eleventh sessions were devoted to the consideration of the Draft Constitution.
The Constituent Assembly of India got the status of a sovereign body through the Indian Independence Act of 1947. An idea for a Constituent Assembly was first proposed in 1934 by M. N. Roy, a pioneer of the Communist movement in India.
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The final signing
The Constituent Assembly of India, formed in 1946, took almost three years to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India. The Assembly held eleven sessions over 165 days, with 114 days devoted to the consideration of the Draft Constitution.
The process of drafting the Constitution began in December 1946, with the appointment of Dr B. R. Ambedkar as the chairman of the drafting committee. Ambedkar studied the constitutions of about 60 countries while drafting India's constitution and is recognised as the "Father of the Indian Constitution".
The Constituent Assembly of India gained the status of a sovereign body through the Indian Independence Act of 1947. The idea for a Constituent Assembly was first proposed in 1934 by M. N. Roy, a pioneer of the Communist movement in India.
The Indian Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949, and the National Anthem of India was adopted on 24 January 1950. It was decided that 26 November would be declared Constitution Day.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constituent Assembly took almost three years (2 years, 11 months and 18 days to be precise) to draft the Indian Constitution.
The Indian Constitution was drafted between 9 December 1946 and 26 November 1949.
The Constituent Assembly held eleven sessions during this period, covering a total of 165 days.
