Omar Bennett
The Constituent Assembly of India was a partly elected and partly nominated body to frame the Constitution of India. The Assembly was established to draft a constitution for India, including what is now Pakistan and Bangladesh. The total membership of the Constituent Assembly was 389, with 292 representatives of the provinces, 93 representing the princely states, and 4 from the chief commissioner provinces. However, after the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, the total number of seats decreased to 299. The Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November 1949, and 284 members signed it on 24 January 1950.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total membership of the Constituent Assembly | 389 |
| Members elected through Provincial Legislative Assemblies | 292 |
| Members representing Indian Princely States | 93 |
| Members representing Chief Commissioners' Provinces | 4 |
| Members who signed the Constitution | 284 |
| Date the Constitution was signed | 24 January 1950 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constituent Assembly of India was established in 1946
The Constituent Assembly of India was a partly elected and partly nominated body. The Provincial assemblies of British India elected its members following the 1946 Provincial Assembly elections, and the princely states nominated representatives. The total membership of the Assembly was 389, including 292 representatives of the provinces, 93 representatives of the princely states, and 4 members from the chief commissioner provinces of Delhi, Ajmer-Merwara, Coorg, and British Baluchistan.
The Constituent Assembly first met on December 9, 1946, in New Delhi, and it took them almost three years to complete the task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India. During this time, the Assembly held eleven sessions over 165 or 166 days, with 114 days spent considering the Draft Constitution. The Constitution was eventually adopted on November 26, 1949, and the members appended their signatures to it on January 24, 1950. In total, 284 members signed the Constitution.
The Constituent Assembly of India played a crucial role in shaping the country's legal and ethical framework, and its efforts laid the foundation for India's progress and development as an independent nation.
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It was partly elected and partly nominated
The Constituent Assembly of India was a body consisting of both elected and nominated members. It was formed to draft the Constitution of India. The Assembly was conceived and created by V. K. Krishna Menon, who first outlined its necessity in 1933. The Indian National Congress, led by Jawaharlal Nehru at the time, officially demanded a Constituent Assembly in 1936, and this demand was accepted by the British in August 1940.
The Constituent Assembly was elected by the Provincial Assemblies of British India following the 1946 Provincial Assembly elections. The Princely States and the Chief Commissioners' Provinces also nominated members to the Assembly. The total membership of the Assembly was 389, including 292 representatives of the provinces, 93 representatives of the princely states, and 4 members from the chief commissioner provinces of Delhi, Ajmer-Merwara, Coorg, and British Baluchistan.
The Constituent Assembly of India existed for approximately three years, from 1946 to 1949, and it served as the Provisional Parliament of India after independence in 1947. The Assembly was not elected based on complete universal adult suffrage, and Muslims and Sikhs received special representation as minorities. The Muslim League boycotted the Assembly, but 28 of its 73 members joined. The Assembly included a diverse range of ideologies and opinions, from conservatives and progressives to Marxists, liberals, and Hindu revivalists.
The Constitution of India was adopted on November 26, 1949, and the members appended their signatures to it on January 24, 1950. In total, 284 members signed the Constitution, which consisted of 395 articles, 8 schedules, and 22 parts. The Constituent Assembly of India played a crucial role in drafting the Constitution and providing India with a basic legal and ethical framework for progress and development.
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The Assembly had 389 members before 1947
The Constituent Assembly of India was a partly elected and partly nominated body tasked with framing the Constitution of India. It was established under the provisions of the Cabinet Mission Plan, which rejected full adult franchise for elections and instead proposed indirect elections by members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies. The Assembly's first meeting was held on 9 December 1946 in New Delhi, and it existed for approximately three years.
Before 1947, the Constituent Assembly had a total of 389 members. 292 of these were representatives of the provinces, elected through the Provincial Legislative Assemblies. 93 members represented the Indian Princely States, and the final 4 members represented the Chief Commissioners' Provinces of Delhi, Ajmer-Merwara, Coorg, and British Baluchistan. The Assembly was diverse, including members from different castes, regions, religions, and genders. Notably, a large portion of the Assembly was drawn from the Indian National Congress Party (69%).
However, after India's independence in August 1947, the membership changed. As a result of the partition under the Mountbatten Plan, a separate Constituent Assembly was established for Pakistan on 3 June 1947. This resulted in a reorganisation of the Constituent Assembly of India, with new elections held for the regions that became part of Pakistan. Consequently, the membership of the Assembly was reduced to 299 after 1947.
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The Constitution was drafted by 299 delegates
The Constituent Assembly of India was a 389-member body established to draft a constitution for India. It was partly elected and partly nominated, with members chosen by indirect election by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies. The Assembly was diverse, including members from different castes, regions, religions, and genders.
Initially, the Assembly consisted of 292 members elected through the Provincial Legislative Assemblies, 93 members representing the Indian Princely States, and 4 members from the Chief Commissioner's Provinces. However, after the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, the membership of the Constituent Assembly of India was reduced to 299. This reduction occurred because some provinces and princely states became part of Pakistan, necessitating a reorganisation of the Assembly.
The 299 delegates who remained in the Constituent Assembly of India after the partition worked diligently over 114 days spread across almost three years to draft the Constitution of India. They discussed what the constitution should contain and what laws should be included. The Assembly held eleven sessions, covering a total of 165 days, with 114 days dedicated to considering the Draft Constitution.
The Constituent Assembly of India played a pivotal role in framing the constitution that provided the basic legal and ethical framework for the country's progress and development. Their efforts culminated in the adoption of the Constitution of India on 26 November 1949, and the members appended their signatures to it on 24 January 1950.
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284 members signed the Constitution
The Constituent Assembly of India was a partly elected and partly nominated body tasked with framing the country's constitution. It was conceived and created by V. K. Krishna Menon, who first outlined its necessity in 1933. The Indian National Congress officially called for a constituent assembly in 1935, and the demand was accepted by the British in 1940. The Assembly was established under the provisions of the Cabinet Mission Plan, which rejected full adult franchise for elections and instead proposed indirect elections by members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies.
The total membership of the Constituent Assembly was 389, comprising 292 representatives of the provinces, 93 from the princely states, and 4 from the chief commissioner's provinces of Delhi, Ajmer-Merwara, Coorg, and British Baluchistan. However, following the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, the total number of seats decreased to 299 as several provinces and princely states became part of Pakistan.
The Constituent Assembly took almost three years (2 years, 11 months, and 18 days) to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India. During this period, it held eleven sessions covering a total of 165 days, with 114 days spent on the consideration of the Draft Constitution.
Finally, on 24 January 1950, 284 members signed the Constitution of India, marking the last meeting of the Constituent Assembly. The Constitution, consisting of 395 articles, 8 schedules, and 22 parts, was signed and accepted, providing India with a basic legal and ethical framework for progress and development.
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Frequently asked questions
284 members signed the Constitution.
The total membership of the Constituent Assembly was 389, with 292 representatives of the provinces, 93 represented the princely states, and 4 were from the chief commissioner provinces. After 1947, the total number of seats was 299.
The Constituent Assembly was a partly elected and partly nominated body to frame the Constitution of India.
The Constituent Assembly signed the Constitution on 24 January 1950.
