Simone Lawson
The Constitution of India was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, which was elected by members of the provincial assemblies. The assembly first met on 9 December 1946 and the constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949. The Constituent Assembly took almost three years to draft the constitution, holding eleven sessions over a 165-day period. The constitution was published in Dehradun and came into effect on 26 January 1950.
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What You'll Learn
The Constituent Assembly first met on 9 December 1946
The Assembly held eleven sessions over a 165-day period, with 114 of those days spent considering the Draft Constitution. The Draft Constitution was prepared by Sir B. N. Rau, a civil servant, who was appointed as the Assembly's constitutional advisor in 1946. Rau's draft was considered, debated, and amended by the seven-member drafting committee, which was appointed on 29 August 1947, with B. R. Ambedkar as chair. Ambedkar, recognised as the "Father of the Indian Constitution", studied the constitutions of about 60 countries during the drafting process.
The Constituent Assembly reassembled on 14 August 1947 as a sovereign body, and successor to the British parliament's authority in India. The Constitution was finally adopted on 26 November 1949, and it became the law of India on 26 January 1950. The Indian Constitution is the world's longest for a sovereign nation, with 145,000 words in its original form. It has since been amended over 100 times, with the latest amendment assented to on 28 September 2023.
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The Assembly was a 389-member body, reduced to 299 after the partition of India
The Constituent Assembly of India was established to draft a constitution for India. It was a partly elected and partly nominated body, with members elected by the Provincial assemblies of British India following the Provincial Assembly elections in 1946. The total membership of the Constituent Assembly was 389, including representatives of the provinces, princely states, and chief commissioner provinces. However, after the partition of India, the number of members decreased to 299, as representatives of the areas incorporated into Pakistan were no longer part of the Constituent Assembly of India.
The Constituent Assembly of India was a diverse body, including individuals from different castes, regions, religions, and genders. It included members from major religious communities such as Christians, Parsees, Sikhs, and Muslims, and although male-dominated, there were also female members who played a significant role. 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 eventually joined.
The Constituent Assembly first met on December 9, 1946, and reassembled on August 14, 1947, as a sovereign body after India gained independence from the British. It took the Assembly almost three years (two years, eleven months, and eighteen days) to complete its task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India. During this period, it held eleven sessions over 165 to 166 days, with 114 days spent considering the Draft Constitution. The Constitution was passed and adopted on November 26, 1949, and came into force on January 26, 1950, when it was decided to declare November 26 as Constitution Day.
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The Assembly held eleven sessions over 165 days
The Constituent Assembly, comprising 389 members (reduced to 299 after the partition of India), was responsible for drafting the Constitution of India. This process took almost three years, spanning from its first meeting on 9 December 1946 to the final approval and signing of the Constitution on 26 November 1949. During this period, the Assembly held eleven sessions spread across 165 days, with 114 days dedicated to the consideration of the Draft Constitution.
The Assembly's work was pivotal in shaping India's future as an independent nation. The eleven sessions, held over a period of 165 days, were marked by intense discussions, debates, and amendments to the initial draft prepared by the Assembly's constitutional advisor, Sir B. N. Rau, in February 1948. Rau's draft served as a foundation for the Assembly's deliberations, and it underwent significant revisions during these sessions.
The sessions were not merely about amending and refining the draft but also about incorporating the aspirations and ideals of a newly independent India. The Assembly members, representing diverse backgrounds and regions, brought their unique perspectives to the table. Each session witnessed passionate debates, reflecting the complexity and significance of the task at hand. The Assembly's work was a testament to their dedication and commitment to establishing a robust constitutional framework for the nation.
The eleven sessions covered a range of topics, from fundamental rights and liberties to the structure of governance and the roles of various institutions. The drafting committee, chaired by Dr B. R. Ambedkar, played a crucial role in steering the discussions and ensuring that the Constitution was comprehensive and reflective of the needs and aspirations of the Indian people. Ambedkar's contribution was particularly noteworthy, having studied the constitutions of about 60 countries to inform the drafting process.
The 165 days of sessions were not consecutive but rather spread out over the three-year period, allowing for thoughtful consideration and input from various stakeholders. The Assembly's work culminated in the final approval and signing of the Constitution, with 284 members present, marking a significant milestone in India's journey towards independence and self-governance.
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The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949
The Indian Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949, and it became the law of India on 26 January 1950. The Constituent Assembly, which was responsible for drafting the Constitution, took almost three years to complete its task. The Assembly was first elected in 1934 and met for the first time on 9 December 1946, reassembling on 14 August 1947 as a sovereign body following the Indian Independence Act of 1947.
The Assembly held eleven sessions over a 165-day period, with 114 of those days spent considering the Draft Constitution. The drafting committee, chaired by Dr B. R. Ambedkar, studied the constitutions of about 60 countries during this process. On 26 November 1949, 284 members of the Assembly signed the final approved Constitution of the Indian Assembly.
Dr B. R. Ambedkar is recognised as the "Father of the Indian Constitution". The initial draft of the Constitution was prepared by Sir B. N. Rau, the Assembly's constitutional advisor, in February 1948. This draft consisted of 243 articles and 13 schedules, which were then discussed, debated, and amended by the drafting committee. The final Constitution had 395 articles and 8 schedules.
The Indian Constitution is the world's longest for a sovereign nation, with about 145,000 words. It has had more than 100 amendments since its enactment and continues to be updated to meet the evolving needs of the nation. The latest amendment was given assent on 28 September 2023.
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The Constitution is the supreme legal document of India
The Constitution of India is the country's supreme legal document and the world's longest written national constitution. It establishes India as a 'Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic' with a parliamentary form of government. The Constitution lays out the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out the fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of citizens. It also grants all citizens Fundamental Rights and empowers the independent judiciary to invalidate legislation or government actions that violate the Constitution.
The Constitution of India is unique in that it provides for a single integrated system of courts to administer both Union and State laws, despite the adoption of a federal system. At the top of the judicial system is the Supreme Court of India, followed by the High Courts, and then the District Courts. Below this, some states also have Village/Panchayat Courts, which decide civil and criminal disputes of a petty and local nature.
The Constitution of India is so specific in spelling out government powers that many amendments address issues dealt with by statute in other democracies. It is also notable for its frequent amendments, despite a supermajority requirement for these to pass. The Constitution does not contain a provision to limit the powers of Parliament to amend it, but the Supreme Court has ruled that certain features of the Constitution are integral and cannot be removed.
The Constituent Assembly took almost three years to draft the Constitution, meeting for eleven sessions over a total of 165 days. The final Constitution was signed on 26 November 1949, by 284 members of the Constituent Assembly.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of India was drafted over almost three years, with the Constituent Assembly holding eleven sessions over a 165-day period. The constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and became the law of India on 26 January 1950.
The Constituent Assembly had 389 members, which was reduced to 299 after the partition of India. The assembly elected Rajendra Prasad as its permanent president in December 1946.
The constitution was drafted by a seven-member drafting committee, appointed in August 1947, with B.R. Ambedkar as its chairman. Dr. Ambedkar studied the constitutions of about 60 countries while drafting the constitution and is recognized as the "Father of the Indian Constitution".
The estimated cost of the Constituent Assembly was ₹6.3 crore.
