Malcolm Rivera
The Constituent Assembly of India was a partly elected and partly nominated body that framed the Constitution of India. It was formed in 1946 and played a crucial role in drafting the Indian Constitution, ensuring it reflected the nation's diverse cultural, social, and political fabric. The Assembly was led by prominent figures like Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr B.R. Ambedkar, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and it engaged in comprehensive debates on federalism, fundamental rights, and governance, shaping the document's core principles. The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on 26 November 1949, and it came into force on 26 January 1950, marking a significant shift in India's political system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 26 November 1949 |
| Duration | 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days |
| Number of members | 389, declining to 299 after partition |
| Number of sessions | 11 |
| Number of sitting days | 167 |
| Number of committees | 22 |
| Number of major committees | 8 |
| Number of articles | 395 or 448 |
| Number of schedules | 8 or 12 |
| Number of parts | 22 or 25 |
| First President of India | Dr Rajendra Prasad |
| National anthem and song | Jana Gana Mana and Vande Mataram |
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What You'll Learn
- The Constituent Assembly was formed in 1946
- The Assembly was led by prominent figures like Jawaharlal Nehru
- The Assembly had 299 members after the partition
- The Constitution was drafted by 299 delegates from different castes, regions, and religions
- The Constitution was passed and adopted by the assembly on 26 November 1949
The Constituent Assembly was formed in 1946
The Constituent Assembly of India was formed in 1946, with the goal of framing the Constitution of India. The Assembly was partly elected and partly nominated, with members chosen by the Provincial Assemblies of British India following the Provincial Assembly elections held in 1946, and nominated by princely states. The total membership of the Constituent Assembly was 389, including representatives from provinces, princely states, and chief commissioner provinces. The Assembly was led by President Rajendra Prasad, vice-chairman Harendra Coomar Mookerjee, and constitutional legal adviser B. N. Rau.
The formation of the Constituent Assembly was a significant step towards Indian independence and self-governance. The Assembly met for the first time on December 9, 1946, and its initial tasks included addressing the deteriorating political situation and religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims. The Muslim League boycotted the meeting and demanded a separate constituent assembly for Muslims in India. This eventually led to the partition of India and the creation of a separate Constituent Assembly for Pakistan on June 3, 1947.
The Constituent Assembly played a crucial role in drafting the Constitution of India, which was adopted on November 26, 1949, and came into force on January 26, 1950. The Assembly appointed 22 committees to handle different tasks related to constitution-making, ensuring that the final document reflected the diverse castes, regions, religions, and genders of the Indian population. The Constitution provided for a parliamentary form of government with a federal structure and established the position of the President as the constitutional head of the Executive of the Union.
The Constituent Assembly of India was a landmark achievement in the country's history, laying the foundation for a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. The Assembly's efforts resulted in a constitution that has guided India's progress and development, providing a basic legal and ethical framework for the nation.
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The Assembly was led by prominent figures like Jawaharlal Nehru
The Constituent Assembly of India was formed in 1946 under the Cabinet Mission Plan. The Assembly was tasked with drafting the Indian Constitution, ensuring it reflected the nation's diverse cultural, social, and political fabric. The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950.
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Other prominent leaders in the Constituent Assembly included Dr B.R. Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The Assembly engaged in comprehensive debates on federalism, fundamental rights, and governance, shaping the document's core principles.
The Assembly was partly elected and partly nominated, with 292 representatives of the provinces, 93 representatives of the princely states, and 4 from the chief commissioner provinces. The Congress Party dominated the Assembly, and it was a heterogeneous party with members from almost all sections of Indian society. However, it was alleged that the Assembly had a Hindu majority due to proportional representation from communities.
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The Assembly had 299 members after the partition
The Constituent Assembly of India was established while India was still under British rule, following negotiations between Indian leaders and members of the 1946 Cabinet Mission to India from the United Kingdom. The Assembly was partly elected and partly nominated, with members elected by the Provincial assemblies of British India following the Provincial Assembly elections held in 1946 and nominated by princely states. The Assembly's first meeting took place in New Delhi on 9 December 1946, with 207 members in attendance. Initially, the Assembly had 389 members, including fifteen women, but this number declined to 299 after the partition, with representatives of the areas incorporated into Pakistan ceasing to be members. The 299 members of the reorganised Assembly, which met on 31 December 1947, included 229 representatives from British regions and 70 from princely states. The constitution was drafted by these 299 delegates from different castes, regions, religions, and genders. They sat for 114 days over three years and discussed the contents of the constitution and the laws to be included.
The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on 26 November 1949, and it came into force on 26 January 1950. The Constituent Assembly then became the Provisional Parliament of India, continuing until after the first elections under the new constitution in 1952.
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The Constitution was drafted by 299 delegates from different castes, regions, and religions
The Constituent Assembly of India was a diverse body, with 299 delegates from various castes, regions, and religions coming together to draft the Indian Constitution. The Assembly was formed in 1946 and played a pivotal role in shaping the nation's constitution, reflecting India's diverse cultural, social, and political landscape. The constitution-making process was a collaborative effort, with the Assembly engaging in comprehensive debates on federalism, fundamental rights, and governance, which laid the foundation for the country's parliamentary democracy.
The Assembly's initial membership included 389 individuals, comprising 292 representatives from government provinces, 4 from chief commissioner provinces, and 93 from princely states. However, following the partition and the establishment of a separate Constituent Assembly for Pakistan, the Indian Constituent Assembly was reorganised and reduced to 299 members. This reorganised Assembly, with its diverse representation, met on 31 December 1947 and embarked on the momentous task of drafting the constitution.
The constitution-making process was a lengthy and deliberative endeavour. The 299 delegates sat for a total of 114 days over a period of almost three years, spread across 11 sessions. They discussed and debated the content and laws to be included in the constitution, shaping its core principles. The Assembly was led by prominent figures such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr B.R. Ambedkar, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who guided the process with their foresight and wisdom.
The Drafting Committee, chaired by B.R. Ambedkar, played a crucial role within the Assembly. Ambedkar presented the Draft Constitution to the Assembly and delivered a landmark speech. The committee's work resulted in a Revised Draft Constitution, which was delivered to Rajendra Prasad, the President of the Constituent Assembly, on 21 February 1948. This draft underwent further scrutiny and evaluation, with the Assembly debating it for over a year before finally adopting it.
The Constituent Assembly of India, with its diverse representation, ensured that the Indian Constitution was a true reflection of the nation's fabric. The constitution-making process was a collaborative and inclusive effort, resulting in a document that guaranteed the rights of every citizen and upheld democratic principles, justice, liberty, and equality. The Assembly's work laid the groundwork for India's governance and transformation into a sovereign republic.
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The Constitution was passed and adopted by the assembly on 26 November 1949
The Constituent Assembly of India was formed in 1946 to draft the Indian Constitution. It was a partly elected and partly nominated body, with 299 members from British India and 93 members from independent Indian states. The Assembly was led by prominent figures like Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr B.R. Ambedkar, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who engaged in comprehensive debates on federalism, fundamental rights, and governance, shaping the document's core principles.
The Assembly played a crucial role in ensuring that the Constitution reflected the nation's diverse cultural, social, and political fabric. The drafting process took place over 114 days, spread across three years, and the final document contained 395 articles, 8 schedules, and 22 parts. The Constituent Assembly appointed 22 committees to deal with different tasks related to constitution-making, eight of which were major committees.
On 26 November 1949, the Constituent Assembly passed and adopted the Constitution of India. This date was significant as it was when the Preamble to the Constitution was enacted, providing a testament to the foresight and wisdom of its framers. The Constitution guaranteed the rights of every citizen and upheld democratic principles, including human dignity, equality, and freedom. It symbolised India's shift to a sovereign republic and introduced a parliamentary democracy built on justice, liberty, and equality.
The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950, with Dr Rajendra Prasad being elected as the first President. This date was chosen to commemorate the declaration of 'Poorna Swaraj' by J.L. Nehru in 1929. The Constitution provided for a parliamentary form of government with a federal structure and certain unitary features. It established the council of the Parliament of the Union, consisting of the President, the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), and the House of the People (Lok Sabha).
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Frequently asked questions
The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on 26 November 1949.
The Constituent Assembly took 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days to draft the Constitution of India.
The Constituent Assembly of India initially had 389 members, which declined to 299 after partition.
B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee of the Constitution.
The total expenditure to finish the Constitution of India was ₹6.4 million.
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