Jonah Patel
The Indian Constitution, the world's longest written national constitution, is the supreme legal document of India. It lays down the framework for the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out the fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of citizens. The Constituent Assembly of India, formed in 1946, played a crucial role in drafting the Indian Constitution, ensuring it reflected the nation's diverse cultural, social, and political fabric. The Constituent Assembly, led by prominent figures like Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, engaged in comprehensive debates on federalism, fundamental rights, and governance, shaping the document's core principles. The Assembly was not directly elected based on universal adult franchise, and its sessions were held with British permission. The Drafting Committee, chaired by B.R. Ambedkar, began scrutinising the Draft Constitution in October 1947 and submitted its final version to the President of the Constituent Assembly in February 1948. The constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950, marking India's shift to a sovereign republic.
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What You'll Learn
The Constituent Assembly of India
The Constituent Assembly was not elected based on universal adult suffrage, but it did include special representation for minorities, such as Muslims and Sikhs. The Assembly consisted of 389 members, including 292 representatives from government provinces, 4 from chief commissioner provinces, and 93 from princely states. The Indian National Congress Party held a significant majority in the Assembly, with 69% of the seats. The Constituent Assembly also included a diverse range of ideologies, from conservatives and progressives to Marxists, liberals, and Hindu revivalists.
The process of drafting the Indian Constitution involved several committees and plenary sessions. The committees, made up of smaller groups of Assembly members, prepared draft articles, reports, and notes on specific parts of the Constitution. The plenary sessions involved discussions and debates on the reports presented by the committees. Amendments were proposed, discussed, and adopted during these sessions. The Drafting Committee, chaired by B. R. Ambedkar, played a crucial role in scrutinising and finalising the Draft Constitution.
The Constituent Assembly took almost three years to complete its task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India. During this period, it held eleven sessions over 165 to 166 days, with a significant portion of the time 114 days dedicated to considering the Draft Constitution. The final Draft Constitution was submitted to the President of the Constituent Assembly on 21 February 1948 and was subsequently circulated among the public for comments and suggestions. The Constituent Assembly approved the draft constitution on 26 November 1949, and it came into effect on 26 January 1950, marking India's transition to a sovereign, democratic republic.
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The Drafting Committee
The Indian Constitution is the world's longest written national constitution and is the supreme legal document of India. It lays down the framework for the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out the fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of citizens.
The Constituent Assembly of India, consisting of 299 representatives, was established to draft the Constitution for India. It existed for approximately three years, serving as the Provisional Parliament of India after independence in 1947. The Assembly was not elected based on universal adult suffrage, and Muslims and Sikhs received special representation as minorities. The Muslim League boycotted the Assembly, although 28 of its members out of 73 ended up joining India's Constituent Assembly.
The Constituent Assembly played a crucial role in drafting the Indian Constitution, ensuring it reflected the nation's diverse cultural, social, and political fabric. Led by prominent figures like Jawaharlal Nehru, 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.
After the Draft Constitution was submitted, the Drafting Committee received many comments, critiques, and suggestions from stakeholders and the general public. The Committee took these inputs into account and held discussions on 23, 24, 27 March and 18 October 1948. On 26 October 1948, the Committee reprinted and resubmitted the version of the Draft Constitution that had been submitted on 21 February 1948, along with a set of amendments appended to clauses it intended to amend. The Draft Constitution was presented to the Constituent Assembly on 4 November 1948, by B.R. Ambedkar, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee.
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The Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities, and Tribal and Excluded Areas
The Indian Constitution is the supreme legal document of India and is the world's longest written national constitution. It lays down the framework for the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out the fundamental rights, directive principles, and duties of citizens. The Constituent Assembly of India, consisting of indirectly elected representatives, was established to draft the Constitution of India.
One of the committees formed to examine and report on various aspects of the Constitution was the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities, and Tribal and Excluded Areas. This committee was set up to frame a separate chapter of fundamental rights for Indian citizens, as well as the specific rights of minorities, tribal and excluded areas. It was formed on 24 January 1947 to meet the requirements laid down by the Cabinet Mission Plan. The Advisory Committee was chaired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and included more than 50 members. The Sub-Committee on Minorities was one of the five sub-committees appointed by the Advisory Committee on 27 February 1947. The Advisory Committee met on April 21 and 22 to review the recommendations proposed by the Sub-Committee on Fundamental Rights and the interim report provided by the Minorities Sub-Committee. On 28 July 1947, the report of the Minorities Sub-Committee was presented to the Advisory Committee, and a four-day discussion ensued. The Advisory Committee largely endorsed the conclusions reached by the sub-committee, except for appointing a sub-committee to investigate the status of Anglo-Indians in specific services and their access to existing educational facilities.
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The Union Powers Committee
The Cabinet Mission Plan had allotted defence, communications and foreign affairs to the Union. The Union Powers Committee had to provide a detailed list of subjects under these broad headings. The Report listed out 6 subjects under defence, 17 under foreign affairs and 12 under communications. The Committee’s Report was placed before the Constituent Assembly on 28 April 1947, but only as a formality. Given the uncertainty around the political future of the country vis-à-vis partition, it was felt that a supplementary report may be prepared later, and both could be discussed in the next session.
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The Union Constitution Committee
The Constituent Assembly, led by prominent figures like Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, played a crucial role in shaping the core principles of the Indian Constitution. The Assembly engaged in comprehensive debates on federalism, fundamental rights, and governance, ensuring that the Constitution reflected the nation's diverse cultural, social, and political fabric. The Constituent Assembly was an indirectly elected body, with members chosen by provincial assemblies rather than through universal suffrage.
The Draft Constitution was circulated among the public, and the comments, critiques, and suggestions received were scrutinised by a Special Committee, which included members from the Union Constitution Committee and other committees. The input from the public and the Special Committee was considered by the Drafting Committee, and a revised version of the Draft Constitution was resubmitted on 26 October 1948, along with a set of amendments. The Draft Constitution was then presented to the Constituent Assembly on 4 November 1948 by B.R. Ambedkar.
The Constituent Assembly approved the final draft of the Constitution on 26 November 1949, and it came into effect on 26 January 1950, marking India's shift to a sovereign republic and parliamentary democracy. This event, celebrated annually as Republic Day, symbolised India's independence and self-determination, introducing a governance system built on the principles of justice, liberty, and equality.
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Frequently asked questions
Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha was the first chairman of the Constituent Assembly of India. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was later elected as the president of the Constituent Assembly of India.
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, also known as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, was the chairman of the Drafting Committee.
The Constituent Assembly was specifically conceived for the creation or modification of a constitution. It played a crucial role in drafting the Indian Constitution, ensuring it reflected the nation's diverse cultural, social, and political fabric.
