Eleanor Finch
The Constitution of India was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, which was elected by members of the provincial assemblies. The Constituent Assembly was established to draft a constitution for India and existed for around three years, from 1946 to 47, serving as the Provisional Parliament of India after independence. The Assembly was made up of 299 representatives of India from different castes, regions, religions, and genders, and it met over 114 days spread across three years. The constitution was drafted by a seven-member drafting committee, chaired by B.R. Ambedkar, and the committee's constitutional advisor was Sir B.N. Rau, a civil servant and jurist.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people involved in drafting | 299 |
| Number of days taken to draft | 114 |
| Number of sessions held | 11 |
| Number of amendments out of 7,635 total | 2,473 |
| Number of articles in the first draft | 243 |
| Number of schedules in the first draft | 13 |
| Number of articles in the final draft | 395 |
| Number of schedules in the final draft | 8 |
| Number of 'Parts' in the 1948 draft | 18 |
| Number of articles in the 1948 draft | 315 |
Explore related products
$22.1 $30
What You'll Learn
The Constituent Assembly of India
The Constituent Assembly took almost three years to draft the Constitution for Independent India, holding eleven sessions over 165 days. The drafting process took place at two levels: committees and plenary. The committees were made up of smaller groups of Assembly members who prepared draft articles, reports, and notes on specific parts of the Constitution. At the plenary level, the Assembly met in full strength to discuss the reports of the various committees. Amendments were proposed, debated, and enacted. The Assembly also moved, discussed, and disposed of 2,473 amendments out of a total of 7,635.
The Lengthy Indian Constitution: A Comprehensive Document
You may want to see also
B.R. Ambedkar's role as chair
The Constitution of India was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, which was made up of 299 representatives of India, down from 389 due to the partition. The Assembly was established to draft a constitution for India, which also included the now-separate countries of Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Assembly was not elected based on universal adult suffrage, and Muslims and Sikhs were given special representation as minorities.
B.R. Ambedkar was a key figure in the constitution-making process and was appointed Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution for the future Republic of India. As its Chairman, he had to defend the Draft Constitution and intervene in nearly every debate. Ambedkar's interventions and speeches were insightful, well-reasoned, and scrupulously researched, winning him the support and respect of other members of the Assembly. He is often referred to as the "Father of the Indian Constitution".
Ambedkar's legacy as a socio-political reformer had a deep effect on modern India. His initiatives have influenced various spheres of life and transformed the way India looks at socio-economic policies, education, and affirmative action. He passionately believed in individual freedom and criticised caste society, making him unpopular among Hindus. He also played a key role in social movements that fought for the rights of Dalits, founding the 'Bahishkrit Hitakarani Sabha' for the social upliftment of the 'depressed classes'.
In his concluding speech in the Constituent Assembly on 25 November 1949, Ambedkar stated:
> The credit that is given to me does not really belong to me. It belongs partly to Sir B.N. Rau the Constitutional Advisor to the Constituent Assembly who prepared a rough draft of the Constitution for the consideration of the Drafting Committee. A part of the credit must go to the members of the Drafting Committee who, as I have said, have sat for 141 days and without whose ingenuity to devise new formulae and capacity to tolerate and to accommodate different points of view, the task of framing the Constitution could not have come to so successful a conclusion.
The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and took effect on 26 January 1950.
BN Rau's initial draft
BN Rau was a civil servant, jurist, and diplomat who played a crucial role in drafting the Indian Constitution. Appointed as the constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly in 1946, Rau was responsible for creating the initial draft, which he prepared by February 1948. This draft, consisting of 243 articles and 13 schedules, served as the foundation for further discussions and amendments.
Rau's expertise and experience were instrumental in shaping the constitution. He had previously revised the entire Indian statutory code between 1935 and 1937 and also played a part in drafting the constitution of Burma in 1947. As the constitutional advisor, Rau's task was to propose a general structure for the Indian Constitution, taking into account the country's unique needs and conditions. He drew inspiration from various sources, including previous legislation such as the Government of India Acts and the Indian Independence Act of 1947. Additionally, Rau travelled to several countries, including the US, Canada, Ireland, and the UK, to conduct research and consult with experts.
Rau's initial draft was a comprehensive document that laid out a proposed constitutional framework. It addressed key aspects of governance and the organisation of the state. The draft was then scrutinised by the drafting committee, chaired by B.R. Ambedkar, who was chosen due to his prior service in various sub-committees. The committee held extensive discussions and invited public participation in the process, allowing eight months for people to propose amendments. This collaborative approach ensured that diverse ideologies and opinions were considered.
The drafting committee's first draft was published in February 1948, followed by a second draft in October 1948 after incorporating public feedback. The final draft of the constitution was introduced on 4 November 1948, and it underwent three readings before being passed on 26 November 1949. Despite the significant contributions of BN Rau, he is often overlooked, with some arguing that he should be recognised as the "biggest brain" behind the constitution.
Explore related products
The drafting committee's process
The Constitution of India was drafted by the Constituent Assembly, which was elected by members of the provincial assemblies. The 389-member assembly (reduced to 299 after the partition of India) took almost three years to draft the constitution, holding eleven sessions over a 165-day period.
The process began with the formation of the Constituent Assembly on 9 December 1946, with 207 members attending its first session. The Assembly was established to draft a constitution for India, including the now-separate countries of Pakistan and Bangladesh. It consisted of indirectly elected representatives, with special representation given to Muslims and Sikhs as minorities. The Muslim League boycotted the Assembly, although 28 of its members joined India's Constituent Assembly. The Assembly was dominated by the Indian National Congress Party (69%), and included a diverse range of ideologies and opinions.
After the first session, several committees were established to examine and report on various aspects of the Constitution, including the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities, and Tribal and Excluded Areas, the Union Powers Committee, the Union Constitution Committee, and the Provincial Constitution Committee. These committees submitted their reports to the Constituent Assembly between April and August 1947.
On 27 October 1947, the seven-member Drafting Committee, chaired by B. R. Ambedkar, began scrutinising the Draft Constitution prepared by the Constitutional Advisor, Sir B. N. Rau, along with other notes, reports, and memoranda. Rau's draft consisted of 243 articles and 13 schedules. The Drafting Committee then submitted its revised draft constitution to the Constituent Assembly on 4 November 1947. The revised draft consisted of 395 articles and 8 schedules after discussions, debates, and amendments.
The Draft Constitution was then circulated among the public, and many comments, critiques, and suggestions were received. A Special Committee, comprising members of the Union Constitution Committee, scrutinised these comments and prepared amendments. On 4 November 1948, B. R. Ambedkar formally introduced the Draft in the Assembly, and every member received a copy along with the recommended amendments. The Assembly then took up each article of the Draft for debate and discussion, considering and enacting numerous amendments proposed by individual members and the Drafting Committee. This process continued until 17 October 1949, after which the Drafting Committee revised the Draft and produced a second version on 14 November 1949, which was put to the Assembly for another reading.
The constitution's adoption
The Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November 1949 by the Constituent Assembly of India. The assembly, which was established to draft a constitution for India, existed for approximately three years, from 1947 to 1950, and served as the Provisional Parliament of India after independence. The Constituent Assembly was not directly elected and did not follow universal adult suffrage, but it did include special representation for Muslims and Sikhs as minorities. The Muslim League boycotted the Assembly, although 28 of its members out of 73 ended up joining. A large part of the Constituent Assembly was drawn from the Indian National Congress Party (69%), and it included a wide range of ideologies and opinions, from conservatives and progressives to Marxists, liberals, and Hindu revivalists.
The constitution was drafted by 299 delegates from different castes, regions, religions, and genders. These delegates sat for 114 days spread over three years and discussed what the constitution should contain and what laws should be included. The drafting committee was chaired by B. R. Ambedkar, who is considered the chief architect of the constitution. The committee also included T. T. Krishnamachari, who acknowledged the significant role of Ambedkar in the constitution's drafting.
The initial draft of the constitution was prepared by Sir B. N. Rau, the assembly's constitutional advisor, in February 1948. Rau's draft consisted of 243 articles and 13 schedules, which were then debated and amended by the drafting committee. The revised draft constitution, prepared by the committee, was submitted to the assembly on 4 November 1947. Before adopting the constitution, the assembly held eleven sessions over a 165-day period.
The constitution replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the country's fundamental governing document, and the Dominion of India became the Republic of India. It declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic, assuring its citizens justice, equality, and liberty. The original 1950 constitution is preserved in a nitrogen-filled case at the Parliament Library Building in New Delhi.
Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of India was drafted by the Constituent Assembly of India, which was established to create a constitution for the country. The Constituent Assembly was made up of 299 representatives from different castes, regions, religions, and genders.
The key people involved in drafting the Constitution of India include B.R. Ambedkar, who chaired the seven-member Drafting Committee, and B.N. Rau, the Constitutional Advisor to the Constituent Assembly who prepared the initial draft of the constitution. Other notable figures include T.T. Krishnamachari, a member of the drafting committee, and S.N. Mukherjee, the Chief Draftsman of the Constitution.
The Constitution of India took approximately three years to draft. The Constituent Assembly held eleven sessions over a 165-day period, and the drafting process involved scrutinizing, debating, and amending the initial draft prepared by B.N. Rau.
The Constituent Assembly approved the final draft of the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949, and it came into effect on January 26, 1950, which is commemorated as Republic Day in India.
