Malcolm Rivera
The Indian Constitution was the result of a fervent desire for Swaraj, or self-governance. The Constitution was born from a massive struggle to assert India's right to exist without foreign trespass and to govern its own destiny. The first draft of the Indian Constitution was prepared by B. N. Rau, a constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly. Rau was an Indian civil servant, jurist, diplomat, and statesman who also helped draft the constitutions of Burma in 1947 and India in 1950.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | B. N. Rau |
| Occupation | Indian civil servant, jurist, diplomat and statesman |
| Known for | Being the constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly |
| Other roles | India's representative to the United Nations Security Council from 1950 to 1952; member of the Korean War post-Armistice United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC); Judge of the International Court in The Hague |
| Education | Universities of Madras and Cambridge |
| Honours | Knighted in 1938 |
| Drafting process | Appointed as the constitutional adviser to the Constituent Assembly in 1946; prepared the initial draft in February 1948; the draft was debated, revised and adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949 |
| Inspiration | The constitutions of Germany, the UK, the USA, Ireland, France, South Africa, Japan, the USSR and Canada |
| Fundamental rights | Free speech, property, and equality before the law |
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What You'll Learn
BN Rau, the constitutional advisor, prepared the first draft
Rau's contributions to the Indian Constitution extended beyond just the initial draft. He was responsible for the general structure and democratic framework of the constitution. Rau's draft served as a foundation for the Drafting Committee's work, and he assisted them in their task. The process of drafting the constitution was meticulous and inclusive. The people of India were given eight months to discuss the draft, propose amendments, and provide feedback. This public participation ensured that the constitution reflected the aspirations and needs of the Indian people.
Rau's expertise and experience were also sought internationally. In 1947, he helped draft the constitution of Burma (now Myanmar), demonstrating his role in shaping the foundational documents of multiple nations in the region. Rau's work on the Indian Constitution was influenced by his research trips to the US, Canada, Ireland, and the UK, where he consulted with legal experts and scholars. This international perspective enriched the Indian Constitution, making it a document informed by global principles and values.
The final draft of the Indian Constitution was introduced by Ambedkar on 4 November 1948, and after three drafts and three readings, it was passed on 26 November 1949. The constitution-drafting process in India was a collaborative effort, with many individuals contributing. However, BN Rau's role as the constitutional advisor and author of the first draft was instrumental in laying the groundwork for India's foundational legal document.
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The Constituent Assembly appointed 22 committees
The Constituent Assembly of India was formed on 9 December 1946, with 389 members. The Assembly appointed a total of 22 committees to handle various facets of the constitution-making process. These committees were assigned different issues to deal with and submitted their reports between April and August 1947.
Out of these 22 committees, eight were major committees, and the rest were minor committees. Ten committees handled procedures, while twelve committees handled substantive matters. The Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas, led by Vallabhbhai Patel, was one such major committee. It had several subcommittees, including the Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee, the Minorities Sub-Committee, and the North-East Frontier Tribal Areas and Assam Excluded & Partially Excluded Areas Sub-Committee.
The Drafting Committee, established on 29 August 1947, was another crucial committee. It was chaired by Dr B. R. Ambedkar, who was then an official representative of the Indian government. The committee was responsible for establishing the legal framework for including the decisions in the reports of the other committees. The Drafting Committee included six other members: K.M.Munshi, Muhammed Saadulah, Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer, Gopala Swami Ayyangar, N. Madhava Rao, and T. T. Krishnamachari.
Based on the reports submitted by these 22 committees, B. N. Rau, the constitutional adviser to the Constituent Assembly, drafted the initial constitution in October 1947. This draft, containing 240 clauses and 13 schedules, was then forwarded to the Drafting Committee for further procedure. The Constituent Assembly held 11 sessions and took 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days to frame the constitution, which was approved by the Assembly on 26 November 1949.
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The committees submitted reports between April and August 1947
The Indian Constitution was the result of a fervent desire for Swaraj, or self-governance. The people of India wanted to be governed by their own laws and to exist without foreign trespass. The idea of Swaraj was at the core of the Indian Freedom Struggle.
The first draft of the Indian Constitution was prepared by B. N. Rau, the constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly. Rau was an Indian civil servant, jurist, diplomat, and statesman. He was also India's representative to the United Nations Security Council from 1950 to 1952 and served as the President of the United Nations Security Council in June 1950.
Before the Constituent Assembly was formed, there existed M.N. Roy's draft "Constitution of Free India", which was published in 1944. The Constituent Assembly was created to prepare a constitution and appointed 22 committees to deal with different issues. These committees submitted their reports between April and August 1947. The committees were assigned different issues to deal with, and their proposals were considered along with the draft prepared by the constitutional advisor.
Based on the reports submitted by the committees, B. N. Rau drafted the initial draft of the Indian Constitution in October 1947. This draft contained 240 clauses and 13 schedules. It was then forwarded to the Drafting Committee, chaired by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, for further procedure. The Drafting Committee prepared a second draft, which was published in October 1948 after the people of India were given eight months to discuss the initial draft and propose amendments.
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The Drafting Committee was chaired by BR Ambedkar
The Indian constitution was drafted by the Constituent Assembly from 1946 to 1950. The Assembly appointed 22 committees, which submitted their reports between April and August 1947. The Drafting Committee was then tasked with further action.
The Drafting Committee was chaired by Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, commonly known as B. R. Ambedkar. He was a renowned Indian jurist, economist, and politician who played a pivotal role in shaping India's constitution. Ambedkar was a strong advocate for the rights of Dalits, women, and labourers, and his influence is evident in the constitution's emphasis on social justice and equality.
The committee's work was based on the reports of the 22 committees and the initial draft prepared by the constitutional advisor, Sir Benegal Narsing Rau (commonly known as B. N. Rau). Rau was a distinguished Indian civil servant, jurist, diplomat, and statesman. He had previously helped draft the constitution of Burma (now Myanmar) in 1947. Rau's draft of the Indian constitution was submitted in October 1947 and contained 240 clauses and 13 schedules.
Under Ambedkar's leadership, the Drafting Committee scrutinised Rau's draft and incorporated the decisions and proposals made by the Constituent Assembly. The committee prepared a second draft, which was published in October 1948 after considering public comments, criticisms, and suggestions. The final draft of the constitution was introduced by Ambedkar on November 4, 1948, and underwent three drafts and three readings before being passed on November 26, 1949.
Ambedkar humbly acknowledged the contributions of others in his concluding speech to the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949, crediting Rau and the Constituent Assembly for their vital roles in the constitution's creation.
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The final draft was introduced by BR Ambedkar on 4 November 1948
The Indian Constitution was the result of a fervent desire for Swaraj, or self-governance. The idea of Swaraj was at the core of the Indian Freedom Struggle, with the demand to be governed by their own laws serving as an important hallmark of the freedom struggle. The final draft of the Constitution was introduced by BR Ambedkar on 4 November 1948, after three drafts and three readings. The constitution was then declared passed on 26 November 1949.
The process of drafting the Indian Constitution began in 1946, with the Constituent Assembly appointing 22 committees to address various issues and submit reports. These reports informed the initial draft of the Constitution, which was prepared by B N Rau, the constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly. Rau was a prominent Indian civil servant, jurist, diplomat, and statesman. He played a crucial role in shaping the democratic framework of the Constitution and travelled extensively to other countries as part of his research.
The first draft of the Constitution, prepared by Rau in October 1947, contained 240 clauses and 13 schedules. This draft was forwarded to the Drafting Committee, chaired by BR Ambedkar, for further revisions and discussions. The Drafting Committee prepared a second draft, which was published in October 1948 after incorporating public comments, criticisms, and suggestions.
The final draft introduced by Ambedkar on 4 November 1948 underwent a clause-by-clause consideration in the second reading, which took over a year. In his concluding speech on 25 November 1949, Ambedkar acknowledged the contributions of Sir B.N. Rau and emphasised that the credit for the Constitution belonged partly to him. The Indian Constitution was shaped by various foreign influences, including the constitutions of Germany, the UK, the USA, Ireland, France, South Africa, Japan, the USSR, and Canada.
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Frequently asked questions
The first Indian Swaraj Constitution was drafted by the Constituent Assembly from 1946-1950. The constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly, Sir Benegal Narsing Rau, prepared the initial draft in February 1948.
Sir Benegal Narsing Rau, also known as B. N. Rau, was an Indian civil servant, jurist, diplomat, and statesman. He was also India's representative to the United Nations Security Council from 1950 to 1952.
The Constituent Assembly was responsible for creating the Constitution of independent India, which was driven by the desire for Swaraj, or self-governance. The Assembly debated, revised, and adopted the initial draft prepared by Rau.
The first Indian Swaraj Constitution included basic fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, property rights, and equality before the law. It also established a democratic framework for the country.
