Eleanor Finch
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India and is the longest written national constitution in the world. The Constituent Assembly of India met for the first time on 9 December 1946, and the constitution was framed from 9 December 1946 to 26 November 1949, coming into force on 26 January 1950, which is celebrated as Republic Day in India. The Constituent Assembly was formed for the purpose of writing a constitution for independent India, and the drafting committee was formed under the chairmanship of Dr B R Ambedkar. The constitution was drawn from a number of sources, including previous legislation such as the Government of India Acts 1919 and 1935, and the Indian Independence Act 1947.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of first meeting | 9th December 1946 |
| Date adopted | 26th November 1949 |
| Date came into effect | 26th January 1950 |
| Number of articles | 448 |
| Number of parts | 22 |
| Number of schedules | 12 |
| Number of members in the Constituent Assembly | 389 (initially) |
| Number of members in the Constituent Assembly after partition | 299 |
| Number of sessions | 11 |
| Number of days over which the sessions were held | 165 |
| Number of years it took to draft the constitution | 3 |
| Number of years it took to draft the constitution (precise) | 2 years, 11 months, and 17 days |
| Chairman of the drafting committee | Dr B. R. Ambedkar |
| Calligrapher | Prem Behari Narain Raizada |
| First President of the Constituent Assembly | Dr Sachhidannand Sinha |
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What You'll Learn
The Constituent Assembly of India
The Constituent Assembly was constituted under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 to frame a Constitution for India. It was set up to replace the Government of India Act 1935. The Assembly was elected by the Provincial Legislative 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 292 representatives of the provinces, 93 representatives of the Princely States, and 4 representatives from the chief commissioner provinces. The Assembly held its first meeting on December 9, 1946, and elected Dr. Sachhidannand Sinha, the oldest member, as the Provisional President.
The drafting of the Constitution was led by a drafting committee, appointed by the Constituent Assembly and headed by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, widely considered the "father of the Indian Constitution". The committee included eminent figures such as Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar, N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, K. M. Munshi, and B. L. Mitter. The drafting process began in 1947 and took about two years to complete. The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on November 26, 1949, and it came into effect on January 26, 1950, making India a republic. The Constitution of India is a document of great importance, forming the basis of the country's political system. It is also the longest written Constitution in the world.
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Dr B R Ambedkar chaired the drafting committee
The Constitution of India was framed by the Constituent Assembly, which was elected by the members of the Provisional Legislative Assemblies in 1946. The Assembly held its first meeting on 9 December 1946, and it took them nearly three years to complete the constitution, which was adopted on 26 November 1949. The Constituent Assembly was constituted under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 to draft a constitution for India that would replace the Government of India Act 1935.
The drafting of the Constitution was led by a drafting committee, which was appointed by the Constituent Assembly and chaired by Dr B R Ambedkar, who is widely considered to be the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. Ambedkar was a wise constitutional expert who had studied the constitutions of about 60 countries. He is recognised as the "Father of the Constitution of India". In his concluding speech to the Constituent Assembly on 25 November 1949, Ambedkar acknowledged the contribution of 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.
The other members of the drafting committee included Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar, N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, K. M. Munshi, B. L. Mitter, N. Gopalswami, Mahavir Tyagi, and B. R. Raju. The drafting process began in 1947 and took about two years to complete. The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949, and it came into effect on 26 January 1950, which is now celebrated as Republic Day in India.
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BN Rau drafted the initial document
BN Rau, born on 26 February 1887, was a civil servant, jurist, diplomat, and statesman. He played a critical and primary role in the Indian constitution-making process as the constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly. Rau was responsible for the general structure of the democratic framework of the Constitution and single-handedly prepared its initial draft in February 1948. This draft was then debated, revised, and finally adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949. Rau's draft was based on extensive research, including consultations with judges, scholars, and authorities on constitutional law in the US, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
Rau's contributions to the Indian Constitution were significant and wide-ranging. He had a deep understanding of Indian law and constitutional precedents, as evidenced by his noted writings on the subject. As an adviser to the Constituent Assembly, Rau played a crucial role in shaping the democratic framework of the Constitution. He was responsible for the initial draft, which laid the foundation for the final document. Rau's draft was the result of his legal expertise and his efforts to resolve the political deadlock between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, who had opposing visions for the constitutional future of India.
Rau's draft Constitution was a comprehensive document that outlined his proposed constitutional scheme. It consisted of analysis, explanatory notes, and memoranda written in a legal style with articles and clauses. This initial draft was then scrutinised and discussed by the Drafting Committee, which was chaired by Dr B. R. Ambedkar, who is often referred to as the "father of the Indian Constitution". The Drafting Committee included other legal experts and administrative luminaries such as KM Munshi, N Gopalaswamy Ayyangar, Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar, Syed Mohammad Saadullah, and N Madhava Rau.
The drafting process was a collaborative effort that involved multiple revisions and inputs from various experts. The first draft by the Drafting Committee was published in February 1948, and the people of India were given eight months to discuss and propose amendments. The feedback from the public was then incorporated into a second draft published in October 1948. After three drafts and three readings, the final constitution was passed on 26 November 1949.
While Dr B. R. Ambedkar is widely recognised as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, it is important to acknowledge the significant contributions of BN Rau. As the constitutional advisor, Rau's expertise, research, and draft Constitution laid the groundwork for the final document. His role in the constitution-making process highlights his dedication to India's democratic ideals and his impact on the country's political landscape.
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The constitution is a social document
The Constitution of India is a social document as well as a legal one. It is a common bond, containing the basic rules that should guide society and help people to live their lives in the right direction. It is a document of great importance to the people of India, and it forms the basis of the country's political system. The Preamble to the Constitution of India records the aims and aspirations of the people of India, which have been translated into various provisions of the Constitution. It is the longest written Constitution in the world, with 448 articles in 22 parts and 12 schedules.
The Constitution of India recognises 22 languages and over a hundred dialects. It also provides the right of equal opportunity to every citizen. The Governor of Uttarakhand, Krishan Kant Paul, affirmed that to truly honour Ambedkar, who played a major role in the drafting of the Constitution, it is necessary to commit to a sense of equality and harmony by removing all basis of caste, class, and social inequality.
The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950, making India a republic. The Constituent Assembly was set up in 1946, with the purpose of drafting a constitution for India to replace the Government of India Act 1935. The idea of a Constituent Assembly for India was first put forward in 1934 by M. N. Roy, an advocate of radical democratism. The demand was accepted by the British Government in the 'August Offer' of 1940. The Constituent Assembly was elected by the members of the Provisional Legislative Assemblies in 1946. The drafting of the Constitution was led by a drafting committee, which was appointed by the Constituent Assembly and headed by Dr B. R. Ambedkar, widely considered the "father of the Indian Constitution".
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It was adopted in 1949 and came into force in 1950
The Constituent Assembly of India was set up in 1946 with the purpose of drafting a constitution for India to replace the Government of India Act 1935. The Assembly held its first meeting on 9 December 1946, and it took nearly three years to complete the constitution. The Constituent Assembly was elected by the members of the Provisional Legislative Assemblies.
The Constitution of India was passed and adopted by the assembly on 26 November 1949. The date was carefully chosen as it was Purna Swaraj Day, which had been established on this date in 1930 following a resolution voted by the INC’s Lahore Session in December 1929. The Constitution was signed and accepted with 395 Articles, 8 Schedules, and 22 Parts.
The Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950, which is now celebrated as Republic Day in India. The date of implementation was also chosen with care, as it was significant in India's journey towards independence. This date is also when the Indian Independence Act of 1947 was adopted. The Constitution establishes a parliamentary system of government that is federal in structure but has certain unitary aspects.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of India was framed by the Constituent Assembly of India, which first met on 9th December 1946. The Assembly had 299 members: 229 members elected from 12 Indian provinces and 70 members nominated from 29 Princely States. The Constituent Assembly was formed for the purpose of writing a constitution for independent India. The constitution was drafted over almost three years, with the Assembly holding eleven sessions over a 165-day period.
The Constituent Assembly of India elected Rajendra Prasad as its President. Dr BR Ambedkar was chairman of the Drafting Committee. BN Rau, the constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly, drafted the initial document, which was then forwarded to the Drafting Committee. S. N. Mukherjee was the chief draftsman of the Constitution in the Constituent Assembly.
The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India, and it is the longest written national constitution in the world. It lays down the fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out the fundamental rights and duties of citizens. It declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic, assuring its citizens justice, equality, and liberty.
