Constituent Assembly

Formation of the Constituent Assembly

  1. The Constituent Assembly was formed under the framework of the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946.
  2. It was tasked with drafting the Constitution of India after independence.
  3. The Assembly's formation was based on indirect elections by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies.
  4. The total strength of the Constituent Assembly was initially set at 389 members.
  5. Out of these, 292 members represented provinces, 93 members represented princely states, and 4 members represented the Chief Commissioners' provinces.
  6. After the partition of India in 1947, the number of members was reduced to 299.

Composition of the Constituent Assembly

  1. The Assembly represented a mix of various political groups, social classes, and communities.
  2. The majority of the members were from the Indian National Congress, reflecting its dominant role in the independence movement.
  3. The Muslim League initially participated but later withdrew due to the creation of Pakistan.
  4. The Assembly included prominent leaders like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
  5. Women members like Sarojini Naidu and Hansa Mehta contributed significantly.
  6. Members were chosen to represent all sections of society, ensuring diversity.

Working of the Constituent Assembly

  1. The first session of the Constituent Assembly was held on December 9, 1946, with Sachidananda Sinha as the interim chairman.
  2. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was later elected as the permanent Chairman.
  3. The Assembly appointed various committees to handle specific tasks, such as the Drafting Committee, led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
  4. The Objective Resolution, moved by Jawaharlal Nehru on December 13, 1946, laid the foundation for the Constitution.
  5. The Drafting Committee was formed on August 29, 1947 and consisted of 7 members.
  6. The Assembly held a total of 11 sessions spanning over 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days.
  7. The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949 and came into effect on January 26, 1950.
  8. The Assembly debated and resolved various contentious issues, including federal structure, fundamental rights, and directive principles.
  9. The proceedings were conducted in a democratic manner, with inputs from all members.
  10. Significant emphasis was placed on creating a Constitution that embodied justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Significance

  1. The Constituent Assembly laid the foundation for a democratic and independent Republic of India.
  2. It ensured representation of various sections of society, promoting inclusiveness.
  3. The Assembly's deliberations reflected India's aspiration for a sovereign, socialist, and secular state.
  4. The Constitution framed by the Assembly is considered a living document, adaptable to changing needs and circumstances.
Category
Framing of the Constitution
The Constitution of India
Indian Polity and Governance
When was the Constituent Assembly of India formed?
The Constituent Assembly was formed based on the recommendations of which plan?
How many members were initially proposed for the Constituent Assembly?
The Constituent Assembly of India was chaired by whom?
How many seats were allocated to princely states in the Constituent Assembly?
Which party won the majority of seats in the Constituent Assembly elections?
Who was the Vice President of the Constituent Assembly?
The first session of the Constituent Assembly was held on which date?
How many women were members of the Constituent Assembly?
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of which committee of the Constituent Assembly?
The total number of sessions of the Constituent Assembly was:
The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on which date?
What was the average duration of each session of the Constituent Assembly?
The Objective Resolution, which outlined the philosophy of the Constitution, was moved by:
Who was responsible for designing the national flag of India during the Constituent Assembly debates?
How many members signed the final draft of the Indian Constitution?
The Constituent Assembly continued to act as the provisional Parliament until which year?
Who was the constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly?
What was the main task of the Drafting Committee in the Constituent Assembly?
Which princely state did not initially send representatives to the Constituent Assembly?
The Constituent Assembly was set up under the framework of which Act?
How many committees were formed to deal with the drafting of the Constitution?
The Constituent Assembly debates were published in how many volumes?
The language of the Constitution was decided to be:
How many schedules were included in the original Constitution drafted by the Constituent Assembly?
Which session of the Constituent Assembly adopted the national anthem?
The Constituent Assembly included representatives of which groups?
The Indian Constitution is unique because it:
The concept of "Fundamental Rights" in the Indian Constitution was inspired by which country?
Who gave the final shape to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution?