The idea of a constituent assembly was first proposed in 1934 by M.N. Roy. However, the actual constituent assembly was formed in 1946 on the basis of the cabinet mission plan.
This article will talk about the Constituent Assembly of India. Candidates can also download the Constituent Assembly notes PDF from the link provided below.
The notes provided below can be useful for the UPSC 2024Â preparation.
Constituent Assembly of India (UPSC Notes):- Download PDF Here
Similar to the topic, ‘Constituent Assembly of India’, candidates can go through the following Indian Polity-related topics:
Background of the Constituent Assembly of India
The following table lists the trail of the development of the constituent assembly of India:
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Composition of Constituent Assembly
- Initially, the number of members was 389. After partition, some of the members went to Pakistan and the number came down to 299. Out of this, 229 were from the British provinces and 70 were nominated from the princely states.
- Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha was the first temporary chairman of the Constituent Assembly. Later, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the President and its Vice President was Harendra Coomar Mookerjee. BN Rau was the constitutional advisor.
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Key Facts Related to the Constituent Assembly of India for IAS Exam
| Constituent Assembly of India – Key Facts for UPSC Exam | |
| When did the constituent assembly first meet? | The assembly first met on 9 December 1946 |
| Was there any role of the Muslim League in the formation of the Constitution of India | No, there was no role played by the Muslim League in the constituent assembly as it had boycotted this meeting citing its demand for partition. |
| What is ‘Objective Resolution’ concerned with the constituent assembly of India? | Objective Resolution enshrined the aspirations and values of the constitution-makers. Under this, the people of India were guaranteed social, economic and political justice, equality and fundamental freedoms. This resolution was unanimously adopted on 22 January 1947 and the Preamble to the Constitution is based on it. |
| When was Objective Resolution moved and by whom? | On 13 December 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru moved the ‘Objective Resolution’. |
| When was the National Flag of the Union adopted? | The National Flag of the Union was adopted on 22 July 1947 |
| For how many days was the constituent assembly assembled to frame the constitution? | The time taken by the assembly to frame the constitution: 2 years, 11 months and 17 days. Money spent in framing the constitution: Rs.64 lakhs |
| When was Jana Gana Mana adopted as our national anthem? | On 24 January 1950, ‘Jana Gana Mana’ was adopted as the national anthem |
| How many articles does our final Constitution have? | The final document had 22 parts, 395 articles and 8 schedules. |
| What was the total number of sessions the constituent assembly had? | The assembly had met for 11 sessions |
| When was the draft of the Indian Constitution published? | The draft was published in January 1948 and the country’s people were asked for their feedback and input within 8 months |
| What is the date of the last session? | The last session was held from 14 – 26 November 1949. The constitution was passed and adopted by the assembly on 26 November 1949 |
| When did the Constitution of India come into force? | The constitution came into force on 26 January 1950 (which is celebrated as Republic Day) |
Committees of Constituent Assembly of India with their Chairmen
There were eight committees, mentioned below:
| Committees of Constituent Assembly of India | |
| Drafting Committee | Dr. B R Ambedkar |
| Union Constitution Committee | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Union Powers Committee | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| States Committee | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Steering Committee | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
| Rules of Procedure Committee | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
| Provincial Constitution Committee | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel |
| Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas: |
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Criticism of the Constituent Assembly
- It was not a representative body since the members were not directly elected by adult franchise. However, the leaders did enjoy popular support from the people. Direct elections by the universal adult franchise at that time when the country was on the brink of partition and amidst communal riots would have been impractical.
- It is said that the makers took a long time to frame the Constitution. However, keeping in mind the complexity and the peculiarities of the diverse and large Indian nation, this can be understood.
- The constituent assembly was not a sovereign body since it was created by the British. However, it worked as a fully independent and sovereign body.
- The language of the constitution was criticised for being literary and complicated.
- The assembly was dominated by the Congress Party. But the party dominated the provincial assemblies and this was natural. Moreover, it was a heterogeneous party with members from almost all sections of Indian society.
- It was alleged that the assembly had Hindu dominance. This was again because of proportional representation from communities.
Constituent Assembly of India (UPSC Notes):- Download PDF Here
Frequently Asked Questions on Constituent Assembly of India
Q1
Q 1. When was the Constituent Assembly formed in India?
Ans. The Constituent Assembly was formed in India in 1946 to frame the Constitution of India. It was first proposed in 1934 by M.N. Roy and was devised on the basis of Cabinet Mission Plan
Q2
Q 2. What was the role of the Constituent Assembly in India?
Ans. The Constituent Assembly of India was elected to write the Constitution of India. The Constitution was framed by the Constituent Assembly and established under the Cabinet Mission Plan
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