Constituent Assembly of India: Learn in a Simple way

1. Assembly met for the first time in Delhi on 9 Dec 1946 at the Constitution Hall.
2. Dr Sachchidananda Sinha was appointed as the temporary Chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
3. Almost three years (2 years, 11 months and 17 days ) took place to complete the constitution draft of India.
   • During this time, it held eleven sessions covering 165 days from which 114 days were spent on the consideration of the Draft.

Process behind the Constitution of India

1. As we know firstly, the Constitution was made by the Constituent Assembly which has been elected for undivided India.
2. 9 Dec 1946:
   • On this date, Constituent Assembly held the first sitting for Undivided India.
3. 14 Aug 1947:
   • On this date, the Constituent Assembly re-assembled for divided India.
4. Members of Constituent Assembly(CA)?
   • Members of CA were elected by indirect election by the members of Provisional Legislative Assemblies.
     • Provisional Legislative Assemblies: established in 1935
5. CA was composed roughly along the line suggested by the Cabinet Mission, which was proposed by the committee of the British cabinet.
6. What was in Cabinet Mission Plan?
   • According to this CM plan?
     • Seat allocation 1:10,00,000:
       • This means 10 lakhs of the population have one candidates or members.
       • This provision was for each Province and each Princely state or group of states.
       • Result:
         • Provinces (that were under direct British rule) were to elect 292 members while the Princely States were allotted a minimum of 93 seats.
         • 4 seats/members from Chief Commissioners provinces
         • Total: 389 members
         • This data was for Undivided India after the partition the number reduced to an overall 299.
     • Seats distributed among the three main communities, Muslims, Sikhs and general, in proportion to their respective populations in the provinces.
     • Members of each community in the Provisional Legislative Assembly elected their own representatives by the method of proportional representation with the single transferable vote.
     • The method of selection in the case of representatives of Princely States was to be determined by consultation.

Composition of Constituent Assembly

1. June 3, 1947:
   • As per the result of partition under the Mountbatten Plan, a separate Constituent Assembly set up for Pakistan and some representatives from provinces ceased to be members of the Assembly.
2. The numbers in the CA were reduced to 299 of which 284 were actually present on 26 November 1949 and appended their signature to the Constitution as finally passed.
3. For making a Constituent assembly a representative body, serious attempts should be taken.
   • Members of Assembly were not elected by Universal suffrage
   • Members of all religion given representation
     • Assembly had 26 members from Scheduled Classes.
   • Congress dominated the Assembly occupying as many as 82% of the seats in the assembly after the Partition.

Objective Resolution:

1. 13 Dec 1946:
   • On this date, Jawaharlal Nehru moved Objective resolution.
2. 22 Jan 1947:
   • The objective resolution passed by the constituent assembly without any objection.
3. The main point of Objective Resolution:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjM8TR9_oOo

29 Aug 1947

1. On this date, the constituent assembly set up a Drafting Committee.
   • Dr B.R Ambedkar chairman of the drafting committee.
   • The work of the Drafting Committee is to prepare a draft for the constitution of India.

Important dates regarding the Constitution of India

1. 26 Nov 1949:
   • The Constitution of India was adopted.
2. 24 Jan 1950:
   • Member signed the constitution.
   • 284 members actually signed the constitution of India.
3. 26 Jan 1950:
   • The Constitution of India came into force.
   • On this day, the Assembly ceased to exist, transforming itself into the Provisional Parliament of India until a new Parliament was constituted in1952.

Chairman and Committee of Constituent Assembly

1. Rajendra Prasad
   • Committee on the rules of procedure
   • Steering committee
   • Finance and Staff committee
   • Ad hoc committee on the National Flag
2. Jawaharlal Nehru
   • Union Power committee
   • Union Constitution committee
   • States Committee
3. B.R Ambedkar
   • Drafting Committee
4. Vallabhbhai Patel
   • Advisory committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded ares
5. Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
   • Credential Committee
6. B.Pattabhi Sitaramayya
   • House committee
7. K.M. Munsi
   • Order of Business committee
8. G.V Mavalankar
   • Committee on the Functions of Constituent Assembly
9. H.C. Mookherjee
   • Minorities Sub-Committee
10. J.B. Kripalani
    • Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee
11. Gopinath Bardoloi
    • North-East Frontier Tribal Areas and Assam Excluded & Partially Excluded Areas Sub-Committee