Constituent Assembly of India
Constituent Assembly of India was the body responsible for drafting the Constitution of India. It was formed in 1946 and functioned as the first sovereign law-making body of independent India. The Assembly held its first session on 9 December 1946 and adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949, which came into effect on 26 January 1950.[1]
Formation
The Constituent Assembly was set up under the framework of the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946. Initially composed of 389 members, the number was reduced to 299 after the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan.
Seats were allocated among the provinces and princely states roughly in proportion to their population. Members were elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies.
Important Sessions
- First Session – 9 December 1946: Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha was elected as the temporary chairman.
- Later, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent President of the Assembly.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was appointed as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee on 29 August 1947.[2]
- The final draft of the Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949.
Committees of the Assembly
The Assembly had over 13 major committees and several minor committees. Some of the most important were:
- Drafting Committee – headed by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
- Union Powers Committee – chaired by Jawaharlal Nehru
- Provincial Constitution Committee – also chaired by Nehru
- Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights and Minorities – headed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Key Members
Notable members of the Assembly included:
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
- Jawaharlal Nehru
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
- Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer
- Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
- Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
- Sarojini Naidu
Adoption of the Constitution
The Assembly approved the final draft of the Constitution on 26 November 1949, which is now celebrated as Constitution Day. The Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950, marking the beginning of the Republic of India.
Importance
- Established the framework of parliamentary democracy in India
- Defined the structure of government and enshrined Fundamental Rights and Duties
- Abolished untouchability and guaranteed equality before law
- Created the world's longest written constitution
Legacy
The Constituent Assembly functioned as the Provisional Parliament of India from 1950 until the first general elections were held in 1952.
See Also
- Constitution of India
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
- Jawaharlal Nehru
- Republic of India
- Fundamental Rights in India
- Directive Principles of State Policy
- Preamble to the Constitution of India