Constituent Assembly of India

The idea of the Constituent Assembly was first put forward by M. N. Roy (a pioneer of the communist movement in India) in 1934. The call for Constituent Assembly was taken up by the Congress Party in 1935 as an official demand. However, the constituent assembly was created by the British under the Cabinet Mission plan, 1946.

• The constituent assembly’s first meeting was held on 9th December 1946 under the temporary presidentship of Sachchidananda Sinha.
• On 11 December 1946. Rajendran North Prasad was chosen as the permanent president of the constituent assembly.
• The first session of the constituent assembly was started on 13th December 1946. On this day objective resolution was passed.
• The members of the Constituent Assembly were elected indirectly, i.e., by the members of the provincial assemblies by the process of a single transferable vote of proportional representation, as well as nominated by princely States.
• This constituent assembly meeting was boycotted Muslim League referring to their demand for partition.
• The constituent assembly was not a sovereign body at the beginning as it was created by the British government under the cabinet Mission plan. It could have been dissolved by the British only but the constituent assembly asserted its Sovereign character by passing a resolution that it could not be dissolved except its own resolution supported by 2/3 majority of the total membership.
• ‘Objective Resolution’ moved by Jawaharlal Nehru on 13 December 1946 was unanimously adopted by Constituent Assembly on 22 January 1947. The Preamble of our Constitution is based on it.
• National Flag of the Union was adopted on 22 July 1947. And on 15 August 1947, it became the official flag of the Dominion of India.
• Time taken by the Constituent assembly was 2 years, 11 months, and 17 days to frame the constitution.
•  ‘Jana Gana Mana’ on 24 January 1950, was adopted as the national anthem.
• The Constituent assembly had met for 11 sessions.
• And after the passage of the Indian Independence Act on 15th, August 1947, the constituent assembly assumes its full Sovereign character. Not only the Constitutional body but also acted as temporary Parliament till 26th November 1949.
• 24th January 1950 was the last day of the constituent assembly.

Who are the 7 members of the drafting committee?

The 7 members of drafting committee are as follows:

1. B.R. Ambedkar (Chairman)
2. K.M Munshi
3. D.P. Khaitan
4. Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
5. Mohammad Saadulla
6. Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
7. B.L. Mitter