Constituent Assembly of India: Formation, Composition and Key Committees Explained

Quick Answer: The Constituent Assembly of India was formed under the Cabinet Mission Plan of May 1946, with 389 members — 296 from British India provinces and 93 from princely states — elected indirectly by provincial assemblies. It first met on 9 December 1946, adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949, and completed its work in 2 years, 11 months and 18 days, with the Constitution coming into force on 26 January 1950.

Constituent Assembly of India: Quick Answer

The Constituent Assembly of India was the body responsible for framing the Constitution of India. Constituted under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946, it originally had 389 members, reduced to 299 after Partition. Dr. Rajendra Prasad served as its President, while Dr. B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee. The Assembly functioned as the first Parliament of India until the first general elections in 1951–52.

Background and Demand for a Constituent Assembly

The idea of a Constituent Assembly for India was first put forward in 1934 by M.N. Roy, a pioneer of the communist movement in India. The Indian National Congress officially demanded a Constituent Assembly in 1935. In 1938, Jawaharlal Nehru declared that the Constitution of free India must be framed, without outside interference, by a Constituent Assembly elected on adult franchise.

Key milestones in the demand:

• 1934: M.N. Roy first raised the idea of a Constituent Assembly.
• 1935: The Indian National Congress formally demanded a Constituent Assembly.
• 1938: Nehru articulated the demand for an assembly elected on adult suffrage.
• August Offer 1940: The British offered to recognise Indians’ right to frame their own Constitution, but the plan collapsed with the deadlock caused by the Muslim League’s insistence on partition.
• 1942: Sir Stafford Cripps proposed a constitution-making body, but his proposals too were rejected.
• 1946: The Cabinet Mission arrived in India and finally devised the framework for creating the Constituent Assembly.

Formation under the Cabinet Mission Plan 1946

The Cabinet Mission, comprising Lord Pethick-Lawrence (Secretary of State for India), Sir Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander, arrived in India in March 1946 and announced its plan on 16 May 1946. Its provisions for the Constituent Assembly included:

• The Assembly was to have 389 members: 296 from British India and 93 from princely states.
• Members from British India were to be indirectly elected by the provincial legislative assemblies, using proportional representation with single transferable vote.
• Seats were allotted roughly in the ratio of one to every ten lakh (one million) of the population.
• Communal representation was retained: seats were divided among Muslims, Sikhs and the general category.
• Representatives of princely states were to be nominated by the rulers.

Elections to the Assembly were held in July–August 1946. The Indian National Congress won 208 seats, the Muslim League 73, and smaller groups and independents the remainder. For official reference material, candidates can consult the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department), which hosts the Constitution of India and related historical records.

Composition of the Constituent Assembly

The original and post-Partition composition is a high-yield exam fact:

Among the total members, there were 15 women, including Sarojini Naidu, Durgabai Deshmukh, Hansa Mehta and Rajkumari Amrit Kaur. After Partition, the Muslim League members from the areas that became Pakistan withdrew, reducing the Assembly’s strength to 299.

First Meeting and Key Office Bearers

The Constituent Assembly held its first meeting on 9 December 1946. On that date, 211 members attended. Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, the oldest member, was appointed temporary (interim) Chairman. On 11 December 1946, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected the permanent President of the Assembly. H.C. Mukherjee was elected Vice-President, and B.N. Rau was appointed Constitutional Advisor. The Muslim League boycotted the first meeting.

Objectives Resolution (13 December 1946)

On 13 December 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru moved the Objectives Resolution, outlining the fundamental principles and philosophy of the future Constitution. It proclaimed India as an Independent Sovereign Republic, with power derived from the people, guaranteeing justice, equality, freedom of thought and expression, and adequate safeguards for minorities and backward classes. The Objectives Resolution was adopted on 22 January 1947. Its ideals were later reflected in the Preamble to the Constitution of India.

How the Assembly Worked: Rules, Sessions and Procedure

The Constituent Assembly functioned through 11 sessions between December 1946 and November 1949, and took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days to frame the Constitution. The Assembly worked through a system of committees: major committees dealt with broad areas such as the union constitution, provincial constitutions and framing of the rules, while minor committees handled specific subjects like fundamental rights and minorities.

• Constitutional Advisor B.N. Rau prepared an initial draft, drawing on constitutions worldwide.
• The Drafting Committee, chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, examined this draft and produced the Draft Constitution, published in February 1948.
• The Draft Constitution was debated clause by clause over 114 days spread across approximately 8 sessions.
• The Assembly sat for a total of 165 days, with the Drafting Committee itself meeting for 141 days.

Major and Minor Committees of the Constituent Assembly

The Assembly set up several committees to streamline its work. The 8 major committees and their chairmen are a favourite of examiners:

Important minor committees included the Committee on Fundamental Rights (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel chaired the parent Advisory Committee, with sub-committees chaired by J.B. Kripalani and H.C. Mukherjee), the Union Flag Committee (Rajendra Prasad), and the Committee on the Functions of the Constituent Assembly (G.V. Mavalankar).

Drafting Committee under Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

The Drafting Committee, the most celebrated committee of the Assembly, was constituted on 29 August 1947. It had seven members:

1. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Chairman)
2. N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar
3. Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar
4. K.M. Munshi
5. Syed Mohammad Saadullah
6. N. Madhava Rau (replaced B.L. Mitter)
7. T.T. Krishnamachari (replaced D.P. Khaitan, who died in 1948)

The Drafting Committee prepared the first Draft Constitution, published in February 1948, and a revised draft in 1948–49. Dr. Ambedkar is universally regarded as the “Father of the Constitution of India” for his leadership of this committee.

Enactment and Adoption of the Constitution

The Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November 1949, a date now commemorated annually as Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas). The Preamble was enacted on this date. The Constitution was signed by 284 members on 24 January 1950 — the same day Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected the first President of India. The Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950, chosen to honour the date of Purna Swaraj Day (26 January 1930), and is celebrated as Republic Day. The Constituent Assembly then continued as the provisional Parliament of India until the first Lok Sabha was constituted in 1952.

Key Criticisms and Limitations of the Assembly

UPSC Prelims and Mains frequently test criticisms of the Constituent Assembly:

• Not directly elected: Members were indirectly elected by provincial assemblies on a limited franchise; princely states’ representatives were nominated by rulers.
• Not sovereign initially: It was created by British proposals (Cabinet Mission Plan) and worked within their framework, and took time to gain full freedom of action.
• Congress dominance: The Congress held an overwhelming majority; critics like K. Hanumanthaiah called it a “Congress Jamia” rather than a truly representative body.
• Time taken: Nearly three years to frame the Constitution — critics contrasted this with the speed of other constitution-making bodies.
• Not fully representative: The Muslim League boycotted the initial proceedings, and critics such as Winston Churchill questioned its representative character.
• However, defenders argue that the Assembly functioned with remarkable consensus and deliberation, and Granville Austin famously described it as working through the “consensus method”.

Important Dates and Facts for Quick Revision

For authoritative study material, candidates should refer to the official Constitution of India page on legislative.gov.in and the Parliament of India website at sansad.in, which hosts Constituent Assembly debates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When was the Constituent Assembly of India first constituted and when did it first meet?

The Constituent Assembly was elected under the Cabinet Mission Plan in July–August 1946, and it held its first meeting on 9 December 1946, with Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha presiding as temporary Chairman.

Q: How many members did the Constituent Assembly have?

Originally, the Constituent Assembly had 389 members — 296 from British India provinces and 93 from princely states. After Partition in 1947, its strength was reduced to 299.

Q: Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee?

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar chaired the 7-member Drafting Committee, which was formed on 29 August 1947 to prepare the Draft Constitution.

Q: How much time did the Constituent Assembly take to frame the Constitution?

The Constituent Assembly took exactly 2 years, 11 months and 18 days. The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950.

Q: Which committee recommended the Objectives Resolution?

No committee recommended the Objectives Resolution — it was moved directly by Jawaharlal Nehru on 13 December 1946 and adopted on 22 January 1947. Its principles later became the basis of the Preamble.

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