The Indian Constituent Assembly
The Indian Constituent Assembly
A complete analysis of the body that gave India its soul — from its formation in 1946 to the birth of the world's longest written constitution.
On the morning of December 9, 1946, 207 members gathered in the Constitution Hall in New Delhi — a moment that would change the course of a billion lives. The Indian Constituent Assembly had convened for the very first time, tasked with the monumental duty of drafting a constitution for a newly independent, deeply diverse nation.
What followed over the next two years, eleven months, and seventeen days was one of the most extraordinary exercises in democratic deliberation the world had ever witnessed. Across 166 days of debate, 308 sittings, and 11 sessions, 299 members argued, negotiated, and ultimately agreed on a document that would define the Indian Republic.
Formation & Background
The idea of a constituent assembly for India was not born overnight. It was first proposed by M.N. Roy in 1934 — a full twelve years before it was established. The Indian National Congress officially adopted the demand in 1935, and the British government gradually accepted it through successive offers and missions.
The Cabinet Mission Plan — May 1946
The plan proposed a Constituent Assembly of 389 members — 296 from British Indian Provinces and 93 from Princely States. Representatives were to be chosen by Provincial Legislative Assemblies using Proportional Representation with Single Transferable Vote. The formula: one seat per ten lakh (one million) population.
Total Membership — The Full Picture
Before Partition (Original Strength: 389)
| Category | Seats | Method |
|---|---|---|
| British Indian Provinces | 296 | Elected by Provincial Assemblies |
| Princely States | 93 | Nominated by rulers |
| Total (Original) | 389 |
After Partition (Working Strength: 299)
Following the partition of India in August 1947, Muslim League members left for the new Pakistan Constituent Assembly. The Indian assembly was reconstituted with 299 members — 229 from provinces and 70 from princely states.
| Community | Seats (British India) |
|---|---|
| General (Hindu) | 213 |
| Muslims | 78 |
| Indian Christians | 8 |
| Anglo-Indians | 3 |
| Sikhs | 4 |
| Scheduled Castes | ~6 |
"The Constitution is not a mere lawyers' document; it is a vehicle of Life, and its spirit is always the spirit of Age."— Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Chairman, Drafting Committee
Presiding Officers
| Role | Person | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary President | Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha | First sitting, Dec 9, 1946 |
| Permanent President | Dr. Rajendra Prasad | Elected from 2nd session |
| Vice President | H.C. Mukherjee | Chaired Minorities Sub-Committee |
| Vice President | V.T. Krishnamachari | Represented Princely States |
The Drafting Committee
Constituted on August 29, 1947, the seven-member Drafting Committee was the engine of the constitution. Chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, it produced the Draft Constitution in February 1948 — a document of 315 articles and 8 schedules.
Also served: Syed Mohammad Saadullah, B.L. Mitter (resigned; replaced by N. Madhava Rao), D.P. Khaitan (died; replaced by T.T. Krishnamachari).
All 22 Committees
| Committee | Chairman |
|---|---|
| Drafting Committee | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar |
| Union Powers Committee | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Union Constitution Committee | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Provincial Constitution Committee | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel |
| Advisory Committee (Fundamental Rights & Minorities) | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel |
| Steering Committee | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
| Rules of Procedure Committee | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
| Finance & Staff Committee | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
| Credentials Committee | Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar |
| House Committee | B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya |
| Order of Business Committee | K.M. Munshi |
| Ad hoc Committee on National Flag | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
| Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee | J.B. Kripalani |
| Minorities Sub-Committee | H.C. Mukherjee |
| NE Frontier Tribal Areas (Assam) | Gopinath Bardoloi |
| Excluded Areas (Other than Assam) | A.V. Thakkar |
All 11 Sessions
Women of the Assembly
In an era when women's political participation was barely an afterthought globally, the Indian Constituent Assembly had 15 women members — a remarkable achievement for 1946–1950.
The Preamble
"WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Democratic Republic and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity of the Nation — IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION."
Key Statistics at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 2 years, 11 months, 17 days |
| Total Sessions | 11 |
| Total Sittings | 308 |
| Days of Actual Debate | 166 days |
| Amendments Proposed | 7,635 |
| Amendments Accepted | 2,473 |
| Final Articles | 395 Articles + 8 Schedules + 22 Parts |
| Total Words | ~1,45,000 (longest written constitution) |
| Cost of Making | ₹63,96,729 (approx. ₹64 lakh) |
| Published Debate Volumes | 12 volumes (CAD) |
Strengths & Criticisms
✅ Strengths
Remarkably inclusive for its era — women, Dalits, and minorities were all represented. Debates were recorded and published in 12 volumes of Constituent Assembly Debates (CAD). Distinguished constitutional lawyers ensured legal soundness. Balanced individual rights with state power. Produced a visionary document that has guided India for 75+ years and is regularly cited by the Supreme Court to understand original constitutional intent.
⚠️ Criticisms
Members were not directly elected by universal suffrage — they were chosen by provincial assemblies. The Congress Party dominated (over 80% of members), limiting opposition voices. Upper-caste, educated elite were over-represented. Peasants, farmers, and the working class had little direct representation. Scholar Granville Austin famously called it "a one-party body" — though he praised the quality of its deliberations.
The Legacy
The Indian Constituent Assembly stands as one of the most consequential deliberative bodies in modern history. At a time of decolonization and partition-induced trauma, 299 representatives sat together and produced a document that enshrined justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity as the foundations of a new republic.
Its debates — preserved in 12 printed volumes — remain a living resource. The Supreme Court of India regularly turns to the Constituent Assembly Debates to interpret the original intent of constitutional provisions, giving these 166 days of argument an enduring legal force that stretches across generations.
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