Constituent Assembly

In November 1946, by cabinet mission plan Hindu majority India constituted a constituent assembly having the following features. Total strength was 389. 296 was from British India and 93 from princely States. Each province and princely state where to be allotted seats in proportion to their respective population. i.e. one seat was to be allotted for every million population.

Seats allotted to each British province were to be decided among the three communities Muslim sheikhs and all other in proportion to their populations. Thus, as a result, Constituent assembly was to be a partially elected and partially nominated body.

The members where to be indirectly elected by the members of the provincial assemblies who themselves were elected on a limited franchise. In 1946, the month of July and August gone for the election. Result of the election was from total 296. 286 seats were from Indian National Congress, 73 seats Muslim League, 15 seats from others.

Working of Indian Constituent Assembly

• First meeting of constituent assembly on 9 December 1946. Muslim League boycotted the meeting. There are only 211 members present on that first day.
• Dr Sacchidanand Sinha elected as temporary president of the assembly. Later on 11 December 1946, following was selected on the following post.
  President- Dr Rajendra Prasad
  Vice president- H.C. Mukherjee
  Constitutional advisor- Sir B.N. Rao

Sessions of Constituent Assembly

There are total 11 sessions in the constituent assembly. Which are as given below:

First Session	9-23 December 1946
Second Session	20-25 January 1947
Third Session	28 Apr – 2 May 1947
Fourth Session	14-31 July 1947
Fifth Session	14-30 August 1947
Sixth Session	27 January 1948
Seventh Session	4 November 1948 8 January 1949
Eighth Session	16 May-16 June 1949
Ninth session	30 July 18 September 1949
Tenth Session	6-17 October 1949
Eleventh Session	14-26 November 1949

Functions of Constituent Assembly

1. It ratified India’s membership of Commonwealth in 1949.
2. It adopted the national flag on by July 1947.
3. It adopted the national anthem on 24 January 1950.
4. It adopted the national song on 24 January 1950.
5. It elected Dr Rajendra Prasad as the first president of India on 24 January 1950.

Committees of Constituent Assembly

To formulate Indian Constitution many committees have been formulated. Here is a table which contains the head of the committee and it’s name.

Person	Head of the Committee
Jawaharlal Nehru	Union powers committee Union constitution committee States committee
Dr BR Ambedkar	Drafting committee
Dr Rajendra Prasad	Rules of procedure committee Steering committee
Sardar Patel	provincial constitution committee Advisory Committee on fundamental rights, minorities, tribal and excluded areas

Indian Constitution History

Drafting committee

It is set up on 29 August 1947 having 7 members for preparing a draught of the new constitution.

1. Dr B. R. Ambedkar (Chairman) 
2. N Gopala Swami Ayyangar
3. Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer
4. Dr K M Munshi
5. Syed Mohammed Sadullah
6. N Madhava Rao
7. TT Krishnamacharya