Making of Indian constitution - constituent assembly

The Constituent Assembly met for the first time in New Delhi on 9 December 1946 in the Constitution Hall, which is now known as the Central Hall of   Parliament House. Two hundred and seven representatives, including nine women were present. The inaugural session began at 11 a.m. with the introduction of Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, the temporary Chairman of the Assembly. While welcoming After the Chairman’s inaugural address and the nomination of a Deputy Chairman, the members were formally requested to present their credentials. The First Day’s proceedings ended after all the 207 members present submitted their credentials and signed the   Register.

The Constituent Assembly took almost three years (two years, eleven months and seventeen days to be precise) to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India. During this period, it held eleven sessions covering a total of 165 days. 

Of these, 114 days were spent on the consideration of the Draft Constitution.   As to its composition, members were chosen by indirect election by the members   of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies, according to the scheme recommended   by the Cabinet Mission. The arrangement was:

(i)      292 members were elected through the Provincial Legislative Assemblies;

(ii)     93 members represented the Indian Princely States; and

(iii)    4 members represented the Chief Commissioners’ Provinces.

The total membership of the Assembly thus was to be 389. However, as a result of the partition under the Mountbatten Plan of 3 June 1947, a separate Constituent Assembly was set up for Pakistan and   representatives of some Provinces ceased to be members of the Assembly. As a result, the membership of the Assembly was reduced to 299.  On 13 December, 1946, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru moved the objectives Resolution

1.       This Constituent Assembly declares its firm and solemn resolve to proclaim   India as an IndependentSovereignRepublic and to draw up for her future  governance a Constitution;

2.      WHEREIN the territories that now comprise British India, the territories that now form the Indian States, and such other parts of India as are outside British India and the States as well as such other territories as are willing   to be constituted into the Independent Sovereign India, shall be a Union of   them all; and

3.      WHEREIN the said territories, whether with their present boundaries or with   such others as may be determined by the Constituent Assembly and thereafter according to the law of the Constitution, shall possess and retain the status of autonomous Units, together with residuary powers and exercise all powers   and functions of government and administration, save and except such powers   and functions as are vested in or assigned to the Union, or as are inherent or implied in the Union or resulting there from; and 

4.      WHEREIN all power and authority of the Sovereign Independent India, its   constituent parts and organs of government, are derived from the people; and

5.      WHEREIN shall be guaranteed and secured to all the people of India justice, social economic and political: equality of status, of opportunity, and before   the law; freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship, vocation, association and action, subject to law and public morality; and

6.      WHEREIN adequate safeguards shall be provided for minorities, backward and   tribal areas, and depressed and other backward classes; and

7.      WHEREBY shall be maintained the integrity of the territory of the Republic   and its sovereign rights on land, sea, and air according to justice and the law   of civilized nations; and

Important committees

This ancient land attains its rightful and honoured placed in the world and   make its full and willing contribution to the promotion of world peace and the   welfare of mankind.  This Resolution was unanimously adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22   January 1947.   Late in the evening of 14 August 1947 the Assembly met in the Constitution   Hall and at the stroke of midnight, took over as the Legislative Assembly of   an Independent India.   On 29 August, 1947, the Constituent Assembly set up a Drafting Committee under   the Chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to prepare a Draft Constitution for   India. While deliberating upon the draft Constitution, the Assembly moved, discussed and disposed of as many as 2,473 amendments out of a total of 7,635   tabled.   The Constitution of India was adopted on 26 November, 1949 and the hon’ble   members appended their signatures to it on 24 January, 1950. In all, 284 members actually signed the Constitution. On that day when the Constitution   was being signed, it was drizzling outside and it was interpreted as a sign of   a good omen.  The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January, 1950. On that day,   the Assembly ceased to exist, transforming itself into the Provisional   Parliament of India until a new Parliament was constituted in1952.