Constituent Assembly: Composition & Working

Elaboration

Composition: Planned strength 389 = 296 from British India (292 from provinces + 4 from Chief Commissioner provinces) + 93 from princely states. After Partition: 299 (229 provinces + 70 princely states).
Election method: Members were indirectly elected by provincial assemblies on the basis of single transferable vote, proportional representation. One representative per 10 lakh population. Princely states' members were nominated.
Representation: Congress dominated (about 82%), but the Assembly included members from all communities and viewpoints. Women members: 15 (e.g., Sarojini Naidu, Hansa Mehta, Durgabai Deshmukh, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Ammu Swaminathan).
Key office-bearers: Temporary president Sachchidananda Sinha; permanent president Dr Rajendra Prasad (11 Dec 1946); Vice-presidents H.C. Mukherjee and V.T. Krishnamachari; constitutional adviser B.N. Rau; chief draftsman S.N. Mukherjee.
Objectives Resolution: Moved by Nehru on 13 Dec 1946, adopted 22 Jan 1947; became the Preamble's base.
Committees: Union Powers Committee (Nehru), Union Constitution Committee (Nehru), Provincial Constitution Committee (Patel), Drafting Committee (29 Aug 1947, chairman Ambedkar, 7 members), Fundamental Rights and Minorities Committee (Patel), Rules of Procedure Committee (Rajendra Prasad), States Committee (Nehru), Steering Committee (Rajendra Prasad).
Drafting Committee members: Ambedkar, N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar, K.M. Munshi, Syed Mohammad Saadullah, N. Madhava Rau (replaced B.L. Mitter), T.T. Krishnamachari (replaced D.P. Khaitan).
Other acts: Flag adopted 22 July 1947; Anthem and Song accepted 24 Jan 1950; members signed 24 Jan 1950; assembly worked as Provisional Parliament till 1952.
Role in Legislature: From Nov 1947 the Assembly also functioned as a legislative body, with G.V. Mavalankar as Speaker.

Key points to remember

Assembly was not a sovereign body at the start (limited by the Cabinet Mission Plan) but became sovereign after the Independence Act.
Ambedkar was not the sole author; he was chairman of the Drafting Committee. B.N. Rau prepared the initial draft.
Draft Constitution published Feb 1948; third reading 14 Nov 1949.
Dr Ambedkar's closing speech (25 Nov 1949) mentions three warnings: avoid unconstitutional methods, avoid hero worship, and aim for social democracy.

PYQ / MCQ

1. Who was the Constitutional Adviser to the Constituent Assembly?

(a) K.M. Munshi

(b) B.N. Rau

(d) Ambedkar

Answer: (b)

2. Which committee of the Constituent Assembly was headed by Sardar Patel?

(a) Union Powers

(b) Drafting

(d) Steering

Answer: (c)

3. The Constituent Assembly, as constituted, was based on:

(a) Universal adult franchise

(b) Indirect election by provincial assemblies

(d) Direct election by communal constituencies only

Answer: (b)