(a) The idea of the Constituent Assembly was associated with an integral part of the demand of India’s Independence. Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi advocated it. In 1940, first time the British accepted the demand of the Constitution in the August Resolution. In March 1946, the British government sent Cabinet Mission to India and the Constituent Assembly was formed. Under its supervision, the constitution of India was the framed.
(b) According to the Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946, there was to be a Union of India, consisting both British India and the Princely States, with control over foreign affairs, defence and communication. The members of the Constituent Assembly were elected by the provincial assemblies of Britain. The elections of these assemblies were held in 1946, after the Second World War. The number of members of the Constituent Assembly was fixed on the basis of the population. One member would represent ten lakh people. The number of the members from the Princely States and provinces was also fixed on the same grounds. Total number of the members in the Constituent Assembly was fixed at 389.
(c) On July 1946, the elections for the 296 seats were conducted, in which the Congress won 208 seats and the Muslim League won 93 only. Other seats were won by small parties. Muslim League decided to boycott the Constituent Assembly. According to the Mountbatten Plan of 3rd June, 1947, the division of the country was decided on communal basis. The communal division of India was final on 3rd June 1947. Demand of Muslim League was accepted to make separate nation for Muslims. Hence, the Constituent Assembly was reorganized and seats were fixed at 324. Finally 284 members signed the Indian Constitution, people from states joined the assembly at different time. Hyderabad was the only state from which no representative joined the assembly.
(d) A legal inauguration was held of Constituent Assembly in Central Hall of the Parliament. In its first meeting 211 members took part. Sachidanand Sinha was made the temporary President of the Constituent Assembly. On 11 December 1946 Dr. Rajendra Prasad was made the permanent President and B.N. Rao was made the legal advisor. On 13th December 1946, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru presented the objective of the formation of Constituent Assembly. It was passed on 22nd January 1947. Many Samities were organized for the formation of the Constitution, among them Drafting Committee was the main.
(e) The Constituent Assembly appointed a Drafting Committee on 29th August, 1947. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee submitted first Draft of Constitution of India to the President of the Assembly on 21st February, 1948 and second Draft in October 1948. Hence, he is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution.
(f) Drafting Committee with the chairmanship of Dr. Ambedkar took, 2 years, 11 months and 18 days to prepare the Draft of the Constitution, 166 meetings of the Constituent Assembly were held.
(g) Drafting Committee published first Draft after a long discussion on February 1948, Indian people were given 8 months to think over it and to give suggestions. According to those suggestions and reforms,’ Draft was formed and presented in front of the Constituent Assembly.
(h) Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first Chairman of the Constituent Assembly. He gave approval to the Draft by the Constituent Assembly on 26th Nov. 1949.
(i) On this day it was adopted, enacted and handed over to ourselves the constitution. Its last meeting was held on 24th January 1950, that day it was signed by the members of the Constituent Assembly. It was enforced on 26th January 1950. The Constitution consists of a Preamble, 25 Parts, 395 Articles and 12 Schedules.
(j) The Constituent Assembly had done some important work other than formation of the Constitution like, In July 1947 the design of the National flag was adopted, in January 1950 National Song and National Anthem were adopted. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the First President of Independent India. He took oath on 26th January 1950 with it. India originated in the form of the Republic Nation.
