Making of the Indian Constitution: WBPSC Study Notes

By Sumit Mazumder|Updated : March 16th, 2022

In this article, we are providing you with the complete notes on Constituent Assembly and also the various sources using which our constitution has been developed. 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.

This article will help you to understand the basic development of the Indian Constitution. It is one of the most important topics for WBCS and WBPSC.

Table of Content

Making of the Indian Constitution (Constituent Assembly and sources of the constitution)

Making of the Indian Constitution

  1. It was M.N Roy who proposed the idea of an independent constituent assembly for India in 1934.
  2. The constituent assembly was formed as per the guidelines suggested by the Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946. The mission was headed by Pethick Lawrence and included two other members apart from him – Stafford Cripps and A.V Alexander.
  3. The total strength of the assembly was 389. However, after partition only 299 remained. It was partly elected and partly nominated body.
  4. The elections to form the assembly took place in July-August 1946 and the process was completed by November 1946. The first meeting of the assembly took place on 9th December 1946 and was attended by 211 members.
  5. Dr. Sachhidanand Sinha became the temporary President of the assembly following the French practice.
  6. On 11th December 1946, Dr. Rajendra Prasad and H.C Mukherji were elected as President and Vice-President respectively.
  7. Sir B.N Rau was appointed as the constitutional advisor to the assembly.
  8. On 13th December 1946, Pt. Nehru moved the Objectives resolution which later went on to become the Preamble of the constitution in slightly modified form. The resolution was unanimously adopted on 22nd January 1947.
  9. The Constituent Assembly ratified India’s membership of the commonwealth in May 1949. Also, it adopted National Song and National Anthem on 24th January 1950. Adopted the National Flag on 22nd July 1947.
  10. The assembly met for 11 sessions, took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days to frame up the final draft, sat for 141 days in total and the draft constitution was considered for 114 days. Total amount incurred was around rupees 64 lakhs.
  11. The assembly had 15 women members which were reduced to 9 after partition.
  12. Some important committees of the constituent assembly along with their respective chairpersons are as follows:
  • Union Powers Committee - Jawahar Lal Nehru
  • Union Constitution Committee - Jawahar Lal Nehru
  • Provincial Constitution Committee - Sardar Patel
  • Drafting Committee - B.R Ambedkar
  • Rules of Procedure Committee - Dr. Rajendra Prasad
  • Steering Committee - Dr. Rajendra Prasad
  • Flag Committee - J.B. Kripalani
  1. The following were the members of the Drafting Committee-
  • Dr. B.R Ambedkar (Chairman)
  • Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar
  • Dr. K.M Munshi
  • N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar
  • Syed Mohammad Saadullah
  • N Madhava Rau
  • TT Krishnamachari
  1. The final draft of the constitution was adopted on 26th November 1949 and it contained 8 schedules, 22 parts, and 395 articles.

VARIOUS SOURCES OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION

  1. Government of India Act of 1935 - Federal Scheme, Office of the governor, Judiciary, Public Service Commissions, Emergency provisions and administrative details.
  2. British Constitution - Parliamentary government, Rule of Law, legislative procedure, single citizenship, cabinet system, prerogative writs, parliamentary privileges, and bicameralism.
  3. US Constitution - Fundamental rights, independence of the judiciary, judicial review, impeachment of the president, removal of Supreme Court and high court judges and post of vice-president.
  4. Irish Constitution - Directive Principles of State Policy, the nomination of members to Rajya Sabha and method of election of the president.
  5. Canadian Constitution - Federation with a strong Centre, vesting of residuary powers in the Centre, the appointment of state governors by the Centre, and advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
  6. Australian Constitution - Concurrent List, freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse, and the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament.
  7. Weimar Constitution of Germany - Suspension of Fundamental Rights during Emergency.
  8. Soviet Constitution (USSR, now Russia) - Fundamental duties and the idea of justice (social, economic and political) in the Preamble.
  9. French Constitution - Republic and the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity in the Preamble.
  10. South African Constitution - Procedure for amendment of the Constitution and election of members of Rajya Sabha.
  11. Japanese Constitution - Procedure established by Law. 

 

Making of the Indian Constitution in Bengali

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