As per the Cabinet Mission Plan (1946), a constitution-making body, called the
Constituent Assembly, was formed.
-Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in July 1946.
- It’s first meeting was held in December 1946.
- The Constituent Assembly that wrote the Indian Constitution had 299 members.
- The Constituent Assembly worked in a systematic, open and consensual manner. It
became a fully sovereign body.
-First some basic principles were decided and agreed upon. Then a Drafting Committee
chaired by Dr.B R Ambedkar prepared a draft constitution for discussion.
-Several rounds of through discussion took place on the Draft, clause by clause.
-The members considered carefully and debated all the clauses for 124 days, spread over
nearly three years.
-All the proceedings and discussions in the Constituent Assembly have been recorded
and preserved as what we call as the 'Constituent Assembly Debates'.
-The Draft Constitution was passed or adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November
26,1949. It came into force on January 26,1950.

Steps taken to form the Constituent Assembly:

1. Resolution for Constituent Assembly:
The first step towards forming the Constituent Assembly was the adoption of a resolution by the Indian National Congress in 1936, demanding the framing of a constitution for India. The demand gained significant momentum during the Quit India Movement in 1942.

2. Cabinet Mission Plan:
In 1946, the British government sent a Cabinet Mission to India to propose a plan for the transfer of power. The mission recommended the formation of a Constituent Assembly to draft the constitution and determine the future structure of the country.

3. Composition of the Assembly:
The Constituent Assembly was to consist of representatives from the British Indian provinces and the princely states. The members were to be elected indirectly by the members of the provincial assemblies and the princely states' rulers.

4. Formation of the Assembly:
The Constituent Assembly was formed on 9th December 1946, with Dr. Rajendra Prasad elected as its President. The members took an oath to work towards the drafting of a constitution that would reflect the aspirations and values of the people of India.

5. Objective Resolution:
On 22nd January 1947, the Assembly adopted the Objective Resolution, which outlined the principles and objectives of the constitution. It emphasized the establishment of a sovereign, democratic, and socialist state that would secure justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity for all citizens.

6. Committees and Drafting Process:
To expedite the process of constitution-making, various committees were formed within the Assembly. The most important among them was the Drafting Committee, headed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The committee prepared the initial draft of the constitution based on inputs from various sources and extensive deliberations.

7. Adoption and Enactment:
After several amendments and discussions, the final draft of the constitution was adopted on 26th November 1949. The constitution came into effect on 26th January 1950, marking the day India became a republic.

Conclusion:
The formation of the Constituent Assembly and the subsequent drafting of the constitution was a significant milestone in India's journey towards independence and self-governance. The assembly members worked tirelessly to create a constitution that would ensure justice, equality, and freedom for all citizens of India. The process involved extensive deliberations, consultations, and compromises, reflecting the diverse opinions and interests of the people. The constitution, thus drafted, continues to serve as the guiding framework for the governance of India.