The Formation of the Indian Constituent Assembly

The Indian Constituent Assembly, which was responsible for drafting the Indian Constitution, was formed through a well-defined process. Here is a detailed explanation of how the Constituent Assembly came into existence:

Background
- The demand for a Constituent Assembly in India was first made by the Indian National Congress in 1935 during their Karachi session.
- The demand aimed to establish a body that would be responsible for the framing of the country's constitution.

Objective Resolution
- On December 13, 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru, the then President of the Indian National Congress, moved a historic resolution in the Constituent Assembly.
- This resolution, known as the "Objective Resolution," outlined the fundamental principles and objectives that would guide the Constituent Assembly in drafting the constitution.
- The resolution emphasized the establishment of a sovereign, democratic, and republic nation that would secure justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity for all its citizens.

Cabinet Mission Plan
- In 1946, a Cabinet Mission led by Lord Pethick-Lawrence was sent to India to resolve the political deadlock between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League.
- The Cabinet Mission Plan proposed the formation of a Constituent Assembly comprising indirectly elected members from the Provincial Legislative Assemblies.
- The Muslim League initially opposed the plan, but later agreed to participate.

Selection of Members
- The members of the Constituent Assembly were selected through indirect election.
- The members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies elected representatives who would then become members of the Constituent Assembly.
- The total strength of the Constituent Assembly was 389 members, including representatives from various political parties and princely states.

First Meeting
- The Constituent Assembly held its first meeting on December 9, 1946, in the Central Hall of the Parliament House in New Delhi.
- Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, the oldest member, was elected as the temporary President of the Assembly.
- Later, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the President of the Constituent Assembly.

Work of the Constituent Assembly
- The Constituent Assembly had the task of drafting the constitution for independent India.
- It formed various committees and sub-committees to deliberate on different aspects of the constitution.
- Prominent leaders like B.R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played crucial roles in the drafting process.

Adoption of the Constitution
- After two years, eleven months, and seventeen days of intense deliberations, the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949.
- The Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950, marking India's transition to a sovereign republic.

Thus, the Indian Constituent Assembly was formed through a process of indirect election, with the objective of drafting a constitution that would shape the future of independent India.