Making Of The Indian Constitution

Question 1

History of the Indian Constitution

Answer 1

1934: MN Roy proposed the idea of the constitution in the Constituent Assembly
1935: INC Demanded constituent assembly to frame it
1938: Nehru declared that the constitution of a free india must be free from outside interference by the constituent assembly on the basis of universal adult franchise
1942: Sir Stafford Crops came to India and framed the independent constitution to be adopted after the WW2, his proposal was rejected by the Muslim League

Question 2

Composition of Constituent assembly

Answer 2

Constituted in November 1946 under the scheme formulated by the cabinet mission plan
The total strength of members was 389 (292 from governors of provinces, 4 chief commission provinces, 93 nominated by princely states)
The seat allocation was based on the principle of community-based population
The method of election was proportional representation by the means of a single transferable vote
The provincial members were selected on the basis of nomination or consultation
The members from the princely states were selected on the basis of nomination or consultation
1st election: july-aug, 1946. 208 Congress members, 73 Muslims, 15 others and 93 seats vacant
1st meeting of CA was in 9th dec, 1946, boycotted by Muslim league, temporary president was sachidanand sinha, temporary vice presidents were HC Mukherjee and VT Krishnamachari, legal advisor was BN Rau
13th dec, 1946: objective resolution passed by Nehru, all eminent personalities present except Gandhi, adopted in 22 Jan 1947.
26th July 1947: creation of a separate constituent assembly for Pakistan
29th aug, 1947: the constituent assembly appointed a drafting committee under the chairmanship of Dr BR Ambedkar who introduced the final draft of the constitution on November 4 1948 (the first reading)
2nd reading: nov 15, 1948
3rd reading: 14th nov, 1948

Question 3

Passing of the constitution

Answer 3

Declared on 26 November 1949
284 members out of 299 signed
Sign by the president of the CA, Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Contains the preamble, 395 articles and 8 schedules
Remaining clauses passed on 26 Jan 1950 on the day of Poorna Swaraj with the commencement of the constitution

Question 4

Facts of the constitution

Answer 4

Seal: elephant
The first president was Dr Rajendra Prasad elected on 24th January 1960
The total expenditure was 64 lakhs
HVR Iyengar was secretary of the constituent assembly
Prem Bihari Narayan raizada was the calligrapher of the Indian constitution

Question 5

Criticism of the constituent assembly

Answer 5

The CA was not representative body
The CA was not a sovereign body
It was time consuming
It was dominated by the Congress
Only the lawyers and politician dominated