11/12/2016 SomeFactsofConstituentAssembly

TheConstituentAssemblytookalmostthreeyears(twoyears,elevenmonthsandseventeendaysto
beprecise)tocompleteitshistorictaskofdraftingtheConstitutionforIndependentIndia.During
thisperiod,itheldelevensessionscoveringatotalof165days.Ofthese,114dayswerespenton
theconsiderationoftheDraftConstitution.
Astoitscomposition,memberswerechosenbyindirectelectionbythemembersoftheProvincial
Legislative Assemblies, according to the scheme recommended by the Cabinet Mission. The
arrangementwas:(i)292memberswereelectedthroughtheProvincialLegislativeAssemblies(ii)
93 members represented the Indian Princely States and (iii) 4 members represented the Chief
Commissioners'Provinces.ThetotalmembershipoftheAssemblythuswastobe389.However,as
a result of the partition under the Mountbatten Plan of 3 June, 1947, a separate Constituent
AssemblywassetupforPakistanandrepresentativesofsomeProvincesceasedtobemembersof
theAssembly.Asaresult,themembershipoftheAssemblywasreducedto299.
On13December,1946,PanditJawaharlalNehrumovedtheObjectivesResolution

1.This Constituent Assembly declares its firm and solemn resolve to proclaim India as an
IndependentSoverignRepublicandtodrawupforherfuturegovernanceaConstitution

2.WHEREINtheterritoriesthatnowcompriseBritishIndia,theterritoriesthatnowformtheIndian
States,andsuchotherpartsfoIndiaasareoutsideBritishIndiaandtheStatesaswellassuchother
territoriesasarewillingtobeconstitutedintotheIndependentSoverignIndia,shallbeaUnionof
themalland

3.WHEREINthesaidterritories,whetherwiththeirpresentboundariesorwithsuchothersasmay
bedeterminedbytheConstituentAssemblyandthereafteraccordingtothelawoftheConstitution,
shallpossessandretainthestatusofautonomousUnits,togetherwithresiduarypowersandexercise
all powers and functions of goverrnment and administration, save and except such powers and
functionsasarevestedinorassignedtotheUnion,orasareinherentorimpliedintheUnionor
resultingtherefromand

4.WHEREIN all power and authority of the Soverign Independent India, its constituent parts and
organsofgovernment,arederivedfromthepeopleand

5.WHEREINshallbeguaranteedandsecuredtoallthepeopleofIndiajustice,socialeconomicand
political : equality of status, of opportunity, and before the law freedom of thought, expression,
belief,faith,worship,vocation,associationandaction,subjecttolawandpublicmoralityand

6.WHEREINadequatesafeguardsshallbeprovidedforminorities,backwardandtribalareas,and
depressedandotherbackwardclassesand

7.WHEREBY shall be maintained the integrity of the territory of the Republic and its soverign
rightsonland,sea,andairaccordingtojusticeandthelawofcivilizednationsand

8.thisancientlandattainsitsrighfulandhonouredplacedintheworldandmakeitsfullandwilling
contributiontothepromotionofworldpeaceandthewelfareofmankind.

ThisResolutionwasunanimouslyadoptedbytheConstituentAssemblyon22January1947.
Lateintheeveningof14August,1947theAssemblymetintheConstitutionHallandatthestroke
ofmidnight,tookoverastheLegislativeAssemblyofanIndependentIndia.
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11/12/2016 SomeFactsofConstituentAssembly

On 29 August, 1947, the Constituent Assembly set up a Drafting Committee under the
ChairmanshipofDr.B.R.AmbedkartoprepareaDraftConstitutionforIndia.Whiledeliberating
upon the draft Constitution, the Assembly moved, discussed and disposed of as many as 2,473
amendmentsoutofatotalof7,635tabled.

TheConstitutionofIndiawasadoptedon26November,1949andthehon'blemembersappended
theirsignaturestoiton24January,1950.Inall,284membersactuallysignedtheConstitution.On
thatdaywhentheConstitutionwasbeingsigned,itwasdrizzlingoutsideanditwasinterpretedasa
signofagoodomen.

TheConstitutionofIndiacameintoforceon26January,1950.Onthatday,theAssemblyceasedto
exist, transforming itself into the Provisional Parliament of India until a new Parliament was
constitutedin1952

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