Making of the Indian Constitution
Comprehensive forensic study notes covering the Constituent Assembly demand timeline (1934-1946), Cabinet Mission Plan composition, milestone sittings, 8 major committees, Drafting Committee roster, dual functions, enactment constants, calligraphy, and high-frequency exam traps.
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How TGPRB tests this topic
Mastering these core dimensions ensures 100% mastery of every Constituent Assembly and Constitution-making question tested in TGPRB SI and Constable exams.
Predicted 2026 Question Patterns
Primary Format: Direct Factual MCQs on Cabinet Mission Members (Pethick-Lawrence, Cripps, Alexander), Assembly Officer Appointments (Interim Sinha vs Permanent Prasad; Vice-Presidents Mukherjee & Krishnamachari; Advisor Rau), 8 Major Committee Chairs (Nehru vs Patel vs Prasad vs Ambedkar), and Nov 26, 1949 vs Jan 26, 1950 Enacted Articles (Articles 5-9, 60, 324 enforced immediately under Article 394).
Visual Roadmap & Demand Timeline (1934-1946)
The demand for an indigenous Constituent Assembly to frame India's constitution developed over twelve years of political evolution, from an ideological proposal into an official British operational blueprint.
M.N. Roy's Pioneer Proposition
Manabendra Nath Roy, a pioneer of the communist movement in India and advocate of radical humanism, was the first person to put forward the formal concept of a Constituent Assembly for India.
INC Official Adoption
The Indian National Congress (INC) officially demanded a Constituent Assembly to frame the Constitution of India for the first time in 1935, subsequently reaffirmed at the 1936 Faizpur session under Jawaharlal Nehru.
Nehru's Adult Franchise Declaration
Jawaharlal Nehru, declaring the authoritative stance of the INC, asserted: "The Constitution of free India must be framed, without outside interference, by a Constituent Assembly elected on the basis of adult franchise."
The 'August Offer' (Lord Linlithgow)
The British Government accepted in principle the demand for an Indian Constitution-making body for the first time. Announced on August 8, 1940 by Viceroy Linlithgow to secure Indian cooperation during World War II.
Cripps Mission Proposals
Sir Stafford Cripps, member of the British War Cabinet, arrived with a draft declaration promising a Constituent Assembly after World War II with Dominion status.
Cabinet Mission Plan (May 16, 1946)
A 3-member mission consisting of Lord Pethick-Lawrence (Secretary of State), Sir Stafford Cripps (Board of Trade), and A.V. Alexander (Admiralty) arrived on March 24, 1946.
Chronology Quick-Reference
Assembly Composition & Architecture
The Constituent Assembly of India was formulated under Paragraph 19 of the Cabinet Mission Statement of May 16, 1946. It was neither a sovereign body at inception nor elected by universal adult franchise.
Initial Seats (1946)
British India Seats
Princely State Seats
Post-Partition Seats
Pre-Partition vs Post-Partition Breakdown
| Category | Pre-Partition (Cabinet Mission 1946) | Post-Partition (Dec 31, 1947) | Net Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governors' Provinces (11) | 292 seats | 229 seats (Indian Provinces) | -67 seats |
| Chief Commissioners' Provinces (4) | 4 seats (Delhi, Ajmer-Merwara, Coorg, British Baluchistan) | (Baluchistan to Pak) | |
| Indian Princely States | 93 seats (Nominated by Rulers) | 70 seats | -23 seats |
| Total Assembly Strength | 389 seats | 299 seats | -90 seats |
1. Population Ratio
Seats were allocated in proportion to respective population at roughly 1 seat per 1 million (10 lakh) inhabitants.
2. Three Communities
Seats in British India were divided among 3 categories: Muslims, Sikhs (Punjab), and General (all others including Hindus, SCs, and Christians).
3. Indirect Election (STV)
Members were elected indirectly by Provincial Legislative Assemblies using proportional representation via single transferable vote (STV).
Milestone Sittings & Assembly Officers
The opening week of the Constituent Assembly in December 1946 established procedural conventions, elected its permanent officers, and defined its philosophical mandate through the Objectives Resolution.
First Inaugural Sitting : Interim President
- Attendance: Exactly 211 members attended. The Muslim League boycotted, demanding Pakistan. Princely States stayed away.
- Interim Chairman: Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha was invited to take the chair as temporary Chairman.
- French Convention: Following the French practice of electing the oldest member to preside over an inaugural assembly, Acharya J.B. Kripalani escorted Dr. Sinha to the chair.
- Frank Anthony: Nominated by Dr. Sinha as temporary Deputy Chairman.
Permanent President, Two Vice-Presidents & Advisor
Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Elected unanimously; proposed by J.B. Kripalani, seconded by Vallabhbhai Patel.
1. Dr. H.C. Mukherjee
2. V.T. Krishnamachari
Represented Christian minorities (Mukherjee) and Princely States (Krishnamachari).
Sir B.N. Rau
Prepared the initial draft constitution with 243 articles and 13 schedules.
Moving & Adoption of the Objectives Resolution
On December 13, 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru moved the historic 'Objectives Resolution'. It laid down the fundamental principles, territorial sovereignty, and democratic guarantees of the Indian Republic.
Crucial TGPRB Exam Date Pair (PYQ-0766):
- Moved date: December 13, 1946 (by Jawaharlal Nehru)
- Passed/Adopted date: January 22, 1947 (unanimously adopted by the Assembly)
- Preamble Lineage: Its modified and perfected text became the Preamble of the Constitution.
8 Major Committees & Rosters
The Constituent Assembly appointed 22 committees to deal with different tasks of constitution-making. Out of these, 8 were major committees, headed by key national leaders.
The 8 Major Committees of the Constituent Assembly
| # | Committee Name | Chairperson | High-Yield Exam Trap Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union Powers Committee | Jawaharlal Nehru | Union list subjects and defense demarcation. |
| 2 | Union Constitution Committee | Jawaharlal Nehru | Federal structure, Union executive, and Supreme Court. |
| 3 | States Committee (Negotiating with States) | Jawaharlal Nehru | Top Trap: Chaired by Nehru, NOT Sardar Patel! |
| 4 | Provincial Constitution Committee | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel | Governors' powers and provincial executive rules. |
| 5 | Advisory Committee on FR, Minorities & Tribal Areas | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel | Largest committee (54 members); worked via 5 sub-committees. |
| 6 | Drafting Committee | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar | 7 members; appointed Aug 29, 1947; published Draft Constitution. |
| 7 | Rules of Procedure Committee | Dr. Rajendra Prasad | Assembly debate regulations and standing orders. |
| 8 | Steering Committee | Dr. Rajendra Prasad | Assembly agenda and legislative priority management. |
The 5 Sub-Committees under Sardar Patel's Advisory Committee
Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee
Acharya J.B. Kripalani
Minorities Sub-Committee
Dr. H.C. Mukherjee
North-East Frontier & Assam Excluded Areas
Gopinath Bardoloi
Excluded & Partially Excluded Areas (Other than Assam)
A.V. Thakkar (Thakkar Bapa)
North-West Frontier Tribal Areas
Did not report (Partition)
The 7-Member Drafting Committee (Set Up August 29, 1947)
Ambedkar Chairman on Aug 30Entrusted with preparing the formal Draft Constitution based on the scrutinies of Sir B.N. Rau's constitutional draft. Only Dr. K.M. Munshi was an original Congressman.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Chairman)
Scheduled Castes Federation; elected from Bengal, later Bombay post-partition.
N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar
Former Prime Minister of Jammu & Kashmir; primary architect of Article 370.
Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer
Former Advocate-General of Madras Presidency; foremost constitutional lawyer.
Dr. K.M. Munshi
Eminent jurist and writer; the only original Indian National Congress party member.
Syed Mohammad Saadulla
Former Premier of Assam; the sole Muslim League representative on the committee.
N. Madhava Rau Replacement
Replaced B.L. Mitter, who resigned due to ill-health.
T.T. Krishnamachari Replacement
Replaced D.P. Khaitan, who passed away in 1948. (Do not confuse T.T. Krishnamachari with V.T. Krishnamachari, Vice-President of CA!).
Dual Function & Enactment vs Enforcement
Under the Indian Independence Act, 1947, the Constituent Assembly became a fully sovereign body with two separate constitutional responsibilities: framing the Constitution and enacting ordinary laws for the Dominion of India.
Tasked with framing the Constitution for independent India.
Presiding Officer: Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Presided whenever the Assembly sat to debate, amend, and vote on constitutional clauses.
Tasked with enacting ordinary statutes and passing federal budgets.
Presiding Officer: G.V. Mavalankar
Elected Speaker on November 17, 1947. First Speaker of the Lok Sabha in May 1952.
Constitutional Production Constants
Enactment (Nov 26, 1949) vs Commencement (Jan 26, 1950)
The Constitution was formally adopted, enacted, and given to the people of India. Contained a Preamble, 395 Articles, 8 Schedules, and 22 Parts. Out of 299 total members, exactly 284 were present and signed the historic document.
Under Article 394, fifteen specific articles came into force immediately on November 26, 1949:
All remaining provisions (including Fundamental Rights, DPSPs, Judiciary, and Federal structures) came into force on January 26, 1950. Chosen specifically to commemorate Purna Swaraj Day (January 26, 1930), declared following the December 1929 Lahore Congress session.
Article 395 Repeals: Repealed the Government of India Act 1935 and Indian Independence Act 1947, while specifically saving the Abolition of Privy Council Jurisdiction Act 1949.
Calligraphy, Artwork & Official Symbols
The Constitution of India is unique among world charters: it was not typeset or printed, but entirely handwritten and illuminated by master craftsmen and artists.
Elephant
Adopted as the official seal and symbol of the Constituent Assembly.
Prem Behari Narain Raizada
Handwrote English text in italic style using No. 303 nibs across 251 parchment sheets without charge.
Vasant Krishnan Vaidya
Handwrote the original Hindi manuscript of the Constitution.
Acharya Nand Lal Bose
Led Shantiniketan Kala Bhavan artists in illuminating borders depicting 5,000 years of Indian history.
Beohar Rammanohar Sinha
Designed and illuminated the historic Preamble page; signed "Ram" in the bottom right corner.
H.V.R. Iengar & S.N. Mukherjee
H.V.R. Iengar was Secretary to CA; S.N. Mukherjee was Chief Draftsman praised by Dr. Ambedkar.
Side-by-Side TGPRB Exam Trap Matrix (8 High-Frequency Confusions)
Interim / Temporary Chairman on Dec 9, 1946 (oldest member, French tradition).
Permanent President elected on Dec 11, 1946 (unanimously elected).
Chaired by Jawaharlal Nehru (candidates incorrectly pick Patel due to princely states!).
Chaired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Moved by Jawaharlal Nehru on December 13, 1946.
Unanimously passed on January 22, 1947 (tested in PYQ-0766).
Replaced by N. Madhava Rau (resigned due to ill-health).
Replaced by T.T. Krishnamachari (Khaitan died in 1948).
Vice-President of the Constituent Assembly (representing Princely States).
Drafting Committee Member (replaced D.P. Khaitan).
Chaired by Dr. Rajendra Prasad (appointed June 23, 1947).
Kripalani chaired the 1931 Congress Flag Committee, NOT the Assembly committee.
Citizenship (Arts 5-9), Presidential Oath (Art 60), Elections (Art 324) under Article 394.
Fundamental Rights (Part III), DPSP (Part IV), Judiciary, and all remaining articles.
Prepared initial working draft (243 articles); studied ~60 foreign constitutions.
Piloted the final draft debates and is acclaimed Father of the Indian Constitution.
Previous Year Questions
The Constituent Assembly was formulated by
In the Constituent Assembly, the 'Objectives Resolution' was passed on:
Which of the following statements are correct? a) Constituent Assembly was suggested by cabinet mission b) The first amendment to Preamble was made in 1975 c) 1919 Government of India Act separated state budget from union budget d) Indian Independence Act was approved by British Parliament on July 15, 1947
Who was the Chairman of the Linguistic Provinces Commission?
The Linguistic Provinces Commission set up by the Government of India in June 1948 was headed by:
India is a Sovereign Socialist ______ country.
Assertion (A) : India is a Republic Reason (R): India has universal adult franchise system The correct answer is
How many schedules are there in the Indian Constitution ?
Advanced Practice
TGPSC-Style Advanced Practice
These questions use multi-statement, matching, and assertion-reason formats from the TGPSC Group-I 2024 paper. TGPRB papers (2022-2023) remain 92-93.5% direct factual MCQs. These drills harden your fact base against a potentially harder 2026 format.
Source: Forensic Paper-Setting Evolution Audit, Aug 2026 : 1,350 questions classified across 7 papers.
Consider the following statements regarding the Constituent Assembly of India: 1. The idea of a Constituent Assembly for India was put forward for the first time by M.N. Roy in 1934. 2. The Constituent Assembly was constituted in November 1946 under the scheme formulated by the Cripps Mission of 1942. 3. The total strength of the Constituent Assembly was initially 389, of which 93 seats were allotted to the Princely States. 4. Following the partition of India under the Mountbatten Plan, the total strength of the Assembly was reduced to 299. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Examine the following statements concerning the key officers and proceedings of the Constituent Assembly: 1. Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha was elected as the temporary Chairman during the first sitting on December 9, 1946, following the French practice. 2. The Assembly elected two Vice-Presidents: Dr. H.C. Mukherjee and V.T. Krishnamachari. 3. Sir B.N. Rau served as the Chief Draftsman of the Constitution in the Constituent Assembly. 4. The historic Objectives Resolution was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru on December 13, 1946, and adopted on January 22, 1947. Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, consider the following statements: 1. The Drafting Committee was set up on August 29, 1947, under the chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. 2. It consisted of a total of 7 members. 3. N. Madhava Rau joined the committee replacing B.L. Mitter who resigned due to ill-health. 4. T.T. Krishnamachari joined the committee replacing D.P. Khaitan who died in 1948. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Consider the following statements regarding the adoption and enforcement of the Indian Constitution: 1. The Constitution was adopted and enacted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. 2. The provisions relating to Citizenship, Elections, Provisional Parliament, and Temporary provisions came into force immediately on November 26, 1949. 3. Article 324 (Election Commission) was among the articles enforced on November 26, 1949. 4. January 26, 1950 was chosen as the date of commencement to commemorate the Poona Pact of 1932. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Match List-I (Major Committee of Constituent Assembly) with List-II (Chairperson): List-I: A. States Committee (Committee for Negotiating with States) B. Provincial Constitution Committee C. Steering Committee D. Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee List-II: 1. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel 2. Dr. Rajendra Prasad 3. Jawaharlal Nehru 4. J.B. Kripalani Choose the correct option:
Match List-I (Constitutional Role / Artefact) with List-II (Personality / Symbol): List-I: A. Original Calligrapher of the English Constitution B. Calligrapher of the Hindi Version C. Artistic Illumination & Border Decorations D. Official Seal / Symbol of Constituent Assembly List-II: 1. Nand Lal Bose & Beohar Rammanohar Sinha 2. Prem Behari Narain Raizada 3. Elephant 4. Vasant Krishnan Vaidya Choose the correct option:
Comprehension Gate
Current Affairs
Current Affairs (1/195)
Dr. Jitendra Singh to chair the 17th Pension Adalat at IIPA, New Delhi, on 05.10.2026
The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) introduced Pension Adalats in the year 2017.
The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) is organizing the 17th Pension Adalat on October 5, 2026, in New Delhi to address long-pending grievances of super-senior and family pensioners. Since its inception in 2017, the initiative has successfully resolved thousands of complicated pension grievances through a collaborative mechanism.
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