Framing the Constitution

About this unit

This unit explains how the Constitution of India was framed between December 1946 and November 1949 by the Constituent Assembly, and how it came into effect on 26 January 1950. It was written in a period of great turmoil: Partition, communal violence and the integration of princely states. The chapter looks closely at the debates in the Assembly, showing that the Constitution was the result of argument, disagreement and compromise over rights, minorities, federalism and language.

Key ideas

• The Constituent Assembly was elected by the provincial legislatures, not by universal adult franchise.
• Nehru moved the Objectives Resolution on 13 December 1946, setting out the ideals of the Constitution.
• Dr B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee; Rajendra Prasad was President of the Assembly.
• Separate electorates were rejected, but safeguards were given to depressed classes and tribal people.
• The Constitution created a strong Centre with three lists of subjects.
• The language debate ended in a compromise: Hindi in Devanagari as official language, with English continuing for a transition period.

How to prepare

Remember the key members and their roles, the main points of the Objectives Resolution, and the arguments on each side of the debates. Questions often quote a speaker's view and ask you to identify the debate or the position.