Topic 04 of 6 · Chapter 01 · Indian Polity
Sessions, Important Dates & Objective Resolution
All 11 sessions of the Constituent Assembly, Nehru’s landmark Objective Resolution, and every important date you need for your exam.
📋 In This Article
1. The 11 Sessions of the Constituent Assembly
The Constituent Assembly held 11 sessions over 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days, sitting for a total of 166 days.
| Session | Dates | Key Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Session | Dec 9–23, 1946 | First meeting; Sinha as temporary President; Rajendra Prasad elected permanent President (Dec 11); Objective Resolution moved by Nehru (Dec 13) |
| 2nd Session | Jan 20–22, 1947 | Objective Resolution adopted unanimously |
| 3rd Session | Apr 28–May 2, 1947 | Reports of various committees discussed |
| 4th Session | Jul 14–31, 1947 | Partition announced; Assembly reconstituted |
| 5th Session | Aug 14–30, 1947 | India became independent; Assembly became Provisional Parliament |
| 6th Session | Jan 27–Feb 17, 1948 | Draft Constitution published (Feb 21, 1948) |
| 7th–10th Sessions | Dec 1948–Oct 1949 | Clause-by-clause consideration of Draft Constitution |
| 11th Session | Nov 14–26, 1949 | Constitution adopted on November 26, 1949 — Constitution Day |
⭐ Key Numbers: 11 sessions · 166 sitting days · 2 years, 11 months, 18 days · ₹64 lakh cost
2. The Objective Resolution
The Objective Resolution was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru on December 13, 1946 and adopted unanimously on January 22, 1947. It became the basis for the Preamble of the Constitution.
📜 Key Declarations of the Objective Resolution
- India shall be an Independent Sovereign Republic
- All power and authority shall flow from the people
- Guaranteed Justice — social, economic, and political
- Guaranteed Freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship
- Guaranteed Equality of status and opportunity
- Adequate safeguards for minorities, backward and tribal areas
- Maintenance of the integrity of the territory of the Republic
✅ Objective Resolution → Preamble: The ideals of Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity in the Preamble directly reflect the Objective Resolution.
💡 Note: “Socialist” and “Secular” were NOT in the original Preamble. They were added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment, 1976.
3. All Important Dates at a Glance
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1934 | M.N. Roy first proposed the idea of a Constituent Assembly |
| 1935 | INC officially demanded a Constituent Assembly |
| 1938 | Nehru’s formal declaration |
| 1940 | August Offer |
| March 1942 | Cripps Mission — rejected by Congress |
| May 1946 | Cabinet Mission Plan announced |
| December 9, 1946 | First meeting of Constituent Assembly |
| December 11, 1946 | Dr. Rajendra Prasad elected permanent President |
| December 13, 1946 | Objective Resolution moved by Nehru |
| January 22, 1947 | Objective Resolution adopted unanimously |
| August 15, 1947 | India became independent; Assembly became Provisional Parliament |
| August 29, 1947 | Drafting Committee constituted under Dr. B.R. Ambedkar |
| February 21, 1948 | Draft Constitution published |
| November 26, 1949 | Constitution adopted — Constitution Day |
| January 26, 1950 | Constitution came into force — Republic Day |
4. Constitution Day & Republic Day — Why Two Dates?
| Aspect | November 26, 1949 | January 26, 1950 |
|---|---|---|
| What happened | Constitution was adopted | Constitution came into force |
| Name | Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas) | Republic Day |
| Why this date? | Assembly completed its work | To honour Purna Swaraj declaration of 1930 |
⭐ Why January 26? January 26, 1930 was the day INC declared Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) at the Lahore Session under Nehru’s presidentship.
📌 Constitution Day officially declared in 2015 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
5. Key Points for Exam
🔑 Must-Remember Facts
- Total sessions: 11 · Total sitting days: 166
- Time taken: 2 years, 11 months, 18 days
- Cost: approximately ₹64 lakh
- Objective Resolution moved by: Jawaharlal Nehru on December 13, 1946
- Objective Resolution adopted: January 22, 1947
- Drafting Committee constituted: August 29, 1947
- Draft Constitution published: February 21, 1948
- Constitution adopted: November 26, 1949 (Constitution Day)
- Constitution enforced: January 26, 1950 (Republic Day)
- January 26 chosen to honour Purna Swaraj declaration of 1930
- Constitution Day officially declared in 2015
- “Socialist” and “Secular” added by 42nd Amendment, 1976