PSC Chronicles Team

The Constituent Assembly of India held its first meeting on 9 December 1946 in the Constitution Hall (now Central Hall of Parliament) in New Delhi. This date is of immense historical significance as it marked the beginning of the constitution-making process.

• The first session was presided over by Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, the oldest member of the Assembly, who served as the temporary Chairman. The Assembly was constituted based on the recommendations of the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946, which had been sent to India by the British Government.

Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, the eldest member of the Constituent Assembly, was elected as the temporary (pro-tem) Chairman of the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly held on 9 December 1946. This is a constitutional convention followed in parliamentary systems — the senior-most member presides over the first sitting until a regular presiding officer is elected. He was a veteran Congress leader and jurist from Bihar. Subsequently, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly on 11 December 1946. [Source: M. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity; D.D. Basu – Introduction to the Constitution of India]

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly on 11 December 1946, just two days after the first sitting. He presided over all the subsequent sessions of the Constituent Assembly and guided the deliberations with great dignity and patience. He later became the first President of the Republic of India on 26 January 1950. His role in guiding the constitutional debates was crucial, and he brought together diverse voices in the Assembly. [Source: NCERT Class XI; M. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity]

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was appointed the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly on 29 August 1947. The Drafting Committee was the most important committee of the Constituent Assembly, responsible for preparing the draft of the Constitution. Due to his exceptional legal acumen and intellectual brilliance, Ambedkar is rightly called the ‘Father of the Indian Constitution.’ He worked tirelessly to draft the Constitution, often referred to the American, Irish, British, Canadian, and Australian constitutions for comparative reference. [Source: NCERT Class XI; M. Laxmikanth; Granville Austin – Working a Democratic Constitution]

The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949. This date is now celebrated as ‘Constitution Day’ or ‘Samvidhan Divas’ in India, a practice officially recognized since 2015. On this day, the Constitution received the signature of Dr. Rajendra Prasad (President of the Constituent Assembly) and the signatures of all the members. However, only some provisions came into force immediately — the full Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950. [Source: NCERT Class IX – Democratic Politics; M. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity]

The Constitution of India came into full force on 26 January 1950, which is celebrated as Republic Day. The date 26 January was chosen deliberately to commemorate the ‘Purna Swaraj’ (Complete Independence) resolution passed by the Indian National Congress on 26 January 1930. Although the Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949, certain provisions (relating to citizenship, elections, provisional Parliament, temporary and transitional provisions) came into force immediately, while the rest came into force on 26 January 1950. [Source: NCERT Class IX; M. Laxmikanth]

M.N. Roy (Manabendra Nath Roy), the pioneer of the Communist movement in India, was the first to propose the idea of a Constituent Assembly for India in 1934. He argued that the Indian people should have a democratically elected body to frame their own constitution rather than having it imposed by the British. Subsequently, the Indian National Congress officially adopted the demand for a Constituent Assembly in 1935, and Jawaharlal Nehru reaffirmed this demand in 1938. The British government finally accepted this demand through the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946. [Source: M. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity; NIOS Political Science]

The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 (sent by the British Government under Attlee) provided for the establishment of the Constituent Assembly of India. The Cabinet Mission consisted of three British Cabinet Ministers: Lord Pethick-Lawrence (Secretary of State for India), Sir Stafford Cripps (President of the Board of Trade), and A.V. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty). The plan prescribed the composition, method of election, and functions of the Constituent Assembly. Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in July–August 1946. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; NCERT Class XII Political Science]

The Constituent Assembly of India originally had 389 members as per the Cabinet Mission Plan. Of these, 296 seats were allocated to British India (229 for General, 4 for Sikhs, and 73 for Muslims), and 93 seats were reserved for Indian Princely States. However, after partition in August 1947, the Muslim League members representing Pakistan’s territories withdrew. The re-constituted Constituent Assembly (after partition) had 299 members. It is important to remember both numbers: 389 (original) and 299 (reconstituted after partition). [Source: M. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity; D.D. Basu]

Sir Benegal Narsing Rau (B.N. Rau) was appointed as the Constitutional Adviser (also called Constitutional Legal Adviser) to the Constituent Assembly of India. He played a pivotal behind-the-scenes role in preparing the initial draft of the Constitution. He toured several countries including the USA, Canada, Ireland, and the UK to study their constitutions. He prepared a draft constitution based on his research, which was then handed over to the Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. Ambedkar. He also later served as India’s representative at the United Nations Security Council. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; Granville Austin]

The Constituent Assembly set up as many as 13 major committees (and several sub-committees) to deal with various aspects of the Constitution. These included the Drafting Committee (most important), the Union Constitution Committee, the Provincial Constitution Committee, the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights and Minorities, the Union Powers Committee, and others. Each committee was chaired by a senior leader: Jawaharlal Nehru chaired the Union Constitution Committee and the Union Powers Committee; Sardar Patel chaired the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities, and Tribal Areas. [Source: M. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity; Granville Austin – The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation]

The Drafting Committee was constituted on 29 August 1947 with 7 members: (1) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Chairman), (2) N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, (3) Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar, (4) Dr. K.M. Munshi, (5) Syed Mohammad Saadulla, (6) B.L. Mitter (later replaced by N. Madhava Rau due to ill health), and (7) D.P. Khaitan (later replaced by T.T. Krishnamachari after Khaitan’s death). The committee prepared the draft constitution which was submitted to the Constituent Assembly on 21 February 1948 for public discussion before formal adoption. [Source: M. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity]

The Constituent Assembly held 11 sessions in total between 9 December 1946 and 24 January 1950 (just before the Constitution came into force). These sessions spanned over approximately 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days. The Assembly met for a total of 165 days (some sources mention 166 days) during this period. The 11 sessions were a combination of general debates, clause-by-clause examination, and voting on individual provisions. This deliberative process ensured that all major stakeholders had an opportunity to express their views on the constitutional provisions. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; Subhash Kashyap – Our Constitution]

The historic Objectives Resolution was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in the Constituent Assembly on 13 December 1946 and was adopted on 22 January 1947. This resolution laid down the fundamental principles and philosophy on which the Constitution of India was to be based. It declared India to be an Independent, Sovereign, Democratic Republic that would secure to all its citizens justice, freedom, equality, and fraternity. The Preamble to the Indian Constitution is essentially an abbreviated version of this Objectives Resolution. [Source: NCERT Class IX; M. Laxmikanth; Granville Austin]

Members of the Constituent Assembly representing British India were elected indirectly by the members of the provincial legislative assemblies using the method of proportional representation with a single transferable vote. This method was adopted because holding direct elections across the country during the difficult post-war period was considered impractical. Each province was allocated seats proportional to its population (approximately 1 seat per 1 million population). Seats were divided among three communities — Muslim, Sikh, and General (all other communities). The members from Indian States were to be nominated by the rulers of those states. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; Cabinet Mission Plan 1946]

The Union Powers Committee was chaired by Jawaharlal Nehru and was responsible for defining and allocating powers between the Union and the provinces. Nehru also chaired another important committee — the Union Constitution Committee — which dealt with the executive, legislative, and judicial structure of the Union. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel chaired the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights and Minorities, as well as the Provincial Constitution Committee. These committees collectively shaped India’s federal structure, executive government, and fundamental rights framework. [Source: M. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity]

The total expenditure incurred in the making of the Indian Constitution was approximately Rs. 63.96 lakh (some sources round it to Rs. 64 lakh). This was considered a reasonable amount given the scale of the endeavour — drafting a comprehensive constitution for a newly independent nation of over 300 million people, running 11 sessions, supporting a secretariat, and translating documents. This amount is often cited in the Constituent Assembly debates and referenced by constitutional historians. [Source: M. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity; Subhash Kashyap – Our Constitution]

After the Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950, the Constituent Assembly transformed itself into the Provisional Parliament of India and functioned as such until the first general elections were held in 1951–52. During this period, the Assembly enacted several important laws. This dual role of the Constituent Assembly — first as a constitution-drafting body and later as a provisional legislature — is an important and often-tested fact in UPSC/PSC examinations. The first general elections were completed in February 1952. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; D.D. Basu]

Jawaharlal Nehru was NOT a member of the Drafting Committee. The seven members of the Drafting Committee were: (1) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Chairman), (2) N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, (3) Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar, (4) Dr. K.M. Munshi, (5) Syed Mohammad Saadulla, (6) B.L. Mitter (later replaced by N. Madhava Rau), and (7) D.P. Khaitan (later replaced by T.T. Krishnamachari). Nehru chaired other important committees like the Union Constitution Committee and Union Powers Committee. Ambedkar noted that three members were often absent and one was in America, effectively making him do most of the work. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; Constituent Assembly Debates]

The original Constitution of India, as adopted on 26 November 1949, contained 395 articles divided into 22 Parts and 8 Schedules. Since then, several amendments have been made: as of today, the Constitution has approximately 448 articles (due to insertions), 25 Parts, and 12 Schedules. The large number of articles (395 originally) reflects the detailed and comprehensive nature of the Indian Constitution, which is the lengthiest written constitution in the world. The framers deliberately chose to be detailed, learning from the experience of other countries. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; NCERT Class XI]

The Indian National Congress officially adopted the demand for a Constituent Assembly at its Lucknow Session of 1936, under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru. Although the idea was first proposed by M.N. Roy in 1934 and was reflected in individual demands earlier, the Congress as an organization formally endorsed it at Lucknow. The INC reaffirmed this demand repeatedly thereafter. In 1938, Nehru further clarified that the Constituent Assembly must be elected on the basis of adult franchise, free from British interference. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; NIOS Political Science]

H.C. Mukherjee (Dr. Harendra Coomar Mukherjee) served as the Vice-President of the Constituent Assembly and presided over the sessions in the absence of Dr. Rajendra Prasad. He was a distinguished Christian educationist and lawyer from Bengal who made significant contributions to the Constituent Assembly debates. His presence as a Christian leader chairing sessions symbolized the secular and inclusive character of the Constituent Assembly. V.T. Krishnamachari also served as another Vice-President of the Assembly. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; Constituent Assembly Debates]

Jawaharlal Nehru delivered his iconic ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech on the midnight of 14–15 August 1947 in the Constituent Assembly Hall when India achieved independence. This speech, beginning with ‘Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny,’ is considered one of the greatest speeches in world history. This is different from the Objectives Resolution speech. The Constituent Assembly, at this historic midnight session, transformed from a constitution-drafting body to also symbolically representing the sovereign nation of India before formally adopting the Constitution two years later. [Source: NCERT Class XII; Granville Austin]

The Third Schedule of the Indian Constitution contains the Forms of Oaths or Affirmations for various constitutional functionaries such as the President, Vice-President, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Judges of Supreme Court and High Courts, the Comptroller and Auditor General, etc. The First Schedule contains the names of States and Union Territories. The Second Schedule contains provisions relating to the emoluments of constitutional officeholders. The Fourth Schedule contains the allocation of seats in the Rajya Sabha. All these Schedules were part of the original Constitution adopted in 1949. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; Constitution of India]

The Muslim League, under Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s leadership, initially boycotted the Constituent Assembly sessions, refusing to join on the grounds that it did not adequately represent Muslim interests. After the Mountbatten Plan (June 3 Plan) of 1947 announced the partition of India, the Muslim League members who were to become part of Pakistan formally withdrew from the Constituent Assembly of India. This led to a reconstitution of the Constituent Assembly with the strength reduced from 389 to 299. The first session had only 207 members present due to the League’s boycott. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; Bipan Chandra – India’s Struggle for Independence]

The concept of Directive Principles of State Policy was borrowed from the Constitution of Ireland (Éire), which was adopted in 1937. Ireland, in turn, was influenced by the Spanish Constitution of 1931. In India, the idea was strongly advocated by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru as a way to establish socio-economic goals for the State without making them justiciable rights. The Directive Principles are contained in Part IV (Articles 36–51) of the Indian Constitution and represent the positive obligations of the state towards its citizens. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; D.D. Basu – Introduction to the Constitution of India]

The Preamble of the Indian Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 17 October 1949, which was towards the end of the constitutional drafting process. Interestingly, the Preamble was one of the last things to be finalized, though it introduces the Constitution. The Preamble was significantly influenced by the Objectives Resolution moved by Nehru. Notably, the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 inserted the words ‘Socialist,’ ‘Secular,’ and ‘Integrity’ into the Preamble. The Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) declared the Preamble to be part of the Constitution. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; NCERT Class IX – Democratic Politics]

Granville Austin, the American scholar and author of the seminal work ‘The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation’ (1966), famously described the Indian Constitution as ‘first and foremost a social document.’ He argued that the Constitution was designed to be a vehicle of social transformation, aimed at eradicating the injustices of caste, poverty, and inequality that had plagued Indian society for centuries. His book is considered one of the most authoritative studies of the Indian Constituent Assembly’s work and is widely recommended for UPSC and state PSC examinations. [Source: Granville Austin – The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation]

The Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas was chaired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This was one of the most significant committees because it dealt with the fundamental rights (which eventually became Part III of the Constitution) and the protection of minority communities. The Advisory Committee had several sub-committees: the Sub-Committee on Fundamental Rights (chaired by J.B. Kripalani), the Sub-Committee on Minorities (chaired by H.C. Mukherjee), and the Sub-Committee on Tribal and Excluded Areas. Patel’s leadership ensured that fundamental rights were framed in a balanced and comprehensive manner. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; Granville Austin]

The Constituent Assembly of India ratified India’s membership in the Commonwealth of Nations in May 1949. This was a significant decision as India was the first Republic to remain a member of the Commonwealth — earlier, membership required allegiance to the British Crown. The London Declaration of April 1949 allowed India to remain in the Commonwealth as a republic while acknowledging the British Crown merely as a ‘symbol of free association.’ This was a pragmatic decision by Nehru to maintain ties with Commonwealth countries while establishing India as an independent sovereign republic. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; NCERT Class XII Modern History]

The Constituent Assembly performed a dual role: (1) it was a constitution-making body — drafting and adopting the Constitution, and (2) it also functioned as the legislative body of independent India, passing ordinary laws between 1947 and 1952. After the Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950, it transformed into the Provisional Parliament. Members were NOT elected through universal adult franchise but were elected indirectly by provincial legislative assemblies. The Assembly was not initially a fully sovereign body as it was set up under the Cabinet Mission Plan of the British Government. [Source: M. Laxmikanth – Indian Polity]

The Constituent Assembly took exactly 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days to complete the task of drafting and adopting the Constitution (from 9 December 1946 to 26 November 1949). The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949. During this period, the Assembly held 11 sessions and sat for 165 days. In comparison, the constitution-making of the United States took just 4 months. However, India’s task was far more complex given the country’s size, diversity, colonial history, and the challenges of partition. This duration reflects the thoroughness of the deliberative process. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; Subhash Kashyap – Our Constitution]

The representatives from Indian Princely States to the Constituent Assembly were to be nominated by the rulers (princes) of those states, unlike the representatives from British India who were elected (indirectly) by provincial legislatures. This distinction is important — it highlighted the different political status of British India and the Princely States. Originally, 93 seats were allocated to Princely States. However, after the integration of princely states by Sardar Patel, the method of representation changed as states were integrated into the Indian Union. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; Cabinet Mission Plan 1946]

The National Flag of India — the Tricolour (Tiranga) — was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947, just a few weeks before independence. The design was proposed by Pingali Venkayya (though he had proposed earlier variants). The current flag features saffron, white, and India green horizontal bands, with the Ashoka Chakra (Navy Blue wheel with 24 spokes) at the centre. The Ashoka Chakra replaced the spinning wheel (charkha) that appeared in the Congress flag. The Constituent Assembly not only drafted the Constitution but also adopted key national symbols like the flag, later the anthem, and the emblem. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; NCERT Class IX]

The opening words ‘We, the People of India’ in the Preamble signify the principle of popular sovereignty — meaning that the ultimate source of authority and sovereignty of the Constitution is the people of India themselves. The Constitution is not a gift of any king, colonial ruler, or elite group; it was made by and for the people of India. This concept was borrowed partly from the American Constitution’s Preamble. It establishes that in a democratic republic, the government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed. This is a foundational concept in constitutional law and political theory. [Source: NCERT Class IX – Democratic Politics; D.D. Basu]

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar moved the motion for the final adoption of the Constitution in the Constituent Assembly. His final speech on 25 November 1949 is considered one of the greatest constitutional speeches ever delivered. In this speech, he warned about three dangers to Indian democracy: (1) abandoning constitutional methods for achieving social and economic objectives, (2) hero worship leading to ‘Bhakti in politics,’ and (3) inequality in social and economic life persisting despite political democracy. He described the Constitution as a ‘living document’ that must be worked in the right spirit. [Source: Constituent Assembly Debates Vol. XI; M. Laxmikanth]

J.B. Kripalani (Acharya Kripalani) chaired the Sub-Committee on Fundamental Rights, which was a sub-committee of the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas (the parent committee being chaired by Sardar Patel). This sub-committee’s work eventually shaped Part III of the Indian Constitution — the chapter on Fundamental Rights. The sub-committee examined global models of fundamental rights, including the American Bill of Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (which was being drafted simultaneously at the UN). [Source: M. Laxmikanth; Granville Austin – The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation]

The concept of Fundamental Rights (Part III, Articles 12–35) was largely borrowed from the Constitution of the United States of America (USA), specifically the American Bill of Rights. Like the American Bill of Rights, the Indian Fundamental Rights guarantee freedoms related to speech, religion, equality before law, and protection against arbitrary arrest. However, unlike the US where rights are more absolute, the Indian Constitution allows reasonable restrictions on Fundamental Rights, reflecting the influence of Irish and British constitutional traditions. Other borrowings include: Parliamentary government from UK, Directive Principles from Ireland, Federal structure from Canada. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; D.D. Basu]

The Constitution of India was signed by 284 members of the Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950 (the last day of the Assembly), even though the Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949. Not all 299 members who were part of the reconstituted Assembly signed it. The signing ceremony was held in the Central Hall of Parliament. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first to sign as the President of the Assembly. Interestingly, among the signatories was also a woman member — Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Hansa Mehta, and others — reflecting the participation of women in constitution-making. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; Subhash Kashyap]

The original Indian Constitution was calligraphed (hand-lettered) in a beautiful italic style by Prem Behari Narain Raizada (also known as Prem Behari Narain Saxena) in Delhi. He did this entirely free of cost, and as a personal touch, he inscribed his name along with his grandfather’s name on every page. The illustrations and decorations on the pages of the original Constitution were done by artists from Shantiniketan under the guidance of the famous artist Nandalal Bose. The original Constitution, in both Hindi and English, is preserved in a helium-filled case in the Library of the Parliament of India. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; Subhash Kashyap – Our Constitution]

H.V. Kamath (Hari Vishnu Kamath) was a very vocal and active member of the Constituent Assembly known for moving numerous amendments during the debates. He raised the point about the tension between ‘sovereign republic’ status and Commonwealth membership, as remaining in the Commonwealth implied some deference to the British Crown. He moved several amendments, including attempts to modify the Preamble. The debates around the Preamble were some of the most philosophically rich in the Constituent Assembly. H.V. Kamath also moved an amendment to begin the Preamble with ‘In the name of God’ — which was defeated. [Source: Constituent Assembly Debates; Granville Austin]

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, in his speech on 4 November 1948 while introducing the Draft Constitution, explained that the Indian Constitution is neither wholly rigid nor wholly flexible — it combines elements of both. Some provisions can be amended by a simple majority of Parliament (like the creation of new states — Article 3), some require a special majority (two-thirds of members present and voting plus majority of total membership of each house), and some require the special majority plus ratification by at least half the state legislatures (like federal provisions). Ambedkar described this as a uniquely practical system suitable for India’s federal structure. [Source: Constituent Assembly Debates Vol. VII; M. Laxmikanth]

K.T. Shah (Prof. K.T. Shah) was one of the most intellectually active and critical members of the Constituent Assembly. He was an economist who had also worked with the Nehru Committee. He frequently raised concerns about the economic content of the Constitution, moved amendments for a socialist state, and criticized the excessive influence of Western constitutions on India’s constitutional framework. He argued that India should develop constitutional norms rooted in its own civilizational genius rather than mechanically adopting Western models. He also moved amendments to include ‘secular, federal, socialist’ in the Preamble — well before the 42nd Amendment. [Source: Constituent Assembly Debates; Granville Austin]

The Constituent Assembly resolved the tension between Fundamental Rights (Part III) and Directive Principles (Part IV) by making both important but functionally distinct: Fundamental Rights are justiciable (enforceable by courts) while Directive Principles are non-justiciable (not enforceable by courts). Article 37 states that DPSPs are ‘fundamental in the governance of the country’ and the State shall endeavour to apply them. However, subsequent judicial interpretations evolved: In State of Madras v. Champakam Dorairajan (1951), rights prevailed; later, the 25th Amendment (1971) reversed this for Article 39(b)(c); and in Minerva Mills (1980), the Supreme Court restored the balance. [Source: M. Laxmikanth; D.D. Basu; Granville Austin]

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s most celebrated speech in the Constituent Assembly was delivered on 25 November 1949, the day before the Constitution was formally adopted, when he moved the motion for its final adoption. In this speech, he identified three warnings or dangers: First, abandoning constitutional methods for social/economic objectives; Second, placing complete faith in great men (Bhakti in politics) which he called a sure road to degradation; Third, the contradiction between political equality (one person, one vote) and social and economic inequality. He called India’s Constitution a ‘living document’ subject to change as society evolves. This speech is considered a masterpiece of constitutional philosophy. [Source: Constituent Assembly Debates Vol. XI; M. Laxmikanth]

The debate on Article 44 (Uniform Civil Code) was one of the most contentious in the Constituent Assembly. The debate broadly divided along religious lines, with Muslim members like Mohammed Ismail Sahib and Pocker Sahib Bahadur arguing that personal law is integral to religious freedom (Article 25) and cannot be overridden by a state-enforced uniform code. On the other side, members like K.M. Munshi and Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar argued that national integration and gender justice required a UCC. The Assembly eventually placed it as a Directive Principle (non-justiciable), deferring the decision to future generations, thus achieving a political compromise. [Source: Constituent Assembly Debates; Granville Austin – Cornerstone of a Nation]

The traumatic experience of the partition of India in 1947 and the simultaneous challenges of integrating over 560 princely states, combined with the threat of territorial disintegration and communal violence, led the Constituent Assembly to opt for a more centralized form of federalism. Dr. Ambedkar described the Constitution as ‘federal in form but unitary in spirit.’ Provisions like Emergency powers (Articles 352–360), the power of Parliament to legislate on State subjects during emergencies, the Governor’s role as a Centre’s representative, and a strong Union List reflect this centralizing tendency. The framers consciously chose a stronger Centre unlike the USA or Canada. [Source: Granville Austin; M. Laxmikanth; D.D. Basu]

K.M. Munshi (Kanhaiyalal Maneklal Munshi) was a key member of the Drafting Committee and one of the most influential voices in shaping the cultural and educational rights provisions. He articulated the concept of India’s ‘composite culture’ — the synthesis of diverse religious, linguistic, and cultural traditions into a unified civilizational identity. This philosophy influenced Articles 29 and 30 which guarantee cultural and educational rights to minorities while avoiding cultural homogenization. Munshi argued that granting minorities the right to preserve their culture was essential to India’s unity, not a threat to it. He was also influential in shaping provisions on the Official Language and the Directive Principles. [Source: Constituent Assembly Debates; Granville Austin – Cornerstone of a Nation]

The debate over unicameralism versus bicameralism was significant in the Constituent Assembly. Those arguing for unicameralism (single chamber) felt that an Upper House (Rajya Sabha) was undemocratic and would obstruct progressive legislation. However, the Assembly retained the bicameral structure for two principal reasons: (1) As a federal feature — the Rajya Sabha represents the states and Union Territories, thereby giving a voice to state-level interests at the national level; and (2) As a revising chamber — to reconsider hasty legislation passed by the Lok Sabha and bring in the deliberative wisdom of elder statesmen. This reasoning was articulated by Jawaharlal Nehru, N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, and others. [Source: Constituent Assembly Debates; M. Laxmikanth]

The provision abolishing untouchability (Article 17) was adopted swiftly and unanimously by the Constituent Assembly, reflecting the near-total consensus that this age-old social evil must receive a constitutional mandate for eradication. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, himself a victim of untouchability, was the most forceful proponent. Even traditionally conservative members did not oppose it openly. Article 17 makes the practice of untouchability a punishable offense (with enforcement through the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, and the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989). It is one of the few absolute, non-derogable provisions in the Constitution — not subject to any reasonable restrictions. [Source: Constituent Assembly Debates; Granville Austin; M. Laxmikanth]