Polity

Constituent Assembly and Making of the Constitution

The Constituent Assembly was formed under the Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) and first met on 9 December 1946. It adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949, and the Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950. It took about two years, eleven months and eighteen days.

Last reviewed 2026-10-15

Timeline

Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) proposed the Constituent Assembly.
9 December 1946: first meeting, with Sachchidananda Sinha as the interim president. Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected president on 11 December 1946.
13 December 1946: Jawaharlal Nehru moved the Objectives Resolution, adopted on 22 January 1947.
29 August 1947: Drafting Committee appointed, with Dr B. R. Ambedkar as chairman.
26 November 1949: Constitution adopted. 26 January 1950: it came into force, celebrated as Republic Day.

Facts to remember

The Assembly was to have 389 members, which fell to about 299 after Partition.
B. N. Rau served as the Constitutional Adviser.
The original Constitution had 395 articles, 22 parts and 8 schedules. It has since grown through amendments.

Frequently asked questions

Who was the chairman of the Drafting Committee?

Dr B. R. Ambedkar.

When did the Constitution of India come into force?

On 26 January 1950.

Who was the president of the Constituent Assembly?

Dr Rajendra Prasad.