Introduction to Enactment of The Indian Constitution
In this article, we will learn about the enactment of the Indian constitution. The making of the Indian constitution will also be discussed step-by-step. This article will help the students of Civics and Political Science in understanding the various important thing of the country according to which the whole nation is working.
Making of The Indian Constitution
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The constitution of a country is composed and written by a body as per the requirements of the nation which is called as Constituent Assembly. To draft the constitution is the sole purpose of the constituent assembly. Indian Constitution is also drafted by the constituent assembly. The timeline of how the Indian constitution was enacted is written below:
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Constituent Assembly
Constituent Assembly is a body that drafts the constitution. The constituent assembly of India was partly nominated and partly elected body. Total members of this body before independence were 389. The members who were from British India were indirectly elected and representatives from Princely states were nominated. They were divided as follows:
After adopting the Mountbatten plan of Independence and Partition, the strength of this body was reduced as follows:
Important Committees
Writing the constitution of a country like India was not an easy task. Therefore, a number of the committee were made to divide the work so that everything would be done effectively and efficiently. Some of the Important committees were as follows:
Drafting Committee
This committee was incorporated on 29 Aug, 1947 and the chairman of this committee was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. He is also regarded as the father of our Indian Constitution. In the making of the Indian Constitution, this committee plays an important role by drafting the whole constitution. There were 7 members in this committee which are written below:
Dr. Ambedkar (Chairman)
B.L.Mitter
N.Gopalswami Ayyanagar
Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
K.M. Munshi Saiyid Mohd Saadullah
D.P. Khaitan
T.T. Krishnamachari joined this committee after the death of D.P. Khaitan and N.Madhab Rao joined the committee by replacing B.L.Mitter because of Mitter’s bad health. The drafting committee submitted their report on Feb 21, 1948, and then the assembly held discussions on it. Later new draft was presented by the committee on Nov 4, 1948. The committee met for 114 days to draft the constitution overall.
Summary of The Constitutional Design
The members of the Constituent Assembly created the Constitution after a great hard work of many days. It took 2 years, 11 months and 17 days to complete it. That’s why our constitution is the lengthiest in the whole world. Each article or provision is included in it after a lot of debates and discussions. The crux of the Indian Constitution can be seen in the Preamble of India. If powers are given to someone then restrictions are also there.
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Did You Know?
The original Indian constitution had 1 Preamble, 8 schedules, 22 Parts and 395 Articles and it is the lengthiest constitution in the world. India has taken different provisions from different countries.
We have read the making of the Indian Constitution. Let’s practice some FAQs:
FAQs on Enactment of The Indian Constitution
1. What does the 'enactment of the Indian Constitution' mean?
The 'enactment of the Indian Constitution' refers to the formal process by which the final draft of the Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly. This historic event took place on November 26, 1949. On this date, the members of the assembly signed the document, officially approving it as the supreme law of the land, although most of its provisions came into effect later.
2. Who was responsible for the enactment of the Indian Constitution?
The Indian Constitution was enacted by the Constituent Assembly of India. This body was specifically formed in 1946 to draft and adopt the Constitution. While the entire assembly participated in the process, the Drafting Committee, chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, played a pivotal role in preparing the text of the document, earning him the title of 'Father of the Indian Constitution'.
3. Why is there a difference between the date of enactment (November 26, 1949) and the date it came into force (January 26, 1950)?
The two dates serve different purposes. November 26, 1949, is the date of enactment, marking the day the Constituent Assembly completed and adopted the Constitution. However, the framers chose January 26 as the date of commencement for its historical importance. It was on this day in 1930 that the Indian National Congress had declared 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence). Starting the Constitution on this day gave it symbolic and patriotic significance.
4. What were the main stages involved in the enactment of the Indian Constitution?
The enactment of the Indian Constitution was a systematic process that involved several key stages. The main stages were:
Formation of the Constituent Assembly: The assembly was formed in November 1946 as per the Cabinet Mission Plan.
Committee Reports: Various committees were formed to discuss different aspects of the constitution, and they submitted their reports.
Preparation of the Draft: The Drafting Committee, led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, prepared the first draft based on these reports.
Public Discussion and Amendments: The draft was published for public feedback, and hundreds of amendments were discussed and debated in the Assembly.
Final Adoption: After three readings and thorough debate, the final draft was put to a vote and formally adopted on November 26, 1949.
5. How does an 'enacted' constitution, like India's, differ from an 'evolved' one?
The primary difference lies in their origin and form. An enacted constitution, like India's, is one that has been deliberately created and adopted by a specific body (the Constituent Assembly) at a particular point in time. It is typically contained within a single, comprehensive document. In contrast, an evolved constitution, like that of the United Kingdom, is not contained in one document but has developed over centuries through a collection of laws, judicial decisions, customs, and conventions.
6. What was the composition of the Constituent Assembly that enacted the Constitution?
The Constituent Assembly was a partly elected and partly nominated body. Its members were not directly elected by the people through universal adult franchise. The members from the British Indian provinces were indirectly elected by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies. The representatives from the Princely States were nominated by the heads of those states. After the partition of India, the Assembly's strength was reduced to 299 members.
7. How many Articles and Schedules did the Indian Constitution contain at the time of its enactment?
At the time of its enactment on November 26, 1949, the Indian Constitution was a comprehensive document containing a Preamble, 395 Articles (organised into 22 Parts), and 8 Schedules. Over the years, numerous amendments have been made, significantly increasing the number of articles and schedules.
