Understanding the Indian Constituent Assembly and its First President

The Indian Constituent Assembly was formed in 1946 to draft the Constitution of India. Its first meeting was held on December 9, 1946. Like many parliamentary bodies, there was a need to appoint a temporary or interim president for the initial proceedings before a permanent president could be elected.

Selecting the Interim President of the Constituent Assembly

Following the French practice, the Constituent Assembly decided to appoint the oldest member of the Assembly as its interim president. This was a temporary arrangement to oversee the initial meetings and procedures until a permanent president was elected.

Based on this principle of seniority, Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, being the oldest member present, was chosen as the interim president on December 9, 1946. He presided over the first two days of the Assembly's session.

Transition to the Permanent President

The election for the permanent president of the Constituent Assembly took place on December 11, 1946. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent President of the Assembly.

Examining the Options for the Interim President

• Sachindranath Sanyal: A revolutionary, but not associated with being the interim president of the Constituent Assembly.
• Sarojini Naidu: A prominent figure in the independence movement and a member of the Assembly, but not the interim president.
• S Subramaniya Iyer: A leader from Madras Presidency, known for his role in the early nationalist movement, but not the interim president of the Constituent Assembly.
• Sachchidananda Sinha: As the oldest member of the Constituent Assembly at its first meeting, he was appointed the interim president based on convention.

Conclusion: The Interim President in 1946

The individual appointed as the interim president of the Indian Constituent Assembly in 1946 was Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, before Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent president.

Revision Table: Constituent Assembly Leadership

Additional Information: Indian Constituent Assembly Facts

The Constituent Assembly was indirectly elected by the members of the provincial assemblies. It included representatives from various sections of Indian society. Its primary task was to draft a constitution for independent India.

• The first session was held in New Delhi.
• The total strength of the Assembly was originally 389, which dropped to 299 after the partition of India.
• The Assembly took almost three years (2 years, 11 months, 18 days) to complete the drafting of the Constitution.
• The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, and came into effect on January 26, 1950.
• Various committees were formed to handle different aspects of constitution drafting, with the Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar being the most important.