Understanding the Framing of the Indian Constitution

The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishing the structure, procedures, powers and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles and the duties of citizens.

The Constituent Assembly of India

The task of drafting the Constitution of India was undertaken by a body known as the Constituent Assembly. This Assembly was not directly elected by adult franchise but was set up in a specific manner based on a proposal from a visiting delegation.

Origin of the Constituent Assembly (1946)

The question asks about the plan under which the Constituent Assembly of India was set up in 1946. Several proposals were made regarding India's future and the process of drafting its constitution during the 1940s.

Let's look at the options provided:

• Cabinet Mission Plan: This refers to a delegation sent by the British government to India in 1946 to discuss the transfer of power and propose a framework for the new constitution and the formation of a Constituent Assembly.
• Cabinet Missionary Plan: This option seems to be a misspelling or incorrect term. There was no significant political plan known by this name related to India's constitution-making process.
• Cabinet Ministry Plan: This option also uses an incorrect term. While cabinets and ministries are parts of government, there was no plan specifically called "Cabinet Ministry Plan" that set up the Constituent Assembly.
• Cabinet Ministers Plan: Similar to the previous two options, this is not the correct historical term for the plan that led to the formation of the Constituent Assembly.

The Role of the Cabinet Mission Plan 1946

The British Cabinet Mission, consisting of Lord Pethick-Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, and A. V. Alexander, arrived in India in March 1946. Their objective was to find a way for India to achieve independence as a united nation, and if that proved impossible, to suggest a method for setting up a constitution-making body.

The Cabinet Mission proposed a scheme for the composition of the Constituent Assembly. According to this plan:

• Each province and princely state (or group of states) was to be allotted seats proportional to its respective population.
• Seats allotted to each British province were to be decided among the principal communities (Muslims, Sikhs, and General) in proportion to their population.
• Representatives from each community in a provincial legislative assembly were to elect their own representatives by the method of proportional representation with a single transferable vote.
• Representatives of princely states were to be nominated by the heads of the princely states.

This plan was largely accepted, and elections were held in the summer of 1946 for the British Indian provinces, leading to the formation of the Constituent Assembly in December 1946.

Conclusion

Based on historical facts, the Constituent Assembly that framed the Constitution of India was indeed set up under the provisions outlined by the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946.

Revision Table: Key Points on Constituent Assembly Framing

Additional Information on Cabinet Mission Plan and Constitution Framing

The Cabinet Mission Plan aimed for a united India, proposing a weak centre and grouping of provinces. However, this aspect of the plan was not fully implemented due to disagreements between the major political parties, particularly the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. Despite the failure of the federal scheme proposed by the Mission, the framework for the Constituent Assembly provided by the Plan was utilized to draft the Constitution of independent India. The Constituent Assembly held its first meeting on December 9, 1946.

The Constitution of India was ultimately adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, and came into effect on January 26, 1950, which is celebrated as Republic Day.