Chapter- 1 Making Of Indian Constitution #PolityByParmarSir #PolityByParmarSsc #PolityPlaylistForCGL

YouTube Video Transcript Summary: संविधान का निर्माण (Making of the Constitution)

Key Concepts:

• Constituent Assembly (संविधान सभा): An assembly formed to draft the Constitution of India.
• August Offer: A proposal by the British government in 1940 offering limited self-governance to India.
• Cripps Mission: A British attempt in 1942 to secure Indian cooperation during World War II.
• Cabinet Mission Plan: A 1946 plan by the British government to transfer power to India.
• Objective Resolution (उद्देश्य प्रस्ताव): A resolution presented by Jawaharlal Nehru outlining the aims and objectives of the Constitution.
• Drafting Committee (मसौदा समिति/प्रारूप समिति): The committee responsible for preparing the draft of the Constitution.
• Dominion Status: A status where a country has its own government but remains under the British Crown.
• Purna Swaraj (पूर्ण स्वराज्य): Complete independence.
• Individual Satyagraha (व्यक्तिगत सत्याग्रह): A form of protest initiated by Gandhi in response to the August Offer.
• Quit India Movement: A movement launched by Gandhi in 1942 demanding an end to British rule.
• Direct Action Day: A day of protest called by the Muslim League in 1946, leading to widespread violence.
• Mountbatten Plan: The plan for the partition of India in 1947.
• Provisional Parliament (अंतरिम संसद): The parliament that functioned until the first general elections.
• Federal Feature: A characteristic of the Indian Constitution that empowers the states.
• Unitary Feature: A characteristic of the Indian Constitution that empowers the central government.
• Quasi-Federal: A system where the central government has more power than the states.

1. Historical Context and Demand for a Constitution

• The video begins by establishing the context: India has gained independence, and the focus shifts to creating its own Constitution.
• The demand for a Constitution dates back to the Simon Commission (1928), which prompted the Nehru Report (prepared by Motilal Nehru).
• Jinnah's 14 Points were a response to the Nehru Report.
• The first formal demand for a Constituent Assembly was made in 1934 by M.N. Roy (founder of the Communist Party of India - CPI).
• In 1935, the Indian National Congress also demanded a Constituent Assembly.

2. British Responses and Offers

• August Offer (1940): The British government, seeking Indian support during World War II, offered Dominion Status. This was rejected by the Congress.
  • In response, Gandhi initiated Individual Satyagraha.
  • Acharya Vinoba Bhave was the first Satyagrahi, followed by Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Cripps Mission (1942): Led by Stafford Cripps, this mission also failed because it offered only Dominion Status.
  • In response, Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement.
  • The slogan "Do or Die" (करो या मरो) was given by Gandhi during this movement.
• Cabinet Mission Plan (1946): This plan, consisting of A.V. Alexander, Stafford Cripps, and Pethick Lawrence (Chairman), was accepted by both the Congress and the Muslim League.
  • The plan proposed a system of groupings for voting, which initially appealed to Jinnah.
  • However, Nehru's statement that the groupings were not mandatory led Jinnah to call for Direct Action Day (August 16, 1946), resulting in widespread violence (Calcutta Killings).

3. Partition and the Indian Independence Act

• The Indian Independence Act (July 1947), based on the Mountbatten Plan, led to the partition of India into India and Pakistan.

4. Composition and Elections to the Constituent Assembly

• The Cabinet Mission Plan proposed a Constituent Assembly with 389 seats.
• Division of Seats:
  • 296 from British India:
    • 292 from Governors' Provinces
    • 4 from Chief Commissioners' Provinces
  • 93 from Princely States
• Elections:
  • The 296 seats from British India were filled through indirect elections by members of the Provincial Assemblies.
  • The 93 seats from Princely States were filled through nomination by the rulers.
• Representation:
  • One seat was allocated for every 1 million (10 lakh) people.
  • Seats were also divided among communities: General, Sikh, and Muslim.
• Election Results (July-August 1946):
  • Congress: 208 seats
  • Muslim League: 73 seats
  • Independents: 15 seats
• The Muslim League boycotted the Constituent Assembly.
• After partition, the total number of seats was reduced to 299.
• The Constituent Assembly was partly elected and partly nominated.

5. Functioning of the Constituent Assembly

• First Meeting: December 9, 1946, with 211 members present.
• Objective Resolution: Presented by Nehru on December 13, 1946, and adopted on January 22, 1947. This resolution later became the Preamble.
• Committees: Various committees were formed to handle different aspects of Constitution-making.
  • Major Committees (8)
  • Minor Committees (13/14)
• Drafting Committee:
  • Formed on August 29, 1947.
  • Consisted of 7 members, with B.R. Ambedkar as the Chairman.
  • Other members: Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar, N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, Mohammad Saadulla, K.M. Munshi, N. Madhava Rau (replaced B.L. Mitter), and T.T. Krishnamachari (replaced D.P. Khaitan).

6. Sessions, Time, and Cost

• Total Sessions: 11
• Total Days: 165
• Time Taken: 2 years, 11 months, and 17 days (or 18 days)
• Cost: ₹64 lakh

7. Adoption and Enforcement

• First Draft: Presented by Ambedkar on November 4, 1948.
• Constitution Adopted: November 26, 1949 (celebrated as Constitution Day).
• Constitution Enforced: January 26, 1950 (to commemorate the Lahore Session of 1929 where Purna Swaraj was declared).
• Immediate Enforcement: Certain provisions related to citizenship (Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9), elections (Articles 324, 325, 326), and the Provisional Parliament were enforced on November 26, 1949.

8. Other Functions of the Constituent Assembly

• The Constituent Assembly functioned as both a Constitution-making body and a Legislative body.
  • When functioning as a Constitution-making body, it was headed by Rajendra Prasad.
  • When functioning as a Legislative body, it was headed by G.V. Mavalankar.
• Other Functions:
  • Adopted the National Flag on July 22, 1947.
  • Ratified the Commonwealth membership in May 1949.
  • Adopted the National Anthem and National Song on January 24, 1950.
• On January 24, 1950, 284 members (including 15 women) signed the Constitution.
• Rajendra Prasad was elected as the first President of India by the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950.
• Last Sitting: January 24, 1950.
• The Constituent Assembly then functioned as the Provisional Parliament until the first general elections in 1951-52.

9. Key Figures and Symbols

• Vice-Presidents of the Constituent Assembly: H.C. Mukherjee and V.T. Krishnamachari.
• Temporary Chairman: Sachchidananda Sinha.
• Constitutional Advisor: Sir Benegal Narsing Rau (B.N. Rau).
• Chief Draftsman: S.N. Mukherjee.
• Symbol of the Constituent Assembly: Elephant.
• Calligraphy:
  • English: Prem Behari Narain Raizada.
  • Hindi: Vasant Kumar Vaidya.
• Decoration: Nandlal Bose and Beohar Rammanohar Sinha.

10. Committee Details and Tricks to Remember

• Union/State Committees: Headed by Jawaharlal Nehru (e.g., Union Powers Committee, States Committee).
• Provincial Constitution Committee: Headed by Sardar Patel.
• Drafting Committee: Headed by B.R. Ambedkar.
• House Committee: Headed by Pattabhi Sitaramayya (Ramaiya Vastavaiya).
• Business Committee: Headed by K.M. Munshi.
• Rules of Procedure/Steering Committee: Headed by Rajendra Prasad.
• Flag Committee: Headed by Rajendra Prasad.

11. Federal vs. Unitary Features

• Federal Feature: Any aspect of the Constitution that empowers the states.
• Unitary Feature: Any aspect of the Constitution that empowers the central government.
• Examples:
  • Governor: Unitary Feature (appointed by the President).
  • Bicameral Legislature: Federal Feature (Rajya Sabha represents states).
  • All India Services: Unitary Feature (controlled by the central government).
  • Written Constitution: Federal Feature (limits the central government's ability to easily amend and centralize power).

12. Federalism

• Morris Jones: Called the Indian Federal System a "Bargaining Federalism".
• Granville Austin: Called the Indian Federal System a "Cooperative Federalism".
• K.C. Wheare: Called the Indian Federal System a "Quasi-Federal" (due to the central government having more power).

13. Conclusion

The video provides a detailed overview of the making of the Indian Constitution, covering the historical context, key figures, processes, and debates involved. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the different committees, the roles of key individuals, and the federal and unitary features of the Constitution. The video also offers helpful tips and tricks for remembering important facts and figures.