Making of the Indian Constitution

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the historical background, key figures, committees, and formal processes involved in the making of the Constitution of India.

Constitution

A document that lays out certain ideals forming the basis of the kind of country a nation aspires to be.

1787

The year the tradition of a formal Constitution began in the USA.

July 4, 1776

The date of the Independence of the USA.

Rigid and Flexible

The dual nature of India's Constitution reflecting its status as partly rigid and partly flexible.

Communist Government

A form of government where the source or means of production is controlled by the government, as seen in China, Laos, North Korea, Cuba, and Vietnam.

Monarchic Government

A government ruled by a single person, specifically a King or a monarch.

Totalitarianism

A system where the ruling power has total control over the lives of citizens.

Oligarchy

A government of a few, with examples provided including Iran and Russia.

Nehru Report (1928)

The early draft of the Indian Constitution submitted by the All Parties Conference at Lucknow, chaired by Motilal Nehru.

M. N. Roy

The individual who first proposed the idea of a Constituent Assembly for India in $1934$.

August Offer

A $1940$ proposal by British Viceroy Lord Linlithgow that promised Dominion Status for India after World War II to gain Indian support.

Dominion Status

A status allowing countries to be self-governing while remaining part of the British empire; J.L. Nehru referred to it as "dead as a door nail".

Cripps Proposal (1942)

A British offer of dominion status after the war and the creation of a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution.

Wavell Plan (1945)

Also known as the Shimla Conference, it proposed a new interim Executive Council with equal representation for Hindus and Muslims to resolve political deadlock.

Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)

A plan by Pethick-Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander that was accepted by both the Congress and the Muslim League, leading to the formation of the Constituent Assembly.

Tryst with Destiny

Jawaharlal Nehru's famous speech delivered on $14th$ Aug $1947$ before the Constituent Assembly.

389

The total number of members in the Constituent Assembly under the Cabinet Mission Plan (comprising $296$ from British India and $93$ from Princely States).

Chief Commissioner's Provinces

Four specific provinces that sent members to the Constituent Assembly: Ajmer-Marwar, Coorg, Delhi, and Baluchistan.

Proportional Representation

The method of election for the Constituent Assembly, used in conjunction with the Single Transferable Vote.

Interim Government

The government of India formed on $2nd$ September $1946$ that lasted until independence and partition.

299

The number of remaining seats in the Constituent Assembly after the boycott by the Muslim League and the partition.

Objective Resolution

Presented by Jawaharlal Nehru on $13th$ December $1946$ and accepted on $22nd$ January $1947$, outlining the Constitutional goals.

Major Committees

Eight key groups within the Constituent Assembly, including the Drafting Committee and the Union Power Committee.

Drafting Committee

A $7$-member committee set up on $29th$ August $1947$, chaired by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

Modern Manu

A title given to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the chairman of the Drafting Committee.

2 years 11 months 18 days

The total time taken to draft the Indian Constitution.

64 lakhs

The total budget spent to frame the Constitution of India.

Constitution Day

Celebrated on $26th$ November, the date the Constitution was adopted in $1949$.

Republic Day

Celebrated on $26th$ January to commemorate the enforcement of the Constitution in $1950$ and the Purna Swaraj day of $1930$.

395 Articles, 8 Schedules, 22 Parts

The original composition of the Indian Constitution when it was first adopted.

G. V. Mavalankar

The first speaker of the Lok Sabha and the person who presided over the Constituent Assembly when it acted as a law-making body.

July 22, 1947

The date the Constituent Assembly adopted the National Flag.

Dr. Sachchidanand Sinha

The temporary President of the Constituent Assembly during its first meeting on $9$ Dec $1946$.

B. N. Rau

The legal and constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly.

Elephant

The official symbol of the Constituent Assembly of India.

Prem Behari Narain Raizada

The English calligrapher of the Indian Constitution.

Vasant Krishna Vaidya

The Hindi calligrapher of the Indian Constitution.

H. V. Iyengar

The Secretary of the Constituent Assembly.