With reference to the making of Indian Constitution explain the following:

(a) Name the plan which proposed to set up the Constituent Assembly. How were the members of the Constituent Assembly elected?

(b) How was the membership of the Constituent Assembly reduced as a result of partition of the country?

(c) How can you say that the Constituent Assembly gave adequate representation to all sections of the Indian society?

(a) The Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) proposed to set up the Constituent Assembly.

The members of the Constituent Assembly were elected indirectly by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies (Lower House only). Elections to the Provincial Assembly were completed by July 1946. The princely states were represented by the members nominated by the rulers of these States. The Constituent Assembly of undivided India consisted of 389 members (292 elected, 93 nominated by the Princely states, 3 from Chief Commissioner Provinces and one from the British).

(b) The Muslim League boycotted the Constituent Assembly to demand the creation of a separate state called Pakistan. Consequently the members representing the territories which went to Pakistan withdrew from the Constituent Assembly of India. As a result, the membership of the Constituent Assembly of India stood at 299 against the original number of 389 members.

(c) The wide-ranging membership of the Constituent Assembly gave representation to all shades of public opinion. The Cabinet Mission plan had ensured representation to only three categories — the General category, Muslims and Sikhs. The Congress leaders had, however, ensured that other communities like Anglo-Indians, Indian Christians Scheduled Castes and Scheduled tribes got representation.