CAPF AC 2020 Q110: Indian Polity – Constitutional Framework & Development
Who was the President of the Constituent Assembly?
- (a) B. R. Ambedkar
- (b) Rajendra Prasad
- (c) Alladi Krishnaswami Aiyar
- (d) Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Answer: (b) Rajendra Prasad
Explanation
Leaders of the Constituent Assembly
How to think: keep two posts apart.
The President of the Assembly was Rajendra Prasad.
The Chairman of the Drafting Committee was B. R. Ambedkar.
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
| Sachchidananda Sinha | Temporary President at the first meeting, 9 December 1946 |
| Rajendra Prasad | President of the Assembly, elected on 11 December 1946 |
| H. C. Mookerjee | Vice-President |
| B. R. Ambedkar | Chairman of the Drafting Committee |
| B. N. Rau | Constitutional Adviser |
| Alladi Krishnaswami Aiyar | Member of the Drafting Committee |
| Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | Member of the Assembly; later the first Vice-President of India |
Key dates:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 9 December 1946 | First meeting |
| 26 November 1949 | Constitution adopted |
| 26 January 1950 | Constitution came into force |
Answer: (b) Rajendra Prasad.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. B. R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee, not the Assembly.
- (b) CORRECT. Rajendra Prasad was the President of the Constituent Assembly.
- (c) Incorrect. Alladi Krishnaswami Aiyar was a member of the Drafting Committee.
- (d) Incorrect. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was a member; he never presided over the Assembly.
Key point
Constituent Assembly: temporary President Sachchidananda Sinha; President Rajendra Prasad; Vice-President H. C. Mookerjee; Drafting Committee chairman B. R. Ambedkar; Constitutional Adviser B. N. Rau.
Remember
Constituent Assembly: President Rajendra Prasad; Drafting Committee: Ambedkar.
Common mistakes
- Naming Ambedkar as President of the Assembly.
- Forgetting the temporary President, Sachchidananda Sinha.
- Mixing up the dates of adoption (26 November 1949) and commencement (26 January 1950).
Exam tip
President of the Assembly became President of India. Both posts were held by Rajendra Prasad.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI Political Science — Indian Constitution at Work (Constitution: Why and How?)
- NCERT Class IX Political Science — Democratic Politics I (Constitutional Design)