During which of the following periods did the Constituent Assembly of India deliberate upon, debate and finally adopt the Constitution of India?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: December 1946 to November 1949

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The making of the Indian Constitution is a landmark event in modern Indian history. Competitive exams frequently test factual details about the Constituent Assembly, including its composition, working procedures and the time taken to frame the Constitution. This question focuses specifically on the period during which the Assembly deliberated on and finalised the Constitution, culminating in its adoption on 26 November 1949.


Given Data / Assumptions:

    The question is asking for the time span between the beginning of formal deliberations on the Constitution and its final adoption.
    The options all end in November 1949, reflecting the date of adoption, but they differ in the starting month and year.
    It is assumed that you know the first meeting date of the Constituent Assembly and the approximate duration of its work on the Constitution.


Concept / Approach:
The Constituent Assembly of India met for the first time on 9 December 1946. However, the real process of detailed deliberation, including debates in various sessions, committee work and final adoption of the Constitution, extended from December 1946 to November 1949. The total time taken is often quoted as about two years, eleven months and eighteen days. When selecting the correct option, you should identify the period that starts in December 1946 and ends in November 1949, which matches the historical record.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Constituent Assembly held its first meeting on 9 December 1946. Step 2: The Drafting Committee was formed later, and the Assembly continued to meet in several sessions over the next few years. Step 3: The Constitution was finally adopted on 26 November 1949, with the last session of the Assembly taking place in November 1949. Step 4: Recognise that the standard way of expressing the period of deliberation is from December 1946 to November 1949, which is often cited in textbooks. Step 5: Compare options: only option (c) explicitly mentions “December 1946 – November 1949,” which matches this widely accepted time frame. Step 6: Therefore, the correct answer is December 1946 to November 1949.


Verification / Alternative check:
Historical summaries of the Constituent Assembly's work often mention that it sat for 11 sessions, covering 165 days of sittings, over nearly three years. The standard textbooks cite the period as December 1946 to November 1949. While the Assembly first convened in early December, the actual detailed deliberation over the draft and subsequent amendments continued until November 1949, when the final version was adopted and signed.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
November 1946 to November 1949: The Assembly did not meet in November 1946; its first meeting was on 9 December 1946. Therefore, this starting month is incorrect. November 1947 to November 1949: This excludes the crucial first year of deliberations in 1946–1947, including early debates, committees and drafting work. December 1947 to November 1949: This likewise omits an entire year of work that began in December 1946. The Assembly was already functioning and deliberating during 1947.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the date of the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly with other milestone dates such as Independence Day (15 August 1947) or the date the Constitution came into effect (26 January 1950). Another common error is to assume that work on the Constitution started only after Independence, which is not correct. Always remember that the Constituent Assembly began its deliberations in December 1946, well before Independence, and completed its work by November 1949.


Final Answer:
The Constituent Assembly deliberated upon and finally adopted the Constitution of India during the period December 1946 to November 1949.

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