On which date did the Constituent Assembly of India first meet and start functioning?

Introduction / Context:
The Constituent Assembly of India was the body responsible for drafting the Constitution. Knowing when it first met is an important historical and polity fact. The first meeting marks the formal beginning of the constitutional making process that eventually produced the Constitution of India.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question refers to the Constituent Assembly of India, not the Parliament or Lok Sabha.
- It asks for the date on which the Assembly first met and started functioning.
- The options include several important dates between 1946 and 1947.

Concept / Approach:
The Constituent Assembly held its first meeting on 9 December 1946 in New Delhi. This session was presided over by Dr Sachchidananda Sinha as the temporary Chairman. Later, Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent President of the Assembly. Other dates like 26 January 1947 and 15 August 1947 correspond to later milestones and not to the first meeting.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 provided for the setting up of the Constituent Assembly. Step 2: Elections to the Assembly were held, and the first meeting was convened on 9 December 1946. Step 3: Recognise that 26 January later became significant as the date chosen for Republic Day, and 15 August 1947 is celebrated as Independence Day, but neither marks the first meeting of the Assembly. Step 4: Therefore, among the options, 9 December 1946 is the correct date when the Constituent Assembly first met.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical records and standard Indian Polity textbooks state that the first session of the Constituent Assembly began on 9 December 1946. This date is frequently mentioned alongside other key dates such as 26 November 1949, when the Constitution was adopted, and 26 January 1950, when it came into effect.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1 January 1947: An important calendar date but not associated with the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly.
26 January 1947: Pre dates the later Republic Day but does not mark the start of the Assembly's work.
15 August 1947: Independence Day, marking freedom from British rule, but not the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly.
20 November 1946: Not associated with the inaugural session of the Assembly.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often confuse various key dates of the freedom struggle and constitutional history. The strong association of 15 August and 26 January with national celebrations can cause them to be wrongly chosen. To avoid this, learners should consciously memorise the sequence: first meeting on 9 December 1946, adoption of the Constitution on 26 November 1949, and enforcement on 26 January 1950.

Final Answer:
The Constituent Assembly of India first met and started functioning on 9 December 1946.