The Constituent Assembly of India, which drafted the Constitution of independent India, was first convened in which year?

Introduction / Context:
This question is about the formation of the Constituent Assembly of India, the body responsible for drafting the Indian Constitution. Understanding when the Assembly was first convened helps you place the transition from colonial rule to independence and republican government in a clear chronological framework. It also connects World War II era constitutional negotiations with the final outcome of the Constitution adopted in 1949 and implemented in 1950.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks in which year the Constituent Assembly of India was founded or first convened.
• Options include 1940, 1946, 1947, 1950 and 1935.
• We assume awareness of the late colonial period and key dates around independence and the Constitution.

Concept / Approach:
The idea of a Constituent Assembly was discussed earlier, but the actual election of members and the first sitting of the Assembly took place in 1946. The Cabinet Mission Plan provided for the creation of this body, and its first meeting was held in December 1946. India achieved independence in 1947, and the Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950. The Government of India Act 1935 is an earlier colonial statute and does not mark the founding year of the Assembly. Therefore, the correct answer is 1946, not the other years listed.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Constituent Assembly was elected in 1946 under the Cabinet Mission Plan. Step 2: Note that its first session was held in December 1946, which counts as its founding or convening year. Step 3: Recognise that 1947 is the year of independence, which came after the Assembly had already begun its work. Step 4: Understand that 1950 is the year when the Constitution was put into effect, not when the Assembly was formed. Step 5: Eliminate 1935 and 1940 as too early and unrelated to the actual election and convening of the Assembly, and select 1946.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by remembering the sequence: Cabinet Mission Plan (1946), election and convening of the Constituent Assembly (December 1946), Partition and independence (August 1947), adoption of the Constitution (November 1949) and implementation of the Constitution (January 1950). The Assembly continued to work before and after independence, but its birth clearly belongs to 1946. Since no other date in the options corresponds to both the election and first meeting of the Assembly, 1946 must be the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1940: Too early; at this time the Indian national movement was dealing with World War II and the August Offer, not yet concrete elections to a Constituent Assembly.

1947: The year of independence and Partition, but the Constituent Assembly had already been convened by then and was in session.
1950: Marks the date when the Constitution came into force and India became a republic; by this time the Assembly had already completed its work.
1935: Refers to the Government of India Act 1935, a British statute that provided a framework for provincial autonomy but did not create the Constituent Assembly.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse the dates of independence and the Constitution with the date when the Assembly was founded. Because 1947 and 1950 are more famous, they may appear more attractive as answers. To avoid this, clearly separate in your mind three key dates: 1946 for the start of the Constituent Assembly, 1947 for independence, and 1950 for the Constitution coming into effect. If you fix this sequence, picking 1946 in questions like this becomes straightforward.

Final Answer:
The Constituent Assembly of India was founded and first convened in 1946.