The Constitution of India was drafted and framed by which of the following bodies?

Introduction / Context:

The process through which the Constitution of India was created is a central topic in Indian Polity. Knowing who framed the Constitution is essential for understanding its legitimacy and democratic roots. The body responsible for drafting and adopting the Constitution is a direct expression of the will of the people of India at the time of independence. This question asks you to identify that body from among several options.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The subject is the framing and drafting of the Constitution of India.
• The options include Planning Commission, Constituent Assembly, President, and Working Committee.
• We assume familiarity with the basic historical events leading up to the adoption of the Constitution.
• The focus is on the official body, not on individual leaders or committees that contributed ideas.

Concept / Approach:

The Constitution of India was framed by the Constituent Assembly, which was elected partly by provincial legislatures and partly nominated from princely States, functioning between 1946 and 1950. The Assembly debated, amended, and finally adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949, and it came into force on 26 January 1950. The Planning Commission was established later to plan economic development, the President is an organ under the Constitution, and the term Working Committee generally refers to party committees, not the constitutional drafting body. Thus, the correct answer is the Constituent Assembly.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Standard history and polity sources clearly state that the Constituent Assembly met in multiple sessions, appointed drafting committees, and debated every part of the Constitution. Dr B R Ambedkar served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, which reported to the Constituent Assembly as a whole. The final document was signed by members of the Constituent Assembly. Official records and all reputable textbooks constantly emphasise that the Constitution was framed by this Assembly, confirming the correctness of the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option A, Planning Commission, was set up in 1950 to plan economic development and did not exist when the Constitution was being drafted. Option C, President, refers to the head of the State under the Constitution and has powers defined by the Constitution, but the President did not frame it. Option D, Working Committee, typically refers to internal committees of political parties such as the Congress Working Committee; these bodies may have influenced political demands but were not the constitutional drafting authority. Therefore, none of these options correctly represent the body that framed the Constitution.

Common Pitfalls:

Sometimes students mix up the roles of various committees and constitutional organs, confusing the Drafting Committee with the larger Constituent Assembly or assuming that prominent individuals like the President were responsible for framing. It is important to distinguish between the Drafting Committee, which prepared a draft, and the Constituent Assembly, which debated and adopted the final Constitution. The Assembly as a whole is credited with framing the Constitution, not any single organ or committee.

Final Answer:

The Constitution of India was drafted and framed by the Constituent Assembly.