The Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly prepared and wrote the text of the Constitution of India in which language?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Only English

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The Constitution of India is a foundational legal document, and questions about its making are a favourite topic in competitive examinations. One basic but important detail is the language in which the original Constitution was drafted and adopted. Knowing this helps you understand the historical context, the role of the Constituent Assembly and the later development of authoritative texts in other languages.


Given Data / Assumptions:

    The question asks specifically about the language used by the Drafting Committee when it prepared and wrote the Constitution of India.
    The options include combinations of English, Hindi and Urdu, or only English.
    It is not asking about translations or later authoritative versions, but about the original drafting.


Concept / Approach:
Historically, the Constituent Assembly debates and most of the drafting work were conducted in English. While India is a multilingual country, English served as the working language of the Assembly due to the legacy of British rule and its status as a link language among members from different linguistic regions. The official original text of the Constitution adopted in 1949 was in English. Later on, an authoritative Hindi text was also prepared, but this came after the original English version. Therefore, the correct approach is to identify that the Drafting Committee wrote the Constitution only in English, not in multiple languages simultaneously.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, and the Constituent Assembly functioned from 1946 to 1949. Step 2: Recognise that the Assembly's debates, proceedings and most official records were maintained in English, with translation and interpretation support where necessary. Step 3: Understand that the original Constitution adopted on 26 November 1949 was prepared in English and signed by the members in that language. Step 4: Although Hindi and other language versions were later produced, the question is about the drafting stage, not the later translations. Step 5: Therefore, among the options, “Only English” correctly reflects the language of the original draft.


Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this from standard constitutional history references, which consistently describe the original Constitution as being drafted and enacted in English. The authoritative Hindi translation was notified later under the Official Languages Act and related rules. Civil services preparation material also highlights that while India later moved towards greater use of Hindi, the foundational legal text at the time of adoption was in English only.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
English and Hindi: At the drafting stage, Hindi was not used as a parallel language for the official constitutional text. The bilingual or multilingual approach came later for translations, not for the original draft. English and Urdu: There is no historical basis for claiming that the Drafting Committee produced an Urdu version along with the English version. English, Hindi and Urdu: This suggests a simultaneous trilingual drafting process, which is not how the Constituent Assembly operated. English was the primary working and drafting language.


Common Pitfalls:
Some students assume that because Hindi is designated as an official language and is widely used in government today, the Constitution must have been drafted in both English and Hindi from the start. Another confusion arises from the existence of authorised translations. These assumptions overlook the historical reality that English remained the working language of the Assembly. Always distinguish between original drafting and later translations or adaptations.


Final Answer:
The Drafting Committee prepared and wrote the original text of the Constitution of India in Only English.

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