Who presided over the very first meeting of the Indian Constituent Assembly held in December 1946 as its temporary chairman?

Introduction / Context:
The Constituent Assembly of India was responsible for drafting the Constitution that came into force in 1950. Its first meeting in December 1946 is an important landmark in constitutional history. This question asks you to identify who presided over that very first meeting as the temporary chairman. The answer helps distinguish between the temporary presiding officer and the person who later became the permanent President of the Assembly.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The question refers to the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly in December 1946.

It specifically asks about who presided as temporary chairman at that meeting.

Options list prominent figures associated with the Assembly and the Constitution.

Concept / Approach:
When the Constituent Assembly first met on 9 December 1946, it needed a temporary presiding officer until a permanent President could be elected. The oldest member, Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, was requested to act as the temporary chairman. Later, on 11 December 1946, the Assembly elected Dr. Rajendra Prasad as its permanent President. Many exam questions separate these two facts, so it is important to remember that Sachchidananda Sinha chaired the first meeting, while Rajendra Prasad became the regular President.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly was held on 9 December 1946. Step 2: The first session required a temporary chairman to oversee proceedings until a permanent President was chosen. Step 3: Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, being the senior most member, was appointed to act as the temporary chairman and presided over the first meeting. Step 4: Only later was Dr. Rajendra Prasad elected as the permanent President of the Assembly. Step 5: Therefore, for the specific question about the first meeting, the correct answer is Sachchidananda Sinha.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by pairing names with roles. Rajendra Prasad is associated with being the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly and later the first President of India. Sachchidananda Sinha is specifically associated with the role of temporary chairman at the first session. B. R. Ambedkar is associated with chairing the Drafting Committee, and H. V. Kamath was a member but not the presiding officer. This mapping of roles confirms that Sachchidananda Sinha must be the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Dr. Rajendra Prasad: He was elected as the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly, but he did not preside over the very first meeting as temporary chairman.
B. R. Ambedkar: He was the chairman of the Drafting Committee and played a crucial role in framing the Constitution, but he did not preside over the first session of the Assembly.
H. V. Kamath: He was an active member of the Assembly and participated in debates but did not hold the office of temporary chairman or permanent President.

Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates see the name Rajendra Prasad and select it automatically because he is strongly associated with the Constituent Assembly and the Republic. However, examiners often frame the question carefully using phrases like first meeting, temporary chairman or presided over the first session. Reading the question slowly and noting these phrases helps you recall that Sachchidananda Sinha performed this initial role before Rajendra Prasad took over as permanent President.

Final Answer:
The first meeting of the Indian Constituent Assembly was presided over by Sachchidananda Sinha as its temporary chairman.