When was the first session of the Constituent Assembly of India held?

Introduction / Context:
The Constituent Assembly of India was the body responsible for drafting the Constitution. Knowing the date of its first session is a basic factual detail in Indian polity and modern history. This date marks the formal beginning of the constitution making process which ultimately led to the adoption of the Constitution in 1949 and its coming into force in 1950.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about the first session of the Constituent Assembly.
• We are not being asked about later sessions or adoption dates.
• Options include several dates around late 1946, mid 1947, and early 1948.
• We assume familiarity with the broad timeline of Indian independence and constitution framing.

Concept / Approach:
The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly took place in New Delhi on 9 December 1946. This was before India became independent in August 1947. The Assembly initially met under the Cabinet Mission Plan and later continued as the sovereign body after independence. Other dates, such as 26 November 1949 and 26 January 1950, are important for adoption and commencement of the Constitution, but they are not the first session date.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the historical sequence: Cabinet Mission Plan, election of members, and first meeting of the Assembly. Step 2: Identify that the first sitting of the Assembly was in December 1946, not in 1947 or 1948. Step 3: From the given options, locate 9 December 1946 as the date that matches this fact. Step 4: Confirm that other dates refer to different events or are simply distractors.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard history and polity sources agree that the Constituent Assembly held its first meeting on 9 December 1946, with Sachchidananda Sinha as the temporary president. On 11 December 1946, Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected permanent president. Because this chronology is well documented, we can confidently mark 9 December 1946 as the first session date.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
26 November 1946: This date is close but not the correct one and may confuse learners with 26 November 1949, the date of adoption of the Constitution. 16 August 1947: This is after independence, but the Assembly started earlier in 1946. 26 January 1948: This date has no direct connection with the first session. 11 December 1946: This is when Rajendra Prasad was elected president, not the first sitting of the Assembly itself.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing the first session with the adoption or enforcement dates is a frequent error. Some aspirants memorise 26 November 1949 and 26 January 1950 but forget that the Assembly actually began work in 1946. Keeping a clear mental timeline of 9 December 1946 (first meeting), 26 November 1949 (adoption), and 26 January 1950 (commencement) helps avoid such confusion.

Final Answer:
9 December 1946