In the context of the making of the Constitution of India, who was the first temporary chairman of the Constituent Assembly at its initial meetings in December 1946?

Introduction / Context:
The Constituent Assembly of India was formed to frame the Constitution after independence. Its proceedings involved a temporary chairperson at the very beginning and later a permanent president. Many exam questions test your knowledge of who presided at different stages. This question focuses on the very first temporary chairman at the initial meetings in December 1946.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The question is about the first temporary chairman of the Constituent Assembly. - It refers specifically to the early sessions in December 1946. - Options given are B. R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, and Sachchidananda Sinha. - We assume standard accounts of the Assembly’s proceedings.

Concept / Approach:
Sachchidananda Sinha, a senior politician and lawyer, was appointed to preside over the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly as its temporary chairman. After that, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent President of the Assembly. B. R. Ambedkar later became Chairman of the Drafting Committee, and Jawaharlal Nehru moved important resolutions, including the Objectives Resolution. The key is to distinguish between the temporary chair at the very first sitting and the later, more frequently mentioned presiding officers.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Sachchidananda Sinha presided over the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly as a temporary chairman. Step 2: Recognise that Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent President of the Assembly only afterwards. Step 3: B. R. Ambedkar was appointed as Chairman of the Drafting Committee, not as the first temporary chairman of the Assembly itself. Step 4: Jawaharlal Nehru was the leader of the Congress in the Assembly and moved important resolutions, but he was not the temporary chairman. Step 5: Therefore, Sachchidananda Sinha is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical records of the Constituent Assembly’s proceedings clearly state that Sachchidananda Sinha, due to his seniority and stature, was chosen to preside over the very first sitting as a provisional chairman. Soon after, the Assembly elected Dr. Rajendra Prasad as its President. This sequence is emphasised in many civics and polity textbooks, which also point out Ambedkar’s distinct role in drafting. This confirms that only Sachchidananda Sinha fits the description given in the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
B. R. Ambedkar: Headed the Drafting Committee and played a key role as a principal architect of the Constitution, but was not the first temporary chairman of the Assembly.
Jawaharlal Nehru: Leader of the majority party and mover of the Objectives Resolution, not the provisional presiding officer.
Rajendra Prasad: Became the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly after the initial sessions, but did not serve as the first temporary chairman.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners confuse the roles of President of the Assembly, chairman of the Drafting Committee, and temporary presiding officer, leading them to choose Rajendra Prasad or Ambedkar. Another pitfall is ignoring the word temporary in the question. Paying close attention to this detail and remembering the name Sachchidananda Sinha for the very first meeting helps avoid such mistakes.

Final Answer:
The first temporary chairman of the Constituent Assembly was Sachchidananda Sinha.