Who served as the first temporary chairman (president pro tem) of the Constituent Assembly of India when it first met in December 1946?

Introduction / Context:
The Constituent Assembly of India was formed to draft the Constitution of independent India. It first met in December 1946. At this initial session, a temporary chairman (president pro tem) was appointed to preside over the proceedings until a permanent President of the Assembly could be elected. Many exam questions distinguish between this first temporary chairman and the later permanent President of the Constituent Assembly.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks for the name of the first temporary chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
• The options provided include Dr B R Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Dr Sachchidananda Sinha and C Rajagopalachari.
• We must distinguish between different roles: president pro tem, permanent President of the Assembly and Chairman of the Drafting Committee.

Concept / Approach:
When the Constituent Assembly first convened, Dr Sachchidananda Sinha, a senior lawyer and parliamentarian, was appointed as the temporary chairman or president pro tem. After this initial phase, the Assembly elected Dr Rajendra Prasad as its permanent President. Later, Dr B R Ambedkar served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, a different but equally important role. Jawaharlal Nehru was the leader of the majority party and later the first Prime Minister, not the temporary chairman of the Assembly. Keeping these distinctions clear allows us to choose correctly.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Official records of the Constituent Assembly debates and most constitutional history textbooks clearly state that Dr Sachchidananda Sinha was the president pro tem at the first meeting. They also emphasise that Dr Rajendra Prasad became the first elected permanent President of the Assembly in its second meeting. This clear separation of roles confirms that Dr Sachchidananda Sinha is the correct response for this specific question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Dr B R Ambedkar: He was Chairman of the Drafting Committee, responsible for drafting the text of the Constitution, not the temporary chairman of the Assembly.
• Jawaharlal Nehru: He moved important resolutions in the Assembly and later became India's first Prime Minister, but he did not serve as president pro tem.
• Dr Rajendra Prasad: He was elected as the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly after the initial session, not the temporary chairman at the very beginning.
• C Rajagopalachari: A senior leader and later Governor General of India, but not associated with the post of temporary chairman of the Constituent Assembly.

Common Pitfalls:
Students frequently confuse the terms 'President of the Constituent Assembly' and 'Chairman of the Drafting Committee', or they assume that Dr Rajendra Prasad must have been in charge from the first day. Another common confusion is to associate every constitutional role with Ambedkar because of his central importance. To avoid mistakes, it is helpful to remember the three distinct names: Sachchidananda Sinha as president pro tem, Rajendra Prasad as permanent President and B R Ambedkar as Chairman of the Drafting Committee.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: Dr Sachchidananda Sinha.