Name the different steps in framing of constitution
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Answer:
Constitution of India carries the legacy of our freedom struggle. Number of provisions included in the Constitution were already agreed upon during the nationalist movement. The following steps were taken before Independence in the making of the Indian Constitution:
1. In 1928, Motilal Nehru and eight others drafted the constitution of India and presented Nehru Report which recommended bicameral legislature, division of powers between the center and states, autonomy to the provinces which were later included in the constitution drafted after Independence,
2. 1931 Karachi Session also established consensus on democratic structure with inclusion of right to freedom, equality, universal Adult Franchise.
3. Government of India Act 1935 was an important step towards the framing of Constitution as it provided for an All India federation with division of powers between the Provinces and British India.
4. 1937 Elections to the provisional legislature provided experience of the working of legislative institutions and parliamentary form of government.
5. Most important steps towards framing the constitution was in the form of Objective Resolution passed by Pt. Nehru in 1946, which was endorsed and accepted by the Constituent Assembly and which summarized the aims and objectives to be included in the constitution of Independent India. It focussed on freedom,rights of the people, democracy and sovereignty.
6. The constituent assembly that was tasked with framing of the Indian constitution was an elected body. Elections to the Constituent Assembly took place in July 1946, whereby the elected members of the Provisional legislative Assembly elected members of Constituent Assembly by proportional representation system. Thus, members were elected in an indirect manner.
7. Later, the constituent assembly functioned in an open, consensual and systematic manner. The members of the Assembly laid great emphasis on discussions and reasoned argument on every aspect.
8. Our political leaders were inspired from the various constitutions of the World.
9. Like they borrowed provision of bill of rights from US constitution and adopted the chapter on Fundamental rights , idea of Parliamentary form of government from the British. It also borrowed the provision of directive principles of state policy from Irish constitution, values of liberty, equality from the French revolution, idea of socio economic equality from the Soviet Union.
10. But it may be noted that all these provisions were not blindly incorporated . They were thoroughly discussed and debated .They were modified to suit Indian conditions.