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Polity · AFCAT

Historical Background & Making of the Constitution

✈️ POA01 · Indian Polity · AFCAT GA AFCAT Level ★ High Priority

📌 AFCAT Focus: Questions are direct and factual — matching an Act to its key provision is the most common pattern. Focus on: (1) which Act introduced which "first" feature, (2) Constituent Assembly — who chaired what, (3) the two critical dates: 26 Nov 1949 (adopted) and 26 Jan 1950 (enforced). The level is NCERT Class 9–10.

1. Constitutional Development Under Company Rule (1773–1858)

📄 Key Acts — Company Rule to Crown Rule (1773–1947)

🕒 Company Rule (1773–1858)

Regulating Act 1773: First Parliamentary control over EIC; created post of Governor-General of Bengal — Warren Hastings was the 1st; established Supreme Court at Calcutta (1774)
Pitt's India Act 1784: Dual Control system — political functions under Board of Control (Parliament) + commercial under EIC; GG gained override power over council
Charter Act 1813: EIC monopoly over Indian trade ended; ₹1 lakh annual education grant (first); missionaries permitted to enter India
Charter Act 1833: EIC commercial activities stopped; GG of Bengal became GG of India — Lord William Bentinck was 1st; first Central Legislative Council for all India
Charter Act 1853: EIC charter left open-ended (signalling end); competitive exams for civil services introduced (first); legislature and executive functions separated for first time

🕒 Crown Rule (1858–1947)

GoI Act 1858: EIC abolished after 1857 Revolt; GG became Viceroy — Lord Canning was 1st; Secretary of State for India created in London Cabinet with 15-member India Council
Morley-Minto Reforms 1909: Separate electorates for Muslims introduced (communal politics; seeds of partition); first Indian in Viceroy's Executive Council: Satyendra Prasanna Sinha
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (GoI Act 1919): Dyarchy in provinces — Transferred subjects (Indian ministers) + Reserved subjects (Governor); first bicameral legislature at Centre (Council of State + Legislative Assembly)
GoI Act 1935: Provincial Autonomy — Dyarchy abolished in provinces; three legislative lists (adopted in our Constitution); Federal Court established; 321 sections, 10 schedules — longest British Act for India

⚠ AFCAT Common Traps:
● EIC Indian trade monopoly ended = 1813 (not 1833; China trade continued until 1833)
● First GG of India (not Bengal) = Lord Bentinck = Charter Act 1833
● Competitive exams for civil services = 1853 (NOT 1833 — a very common confusion)
● Separate electorates for Muslims = Morley-Minto 1909 (not 1919)
● Dyarchy introduced in provinces = GoI Act 1919; abolished in provinces = GoI Act 1935

2. The Constituent Assembly (1946–1950)

👥 Constituent Assembly — Formation, Persons & Key Facts

📅

Formation

Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946

Formed under Cabinet Mission Plan 1946
Members indirectly elected by Provincial Assemblies — not by direct vote of citizens
Approximately 1 seat per 10 lakh population
Initial strength: 389 members; reduced to 299 after Partition

📅

Key Dates

Must memorise for AFCAT

First meeting: 9 December 1946
Objectives Resolution moved by Nehru: 22 January 1947
Constitution adopted: 26 November 1949 (Constitution Day)
Constitution enforced: 26 January 1950 (Republic Day)
Total duration: 2 years 11 months 18 days · 11 sessions · 165 days · Cost: ₹64 lakh

👥

Key Persons

Most directly tested in AFCAT

President of CA: Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Drafting Committee Chairman: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (7 members) — "Father of Indian Constitution"
Objectives Resolution: Jawaharlal Nehru (moved it on 13 Dec 1946)
Constitutional Adviser: Sir B.N. Rau
First proposed CA (1934): M.N. Roy

📊

Numbers

Constitution — original vs current

Originally (1950): 395 Articles · 22 Parts · 8 Schedules
Currently: 470+ Articles · 25 Parts · 12 Schedules
Longest written constitution in the world
Sources: GoI Act 1935 (federal structure, emergency, 3 lists); UK (parliamentary system); USA (FRs, judicial review); Ireland (DPSP)

📝 AFCAT PYQ Practice — POA01

Q1. Which Act introduced the system of 'Dyarchy' at the provincial level in India? AFCAT PYQ

(a) GoI Act 1909(b) GoI Act 1919(c) GoI Act 1935(d) Indian Independence Act 1947

✔ Answer: (b) GoI Act 1919

The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (GoI Act 1919) introduced Dyarchy in provinces — subjects were divided into Transferred (given to Indian ministers responsible to legislature) and Reserved (retained by Governor). The 1935 Act abolished provincial Dyarchy and introduced Provincial Autonomy. Option (a) 1909 introduced separate electorates, not Dyarchy.

Q2. The Indian Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on: AFCAT PYQ

(a) 26 January 1950(b) 15 August 1947(c) 26 November 1949(d) 9 December 1946

✔ Answer: (c) 26 November 1949

The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 — now celebrated as Constitution Day (Samvidhan Diwas). It came into force on 26 January 1950 — Republic Day. The Constituent Assembly first met on 9 December 1946. Independence was on 15 August 1947.

Q3. Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution? AFCAT PYQ

(a) Jawaharlal Nehru(b) Dr. Rajendra Prasad(c) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel(d) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

✔ Answer: (d) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee (7 members) which drafted the text of the Constitution. He is called the "Father of the Indian Constitution." Nehru moved the Objectives Resolution. Rajendra Prasad was President of the CA. Patel chaired the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights and Minorities.

Q4. The Government of India Act, 1935 provided for: AFCAT PYQ

(a) Dyarchy at provincial level(b) Abolition of Dyarchy at provincial level and Provincial Autonomy(c) Separate electorates for Muslims(d) Bicameral legislature at Centre for the first time

✔ Answer: (b) Abolition of Dyarchy and Provincial Autonomy

GoI Act 1935 abolished Dyarchy in the provinces (introduced by 1919 Act) and gave Provincial Autonomy. However, Dyarchy was ironically introduced at the Centre under 1935. Option (c) — separate electorates were in 1909; option (d) — bicameral legislature first came in 1919.

Q5. Which of the following was the first Charter Act to end the East India Company's monopoly over trade with India? AFCAT PYQ

(a) Charter Act 1793(b) Charter Act 1813(c) Charter Act 1833(d) Charter Act 1853

✔ Answer: (b) Charter Act 1813

The Charter Act 1813 ended the EIC's monopoly over trade with India (though China trade monopoly continued until 1833). It also allocated ₹1 lakh annually for Indian education — the first specific government education grant. The 1833 Act completely stopped all EIC commercial activities.

🌟 Memory Chart — POA01 Historical Background

🕒 Company Rule Firsts

1773: GG of Bengal (Warren Hastings)
1784: Dual Control (Pitt's Act)
1813: Education grant; trade open
1833: GG of India (Bentinck)
1853: Competitive exams; LS split

🕒 Crown Rule Firsts

1858: Viceroy (Canning); SoS India
1909: Separate electorates (Muslims)
1919: Dyarchy; bicameral legislature
1935: Provincial Autonomy; 3 Lists
1935: Federal Court → SC 1950

📅 CA Key Facts

Adopted: 26 Nov 1949
Enforced: 26 Jan 1950
CA President: Rajendra Prasad
Drafting Cttee: Ambedkar
Original: 395 Articles · 8 Schedules

📋 Quick Reference — POA01

📄 Act Firsts

GG Bengal: Warren Hastings (1773)
GG India: Bentinck (1833)
Viceroy: Canning (1858)
Separate electorates: 1909
Competitive exam: 1853

👥 CA Persons

President: Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Drafting Cttee: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Objectives Resolution: J. Nehru
Constitutional Adviser: B.N. Rau
First proposed (1934): M.N. Roy

🏭 Sources

Parliamentary system: UK
Fundamental Rights: USA
DPSP: Ireland
Federal + Emergency: GoI 1935
Strong Centre: Canada

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