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Q61 (IAS/2024) Polity & Governance › Constitutional Basics & Evolution › Constituent Assembly Official Key

Who was the Provisional President of the Constituent Assembly before Dr. Rajendra Prasad took over ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha (the eldest member) was elected to become the Provisional President of the Constituent Assembly[1], before Dr. Rajendra Prasad was formally elected as the permanent President of the Assembly on 11 December 1946[1]. Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, the oldest member, was elected as the temporary Chairman of the Assembly, following the French practice[2]. The Constituent Assembly held its first meeting on December 9, 1946[2], and on December 11, 1946, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent Chairman (President) of the Assembly[2]. The other options are incorrect: C. Rajagopalachari was not associated with this provisional role, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, and T.T. Krishnamachari was not the provisional president.

Sources
  1. [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 2: Making of the Constitution > WORKING OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY > p. 12
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Who was the Provisional President of the Constituent Assembly before Dr. Rajendra Prasad took over ? [A] C. Rajagopalachari [B] Dr. B.R…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 7.5/10
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Statement 1
Was C. Rajagopalachari the Provisional President of the Constituent Assembly of India immediately before Dr. Rajendra Prasad took over?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"J.B. Kripalani, the Assembly’s Secretary, elected **Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha (the eldest member)** to become the **Provisional President** of the Constituent Assembly. Two days later, on 11 December 1946, **Dr. Rajendra Prasad** was formally elected as the permanent President of the Assembly."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha as the Provisional President of the Constituent Assembly.
  • States Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as permanent President two days later, implying Sinha held the provisional post immediately before Rajendra Prasad.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Dr Sachidanand Sinha was the first president of the Constituent Assembly. Later, Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected its president."
Why this source?
  • Confirms Dr Sachidanand Sinha was the first president of the Constituent Assembly.
  • Notes that Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected its president later, supporting that Sinha preceded Rajendra Prasad (not C. Rajagopalachari).

Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 2: Making of the Constitution > WORKING OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY > p. 12
Strength: 5/5
“The Constituent Assembly held its first meeting on December 9, 1946. The Muslim League boycotted the meeting and insisted on a separate state of Pakistan. The meeting was, thus, attended by only 207 members. Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, the oldest member, was elected. as the temporary Chairman of the Assembly, following the French practice. On December 11, 1946, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent Chairman (President) of the Assembly. Similarly, on January 25, 1947, H.C. Mukherjee was elected as the Vice-President of the Assembly. Later on, the Assembly resolved to have two Vice-Presidents. Accordingly, on July 16, 1947, V.”
Why relevant

States that Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, the oldest member, was elected as the temporary (provisional) Chairman of the Assembly following the French practice.

How to extend

A student could use this rule (oldest member = temporary chairman) plus a list of assembly members to check who actually held the provisional post immediately before Rajendra Prasad.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 35: Making of the Constitution for India > Constituent Assembly > p. 617
Strength: 5/5
“the name of Dr Sachhidanand Sinha, the oldest member of the Assembly, for the post of the provisional president. Later, on December 11, Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected as the President of the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly appointed several committees for framing the constitution. These committees submitted their reports between April and August 1947 and on the basis of these reports, Dr B.N. Rau, the Constitutional Adviser, submitted a draft of the Constitution by the end of October 1947. This draft contained 240 Clauses and 13 Schedules. In order to consider this Draft Constitution, a Drafting Committee under the chairmanship of Dr B.R.”
Why relevant

Names Dr Sachhidanand Sinha as the nominee for the post of provisional president and notes that on December 11 Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected President.

How to extend

Compare the named provisional office-holder (Sinha) and the date Rajendra Prasad assumed office to see whether anyone else (e.g., Rajagopalachari) could have been provisional president in between.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 2: Making of the Constitution > WORKING OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY > p. 12
Strength: 4/5
“The Constituent Assembly held its first meeting on December 9, 1946. The Muslim League boycotted the meeting and insisted on a separate state of Pakistan. The meeting was, thus, attended by only 207 members. Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha, the oldest member, was elected. as the temporary Chairman of the Assembly, following the French practice. On December 11, 1946, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent Chairman (President) of the Assembly. Similarly, on January 25, 1947, H.C. Mukherjee was elected as the Vice-President of the Assembly. Later on, the Assembly resolved to have two Vice-Presidents. Accordingly, on July 16, 1947, V.T.”
Why relevant

Repeats that the oldest member (Sachchidananda Sinha) was elected temporary Chairman and that Rajendra Prasad was elected permanent Chairman on December 11, 1946.

How to extend

Use these successive-role statements (temporary chairman → Rajendra Prasad elected on a specific date) to infer who immediately preceded Rajendra Prasad in that role.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 33: Challenges Before the New-born Nation > First Day of Independent India > p. 590
Strength: 3/5
“August 15, 1947 started an epoch that ended India's colonial subjugation and looked forward to a new India—India as an independent country. The Constituent Assembly of India met at 11 p.m. on August 14, 1947. Rajendra Prasad presided over the session. In a ceremony held in the Constituent Assembly (in Parliament House) at midnight of August 14-15, 1947,”
Why relevant

Notes that Rajendra Prasad presided over the Assembly session at the transition to independence (August 14–15, 1947), indicating his established role as presiding officer after his election.

How to extend

Combine Rajendra Prasad's confirmed presiding role at key dates with the earlier provisional-chair practice to rule out other figures serving as provisional president immediately before him.

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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