Constitution of India

10 a.m. in Constitution Hall

The Constituent Assembly convened at 10 a.m. on 26 November 1949 in Constitution Hall, New Delhi, with its president, Rajendra Prasad, in the chair.

Vallabhbhai Patel announced that all nine states listed in Part B of the Constitution's First Schedule, Hyderabad among them, had signified their acceptance of the Constitution.

Prasad then put B. R. Ambedkar's motion — "That the Constitution as settled by the Assembly be passed" — to the house. It was adopted to prolonged cheers; the published proceedings record no numerical tally.

Passed, authenticated, mostly dormant

Prasad authenticated the Constitution as passed: 395 articles and eight schedules. Under Article 394, transitional provisions concerning matters such as citizenship and elections took effect immediately.

Most of the document was scheduled for 26 January 1950. Members did not sign the calligraphed final copies until 24 January 1950.

The paperwork behind the cheers

Roughly 7,635 draft amendments had been tabled and 2,473 actually moved. At least 53,000 visitors had been admitted to the gallery while the Constitution was under consideration.

Assembly expenditure through 22 November 1949 came to ₹6,396,729. Before adjournment Prasad said he wanted to shake hands with every member, and the members filed past him.