Indian Polity : Historical Background & Making Of The Constitution
UPSC CSE Prelims 2002
The Constituent Assembly of India was constituted in November 1946 under the Cabinet Mission Plan. Its members were indirectly elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies. The method of election was through proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. The Assembly comprised 389 members, with 292 seats allocated to British Indian Provinces and 93 seats to Princely States. While major political parties like the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League secured significant representation, the election mechanism involved the provincial legislatures.