Consider the following statement regarding changes made by the Indian Independence Act of 1947 in the position of Constituent Assembly. a. The Constituent Assembly was made a fully sovereign body. b. The Constituent Assembly became the first Parliament of free India. c. When the Constituent Assembly met as the Legislative body it was chaired by Dr. Rajendr Prasad. d. The total strength of the Constituent Assembly came down to 299 as against 389. Correct Answer Statements a, b and d are correct The correct answer is Statements a, b, and d are correct. Key Points The Constituent Assembly first met as the Legislative body on 9th December 1946. The first meeting was held in the constitution hall (now the Central Hall of Parliament House). When the Constituent Assembly met as the Legislative body Sachchidananda Sinha presided over it (Temporarily). Hence statement c is not correct. The Constituent Assembly was made a fully sovereign body. The Constituent Assembly became the first Parliament of free India. Since the representatives of the areas incorporated into Pakistan ceased to be members of the Constituent Assembly of India The total strength of the Constituent Assembly came down to 299 as against 389. Hence statement a, b and d are correct. Important Points Constituent assembly An idea for a Constituent Assembly was proposed in 1934 by M. N. Roy, a pioneer of the Communist movement in India. The total time taken to frame the constitution was 2 years 11 months and 17days. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar had studied the constitutions of about 60 countries while drafting the constitution. He was chairman of the drafting committee. Ambedkar is recognized as the "Father of the Indian Constitution". The most important provisions of the Independence Act were: Division of British India into the two new dominions of India and Pakistan, with effect from 15 August 1947. Partition of the provinces of Bengal and Punjab between the two new countries. Establishment of the office of Governor-General in each of the two new countries, as representatives of the Crown. Termination of British suzerainty over the princely states, with effect from 15 August 1947. These princely states could decide to join either India or Pakistan. Abolition of the use of the title "Emperor of India" by the British monarch.