It would have been difficult for the Constituent Assembly to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India in just three years but for the experience gained with the Government of India Act, 1935. Discuss.

Ready federal design

The Act's three lists and federal structure became the base of the Seventh Schedule, so the Assembly adapted rather than invented.

Working institutions

The Federal Court, Public Service Commissions, the Auditor General and the Governor were redesigned as the Supreme Court, UPSC, CAG and state Governors.

Emergency provisions

Section 93's takeover of a failed province became Article 356.

Governing experience

Congress ministries of 1937 trained leaders like G.B. Pant, and B.N. Rau, who knew the Act, drafted the first text.

Nationalist rehearsal

The Nehru Report (1928), the Karachi Resolution (1931) and the Objectives Resolution (1946) had already set rights and goals.

Method and consensus

Committees on rights, minorities and states fed a Drafting Committee under Ambedkar, and a dominant Congress built agreement.

Selective global borrowing

Rights drew on the US Bill of Rights and Directive Principles on the Irish Constitution, so models were chosen, not invented.