The Constitution of India was framed by the Constituent Assembly. The Assembly was constituted in 1946. The members of the Constituent Assembly were indirectly elected by the members of the existing Provincial Assemblies. In addition, there were members nominated by the rulers of the Princely States. With Independence of India, the Constituent Assembly became a fully sovereign body.

The Constituent Assembly, following the partition of the country in 1947, consisted of 299 members as on 31st December 1947. Of these, 229 members were elected by the Provincial Assemblies and the rest were nominated by the rulers of the Princely States. Majority of the members in the Constituent Assembly belonged to the Congress Party. All prominent leaders of the freedom movement were the members of the Assembly.