Who was the Provisional President of the Constituent Assembly before Dr. Rajendra Prasad took over?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha
Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha presided over the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly on 9 December 1946 as its temporary Chairman, because he was its oldest member. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was then elected the permanent President on 11 December 1946.
- ✓ (d) At the first sitting, J.B. Kripalani invited Dr. Sinha to take the chair as temporary Chairman, pointing out that he was the oldest member and the oldest parliamentarian in India.
- ✗ (b) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is remembered as Chairman of the Drafting Committee, not as the presiding officer of the Assembly.
- ✗ (a) C. Rajagopalachari was not the temporary Chairman at the first sitting on 9 December 1946.
- ✗ (c) T.T. Krishnamachari was not the temporary Chairman at the first sitting on 9 December 1946.
Remember · First sitting 9 December 1946: Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha (oldest member) was temporary Chairman; Dr. Rajendra Prasad became permanent President on 11 December 1946.
Sources
- Constituent Assembly Debates, Vol. I, 9 December 1946 (Sansad) ↗ “I invite, on your behalf, Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha to be the temporary Chairman of this Assembly. Dr. Sinha needs no introduction. You all know him. He is not only the oldest among us but also the oldest parliamentarian in India”
- Backgrounder: Constitution Day, 26 November (PIB) ↗ “First meeting of the Constituent Assembly was attended by 205 members, including 9 women under the chairmanship of Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha -- 9 December 1946 … Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Chairman, Drafting Committee, Constituent Assembly (1946-1949)”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·