Sachchidananda Sinha: Interim President of the Constituent Assembly
Why in News?
- India remembered Sachchidananda Sinha, the first interim president of the Constituent Assembly, on his 155th birth anniversary, observed on 10 November 2026, The Tribune reported.
- The Assembly's first meeting was held on 9 December 1946 in New Delhi. As its senior-most member he was nominated temporary chairman on the proposal of Acharya J. B. Kripalani and presided over the inaugural session.
- Bihar Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) spoke at a special session and released a commemorative brochure.
Key Terminologies
- Sachchidananda Sinha
- A jurist, journalist and public figure from Bihar, born on 10 November 1871 and known as the Father of Modern Bihar. He died in 1950.
- Constituent Assembly
- The body that drafted the Constitution of India. Its members were elected by the provincial legislatures under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946, and it first met on 9 December 1946.
- Interim President
- The temporary chairman who presides until the Assembly elects its permanent president. Sinha held the post as the oldest member, and Rajendra Prasad was elected permanent president on 11 December 1946.
- Bihar Separation of 1912
- The creation of the province of Bihar and Orissa, carved out of the Bengal Presidency in 1912 after a campaign in which Sinha played a key role.
- Hindustan Review and The Searchlight
- A journal that Sinha edited, and a newspaper associated with its founding in 1918, both of which carried nationalist ideas in Bihar.
Key Issues
- Interim President: At the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly on 9 December 1946, Sinha, as the senior-most member, was nominated temporary chairman on the proposal of Acharya J. B. Kripalani and presided over the inaugural session, The Tribune reported.
- Anniversary: He was remembered on his 155th birth anniversary, which fell on 10 November 2026.
- Making of Bihar: He played a key role in the movement of 1912 to separate Bihar from the Bengal Presidency, and is known as the Father of Modern Bihar.
- Press and Public Offices: He edited the Hindustan Review and was associated with the founding of The Searchlight in 1918. He served as chairman of the Bihar and Orissa Legislative Council and as Vice-Chancellor of Patna University from 1936 to 1944.
- Philanthropy: He donated land and property for public and educational use, and the Governor released a commemorative brochure in his memory.
Key Implications
Positive/Pros/Merits
- Constitutional Memory: Remembering the interim president restores attention to the start of the Constituent Assembly and to the process that produced the Constitution.
- Regional Pride: Sinha's role in creating Bihar links the anniversary to the history of provincial identity.
- Press History: His work in journalism shows how newspapers supported the freedom movement.
- Education Legacy: His term as Vice-Chancellor of Patna University and donations for education show a public-spirited career.
Negative/Cons/Demerits
- Neglected Figure: Many students know the permanent president, Rajendra Prasad, and the Drafting Committee chair, B. R. Ambedkar, but not the interim president.
- Limited Records: The report gave no birth date, no details of his legal practice and no mention of the handover to Rajendra Prasad.
- Regional Focus: Commemoration often stays with his home state and may not reach the national curriculum.
- Contested Histories: Credit for the separation of Bihar is shared among many leaders and movements.
Key Initiatives
- Government of Bihar: The Governor, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), spoke at a special session and released a commemorative brochure on 10 November 2026.
- Constituent Assembly of India: It met first on 9 December 1946 under Sinha as temporary chairman.
- Acharya J. B. Kripalani: He proposed Sinha's name as temporary chairman, according to the report.
- Patna University: Sinha served as its Vice-Chancellor from 1936 to 1944.
The Tribune report did not give his birth date or the handover to Rajendra Prasad. The birth date of 10 November 1871 and the election of Rajendra Prasad on 11 December 1946 are standard background and not in the report.
Director's Perspective
Way Forward
- Remember the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly on 9 December 1946.
- Know that Sinha was the interim president and Rajendra Prasad the permanent president.
- Link the Assembly's formation to the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946.
- Recall the creation of Bihar and Orissa in 1912.
- In answers, note that the practice of an oldest-member chair follows a parliamentary tradition.
Sachchidananda Sinha's role as interim president on 9 December 1946 marks the start of the making of the Constitution, and his earlier campaign for a separate Bihar, his journalism and his term at Patna University show a wide public career. His 155th birth anniversary is a reminder that the Assembly's work began with senior figures who linked the freedom movement to the new republic. In a Mains answer, describe the formation and first session of the Constituent Assembly and the roles of its presiding officers, and conclude that remembering such figures gives a fuller picture of how the Constitution was made.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Sachchidananda Sinha?
Sachchidananda Sinha was a jurist, journalist and public figure from Bihar, known as the Father of Modern Bihar. He was the interim president of the Constituent Assembly and presided over its first session on 9 December 1946, The Tribune reported on his 155th birth anniversary.
Why was Sachchidananda Sinha the interim president of the Constituent Assembly?
As the senior-most member, he was nominated temporary chairman on the proposal of Acharya J. B. Kripalani and presided over the inaugural session in New Delhi on 9 December 1946, according to The Tribune. Rajendra Prasad was later elected the permanent president.
What did Sachchidananda Sinha do for Bihar?
He played a key role in the 1912 movement to separate Bihar from the Bengal Presidency, edited the Hindustan Review, was associated with the founding of The Searchlight in 1918, chaired the Bihar and Orissa Legislative Council and was Vice-Chancellor of Patna University from 1936 to 1944.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Sachchidananda Sinha was the interim president of the Constituent Assembly.
He presided over its first meeting on 9 December 1946.
2 The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly was held in 1950.
It was held on 9 December 1946 in New Delhi.
3 Bihar was separated from the Bengal Presidency in 1912.
Sachchidananda Sinha played a key role in the movement.