Correct Option
The correct option is 1 only
Explanation
The Constituent Assembly of India was constituted in November 1946 under the scheme formulated by the Cabinet Mission Plan. The plan laid down the specific allocation of seats and the method of election for the assembly members.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: The total strength of the Constituent Assembly was fixed at 389. Out of these, 93 seats were allotted to the Princely States, while 296 seats were allotted to British India.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Provinces (British India) were allotted 296 seats (292 members from the eleven Governors' Provinces and 4 from the four Chief Commissioners' Provinces). The figure of 500 is factually incorrect.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The allocation of seats was not based on equal representation for all religions. Instead, seats were allotted to every province and princely state roughly in proportion to their respective population (approximately one seat for every million people). Within the provinces, seats were divided among the three main communities-Muslims, Sikhs, and General-in proportion to their population.
Key Takeaway
The Cabinet Mission Plan allocated seats in the Constituent Assembly strictly based on the proportion of the population (1:1,000,000), dividing the 389 seats between British India (296) and Princely States (93).