India’s Constituent Assembly of 1946
Committee description:
ADVANCED COMMITTEE
In 1946, India’s Constituent Assembly convened for the first time to shape the future of Swaraj: a sovereign Indian nation after years of British rule. The political body of the Assembly carries the responsibility of drafting a constitution that addressed a series of complex questions, including governance, justice, and both political and economic issues. This committee invites delegates to step into the shoes of India’s founding figures, such as B.R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Vallabhbhai Patel, to determine the political and economic structure of an independent and autonomous India.
Topic 1: FORM AND STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT
Should India adopt a parliamentary democracy modeled after Britain, or a presidential system like that of the United States? Delegates will navigate questions of executive power, legislative accountability, and the role of the judiciary, while bearing in mind India’s unique context and colonial legacy. The debate will also include defining the relationship between the central government and the states. Will India become a unitary, federal, or quasi-federal state? These decisions will shape how political power is exercised and distributed in the new republic.
Topic 2: ECONOMIC MODEL AND LAND REFORM
Post-independence India faces serious economic disparities, particularly in rural poverty and feudal-like landholding structures. Delegates are tasked with deciding India’s economic future. Should the nation pursue socialist planning, like the USSR; free-market liberalism, like the United States; a mixed economy, like Western European nations; or develop its own unique model? Beyond economic planning, the Assembly must also address land reform and how land will be redistributed. Delegates are encouraged to debate issues such as agrarian justice, land redistribution, tenancy regulation, and other reforms aimed at improving the lives of millions of Indians in rural areas.
ABOUT YOUR DIRECTOR:
MATHEUS NUCCI MASCARENHAS
Matheus Nucci Mascarenhas (or Matt) is super excited to be a Director at YMUN South Asia! Born and raised in a countryside city near São Paulo, Brazil, Matheus is a first-year student at Saybrook College and intends to major in Ethics, Politics, and Economics. Outside YMUN LATAM, Matheus is a Case-Team Lead of the Global Strategy Consulting Group, the Co-President of the Brazil Club, and a Director in YMUN Latin America. In his free time, he loves reading Brazilian literature and hanging out with his dear friends. Bringing a warm, friendly, and hardworking spirit, Matheus is excited to serve as Director. He is devoted to ensuring delegates have a dynamic, enriching and fun MUN experience! Matheus is always happy and available to answer any questions at matheus.mascarenhas@yale.edu.