Topic 03 of 6 ยท Chapter 01 ยท Indian Polity
Committees of the Constituent Assembly
All major committees, their chairpersons, and their roles in framing the Indian Constitution โ the most frequently asked topic in exams.
๐ In This Article
1. Why Were Committees Formed?
The Constituent Assembly was a large body of 299 members. To handle the complex task of drafting a Constitution for a diverse nation, the Assembly set up a number of committees and sub-committees.
๐ก Total Committees: The Constituent Assembly set up approximately 22 committees โ 8 major committees and 14 minor committees.
2. Major Committees & Their Chairpersons
| # | Committee | Chairperson |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drafting Committee | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar |
| 2 | Union Powers Committee | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 3 | Union Constitution Committee | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 4 | Provincial Constitution Committee | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel |
| 5 | Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities & Tribal Areas | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel |
| 6 | Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee | J.B. Kripalani |
| 7 | Minorities Sub-Committee | H.C. Mukherjee |
| 8 | Steering Committee | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
| 9 | Rules of Procedure Committee | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
| 10 | Finance & Staff Committee | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
| 11 | States Committee | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 12 | Ad hoc Committee on the National Flag | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
โญ Memory Trick: Ambedkar โ Drafting | Nehru โ Union Powers + Union Constitution + States | Patel โ Provincial Constitution + Advisory (FR) | Rajendra Prasad โ Steering + Rules + Finance + National Flag
3. The Drafting Committee โ Most Important
The Drafting Committee was constituted on August 29, 1947 and was tasked with preparing the actual draft of the Constitution.
| # | Member | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar | Chairman โ “Father of the Indian Constitution” |
| 2 | N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar | โ |
| 3 | Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar | โ |
| 4 | Dr. K.M. Munshi | โ |
| 5 | Syed Muhammad Saadullah | โ |
| 6 | B.L. Mitter | Resigned; replaced by N. Madhava Rao |
| 7 | D.P. Khaitan | Died 1948; replaced by T.T. Krishnamachari |
โ
Key Dates: Constituted: August 29, 1947 ยท Draft submitted: February 21, 1948 ยท Final draft adopted: November 26, 1949
๐ก Did You Know? Sir B.N. Rau (Constitutional Adviser) prepared the initial draft, which was then handed to the Drafting Committee for revision.
4. Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities & Tribal Areas
Chaired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, this committee had three sub-committees:
Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee
๐ค Chairman: J.B. Kripalani
Drafted the Fundamental Rights provisions (Articles 12โ35).
Minorities Sub-Committee
๐ค Chairman: H.C. Mukherjee
Dealt with rights and protections for religious and linguistic minorities.
North-East Frontier Tribal Areas Sub-Committee
๐ค Chairman: Gopinath Bardoloi
Dealt with special provisions for tribal areas in North-East India.
5. Key Points for Exam
๐ Must-Remember Facts
- Total committees: approximately 22 (8 major + 14 minor)
- Drafting Committee constituted: August 29, 1947
- Drafting Committee Chairman: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
- Drafting Committee had 7 members
- B.L. Mitter โ replaced by N. Madhava Rao
- D.P. Khaitan โ replaced by T.T. Krishnamachari
- Union Powers Committee: Nehru
- Provincial Constitution Committee: Patel
- Advisory Committee (Fundamental Rights): Patel
- Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee: J.B. Kripalani
- Minorities Sub-Committee: H.C. Mukherjee
- Steering Committee: Dr. Rajendra Prasad
- Draft submitted to President: February 21, 1948