Major Committees of the Indian Constituent Assembly, List, Objectives

Q: How many Major Committees were there?

There were 12 Major Committees, including the Drafting Committee, Union Powers Committee, Advisory Committee, Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee, and committees for minorities and excluded areas.

Q: Who chaired the Drafting Committee?

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee, which was responsible for preparing the final draft of the Constitution.

Q: What was the role of the Union Powers Committee?

The Union Powers Committee, chaired by Jawaharlal Nehru, examined the distribution of powers between the Union and the States and recommended legislative and executive powers for the Union government.

Q: Which committee dealt with Fundamental Rights?

The Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee, chaired by J.B. Kripalani, was responsible for formulating provisions on fundamental rights to protect civil liberties and individual freedoms.

Q: What was the function of the Advisory Committee?

Chaired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Advisory Committee provided guidance on policy matters, governance issues, and constitutional proposals from other committees.

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The Constituent Assembly of India was a landmark body responsible for framing the Constitution of independent India. It represented diverse regions, social groups, and political perspectives, ensuring that the Constitution was inclusive, coherent, and forward-looking. Understanding its committee system is crucial for UPSC aspirants, as it helps answer questions on Polity, Governance, Federalism, and Social Justice.

Constituent Assembly Formation

The Constituent Assembly of India was established to draft the Constitution and prepare for independent governance. Initially guided by the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946, it later gained full legislative powers through the Indian Independence Act of 1947. The Assembly represented provinces, princely states, and diverse communities, ensuring an inclusive constitution. Its first session was held on 9 December 1946, with Dr. Rajendra Prasad elected as President.

Initial Strength: 389 members (292 from provinces, 93 from princely states, 4 from Chief Commissioner provinces)
Post-Partition Strength: 299 members
First Meeting: 9 December 1946 (Interim President: Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha)
President: Dr. Rajendra Prasad (elected 11 December 1946)
Functioning Period: December 1946 – November 1949
Adoption of Constitution: 26 November 1949

Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946

The Cabinet Mission Plan was the blueprint for the Constituent Assembly’s formation. It outlined the composition, election procedure, and federal structure for India, ensuring fair representation of all provinces and communities. The plan also recommended committees to streamline constitution drafting. It emphasized consensus-building and a federal framework with Union and provincial autonomy.

Provided framework for formation and composition of the Assembly.
Determined method of election of members from provinces and princely states.
Recommended committees for specific constitutional tasks.
Emphasized federal structure and provincial autonomy.
Ensured representation of minorities and diverse communities.

Indian Independence Act of 1947

The Indian Independence Act legally empowered the Constituent Assembly as a sovereign legislative body. Passed by the British Parliament, it confirmed the Assembly’s authority to draft the Constitution and enact laws. The Act also made the Assembly the successor to British legislative powers in India.

Confirmed Constituent Assembly’s sovereign status.
Granted full legislative authority to draft laws and Constitution.
Recognized Assembly as successor to British legislative powers.
Enabled Assembly to act independently during transition.
Provided legal legitimacy for constitution-making and governance.

Objectives of Committees in the Constituent Assembly

The Constituent Assembly formed 22 committees to ensure systematic drafting and inclusive deliberation. Their objectives were:

Structured Drafting: Divide the complex task into manageable parts
Expert Consultation: Involve specialists in law, administration, and governance
Inclusivity: Represent different social groups, regions, and minorities
Deliberation & Review: Examine, debate, and refine proposals before Assembly approval
Efficiency: Reduce the workload on the main Assembly by pre-processing issues

Major Committees of the Indian Constituent Assembly List

Major Committees of the Indian Constituent Assembly handled the core aspects of the Constitution, including Union-State relations, fundamental rights, and governance structures.

Major Committees of the Indian Constituent Assembly List
Name of Major Committee	Chairperson	Function / Focus
Union Powers Committee	Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru	Examined the distribution of powers between Union and States; recommended legislative and executive powers for the Union government.
Union Constitution Committee	Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru	Drafted provisions for the structure and functioning of the Union government, including Parliament and executive authorities.
States Committee	Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru	Focused on relations between Centre and States, integration of princely states, and state autonomy.
Provincial Constitution Committee	Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel	Drafted a constitutional framework for provinces, including legislative and administrative powers at the provincial level.
Drafting Committee	B.R. Ambedkar	Drafted the Constitution of India, prepared and finalised clauses, and incorporated recommendations from other committees.
Advisory Committee	Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel	Provided advice on policy matters, governance issues, and constitutional proposals from other committees.
Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee	J.B. Kripalani	Formulated provisions on Fundamental Rights to safeguard civil liberties and individual freedoms.
Minorities Sub-Committee	H.C. Mukherjee	Examined safeguards for religious and cultural minorities and recommended protective measures.
North East Frontier Tribal Areas & Assam Excluded & Partially Excluded Areas Sub-Committee	A.V. Thakkar	Addressed administration and special constitutional provisions for tribal areas in North East India.
Excluded & Partially Excluded Areas Sub-Committee	A.V. Thakkar	Examined governance and legal provisions for areas excluded or partially excluded from regular provincial administration.
Rules and Procedure Committee	Dr. Rajendra Prasad	Determined rules and procedures for the Constituent Assembly’s functioning and legislative processes.
Steering Committee	Dr. Rajendra Prasad	Coordinated the work of all committees, prioritised the agenda, and ensured smooth workflow and reporting.

Minor Committees of the Indian Constituent Assembly List

The Minor Committees of the Indian Constituent Assembly assisted the major committees by handling administrative, procedural, and technical tasks. They ensured the smooth functioning of the Assembly and provided expert input for specialised areas such as finance, national symbols, citizenship, and media coverage.

Minor Committees of the Indian Constituent Assembly List
Name of Minor Committee	Chairperson	Function / Focus
Finance and Staff Committee	Dr. Rajendra Prasad	Managed administrative and financial arrangements of the Assembly, including salaries, staff appointments, and budgetary provisions.
Credentials Committee	Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar	Verified the credentials of Assembly members to ensure proper representation and legitimacy of membership.
House Committee	Pattabhi Sitaramayya	Oversaw accommodation, facilities, and logistical arrangements for members within the Assembly premises.
Order of Business Committee	Dr. K.M. Munshi	Scheduled the Assembly’s agenda, organized debates, and managed the flow of legislative business.
Ad Hoc Committee on National Flag	Dr. Rajendra Prasad	Recommended the design and adoption of the Indian national flag and its symbolic elements.
Committee on Functions of Constituent Assembly	G.V. Malvankar	Defined the operational functions, responsibilities, and procedural framework of the Assembly.
Ad Hoc Committee on Supreme Court	S. Varadachari	Drafted provisions and guidelines for the formation, powers, and functioning of the Supreme Court of India.
Committee on Chief Commissioners’ Provinces	Pattabhi Sitaramayya	Examined governance and administrative arrangements for Chief Commissioner provinces.
Expert Committee on Financial Provisions of the Union Constitution	Nalini Ranjan Sarkar	Drafted detailed financial provisions for the Union government, including revenue distribution and budgetary rules.
Linguistic Provinces Commission	S.K. Dhar	Proposed recommendations for the formation of language-based provinces and administrative divisions.
Special Committee to Examine Draft Constitution	Jawaharlal Nehru	Reviewed the draft Constitution, suggested revisions, and coordinated inputs from other committees.
Press Gallery Committee	Usha Nath Sen	Managed media access, press coverage, and reporting of Assembly proceedings.
Ad Hoc Committee on Citizenship	S. Varadachari	Drafted provisions related to citizenship, rights, and eligibility criteria for Indian citizens.

Women in the Indian Constituent Assembly

Women played a significant role in shaping India’s Constitution by participating actively in debates and committees. They contributed to issues related to fundamental rights, social justice, minority protection, and governance. Out of 299 members, 15 were women, representing various regions, communities, and professional backgrounds.

Women in the Indian Constituent Assembly
Name of Member	Committee(s)	Contribution / Focus
Ammu Swaminathan	Steering Committee, Fundamental Rights discussions	Contributed to policy and procedural deliberations on rights and governance
Annie Mascarene	Minor Committees	Assisted in administrative and procedural tasks of Assembly
Begum Aizaz Rasul	Advisory and Minor Committees	Advocated for minority rights and social justice provisions
Sarojini Naidu	Various Debates	Provided inputs on social reform, civil liberties, and governance
Sucheta Kripalani	Drafting Committee member	Worked on drafting provisions related to rights and governance
Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit	Advisory roles	Contributed to discussions on foreign policy and administrative issues
Hansa Mehta	Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee	Played a key role in drafting gender equality and civil rights provisions
Renuka Ray	Minor Committees	Focused on procedural and legislative matters
Purnima Banerji	Steering and Procedural Committees	Assisted in operational coordination of Assembly and debates

Drafting Committee

The Drafting Committee was the most important committee of the Constituent Assembly, tasked with preparing the final draft of the Constitution. Formed on 29 August 1947, it was chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and included six other members with expertise in law, administration, and governance.

Chairman: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, considered the chief architect of the Constitution.
Members: K.M. Munshi, N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar, Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar, Syed Mohammed Sadulla, B.L. Mitter (replaced by N. Madhava Rau), D.P. Khaitan (replaced by T.T. Ramakrishna Chari).
Formation Date: 29 August 1947.
Responsibilities: Drafted, reviewed, and finalized the Constitution, incorporating inputs from all other committees.
Key Milestones: First draft – Feb 1948, Second draft – Oct 1948, Final draft introduced – 4 Nov 1948, Adopted – 26 Nov 1949.