Important Committees of the Constituent Assembly

The Constituent Assembly of India, formed in December 1946, was entrusted with the monumental task of drafting the Constitution of India, which came into force on 26 January 1950. To manage the vast and complex work involved, the Assembly appointed numerous committees, each tasked with examining specific aspects of the future Constitution and governance framework. These committees—comprising eminent leaders, jurists, and administrators—laid the groundwork for one of the world’s most comprehensive and enduring constitutions.
The committees can broadly be classified into major committees and minor/other committees, each playing a crucial role in shaping various constitutional provisions, administrative structures, and fundamental principles of governance.

Background and Organisation of the Constituent Assembly

The Constituent Assembly consisted of 389 members (later reduced to 299 after Partition) representing provinces, princely states, and chief commissioners’ provinces. To ensure systematic deliberation, the drafting process was decentralised through committees focusing on different subjects such as fundamental rights, the union and provincial constitutions, judiciary, finance, and minorities.
The Assembly met for 11 sessions between December 1946 and November 1949, and its committees’ reports collectively formed the basis of the final Draft Constitution, presented on 26 November 1949.

Major Committees of the Constituent Assembly

The following were the key committees responsible for drafting, structuring, and defining the core framework of the Indian Constitution:

1. Drafting Committee

• Chairman: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
• Members: K. M. Munshi, Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar, N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar, Mohammad Saadulla, B. L. Mitter (later replaced by N. Madhava Rau), and D. P. Khaitan (later replaced by T. T. Krishnamachari).
• Purpose: To prepare the draft text of the Constitution based on reports and recommendations of various other committees.
• Significance:
  • The committee produced the first draft in February 1948 and the second draft in October 1948.
  • It synthesised different committee reports into a coherent constitutional framework, addressing key issues such as fundamental rights, federal structure, separation of powers, and citizenship.
  • Dr. Ambedkar’s legal and analytical acumen earned him recognition as the “Chief Architect of the Indian Constitution.”

2. Union Powers Committee

• Chairman: Jawaharlal Nehru
• Purpose: To define the powers of the Union government and its relationship with the provinces (states).
• Key Contributions:
  • Recommended a strong Centre with extensive legislative, executive, and financial powers to ensure national unity.
  • Established the foundation for India’s quasi-federal structure with unitary bias during emergencies.

3. Union Constitution Committee

• Chairman: Jawaharlal Nehru
• Purpose: To design the basic framework of the Union Constitution, including the structure of the central legislature, executive, and judiciary.
• Key Contributions:
  • Recommended a parliamentary system of government.
  • Suggested the President as a nominal head and the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister as the real executive authority.

4. Provincial Constitution Committee

• Chairman: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
• Purpose: To frame the constitution of provinces (states) and define their powers and administrative structures.
• Key Contributions:
  • Recommended a parliamentary form of government at the provincial level.
  • Advocated for a responsible government with elected representatives.
  • Established the foundation for India’s state governments within the federal system.

5. Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities, and Tribal and Excluded Areas

• Chairman: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
• Purpose: To frame provisions concerning Fundamental Rights, protection of minorities, and administration of tribal and excluded areas.
• Subcommittees under this committee:
  • Fundamental Rights Subcommittee – chaired by J. B. Kripalani.
  • Minorities Subcommittee – chaired by H. C. Mookherjee.
  • North-East Frontier (Tribal) Areas Subcommittee – chaired by Gopinath Bordoloi.
• Key Contributions:
  • Drafted the Fundamental Rights enshrined in Part III of the Constitution.
  • Recommended abolition of untouchability and guarantees of civil liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and equality before law.
  • Defined safeguards for religious, linguistic, and cultural minorities.
  • Proposed autonomous administration for tribal areas, leading to the Sixth Schedule provisions.

6. States Committee (Committee for Negotiating with States)

• Chairman: Jawaharlal Nehru
• Purpose: To negotiate the terms of union with the princely states and decide their status within the Indian Union.
• Key Contributions:
  • Facilitated the integration of princely states into the Indian Union.
  • Recommended their eventual inclusion into the constitutional framework on equal terms with the provinces.

7. Steering Committee

• Chairman: Dr. Rajendra Prasad (who was also the President of the Constituent Assembly)
• Purpose: To coordinate the work of various committees and fix the agenda for the Assembly’s meetings.
• Significance:
  • Functioned as the central coordinating body ensuring orderly progress in the constitution-making process.

Minor and Specialised Committees

In addition to the major committees, several other committees were formed to examine specific administrative, linguistic, and procedural matters.

8. Rules of Procedure Committee

• Chairman: Dr. Rajendra Prasad
• Purpose: To draft rules for conducting the business of the Constituent Assembly.
• Contribution:
  • Established procedures for debates, voting, and submission of amendments.

9. Finance and Staff Committee

• Chairman: Dr. Rajendra Prasad
• Purpose: To oversee financial management, staff appointments, and administrative expenses of the Constituent Assembly.

10. Credentials Committee

• Chairman: Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar
• Purpose: To verify the credentials of Assembly members and resolve disputes regarding their eligibility or representation.

11. House Committee

• Chairman: B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya
• Purpose: To arrange accommodation and facilities for the members of the Constituent Assembly.

12. Order of Business Committee

• Chairman: K. M. Munshi
• Purpose: To set the sequence of business for Assembly discussions.

13. Ad hoc Committee on National Flag

• Chairman: Dr. Rajendra Prasad
• Purpose: To design and recommend the national flag for independent India.
• Outcome: Recommended the tricolour (saffron, white, and green) with the Ashoka Chakra in the centre, which was adopted on 22 July 1947.

14. Committee on the Functions of the Constituent Assembly

• Chairman: G. V. Mavalankar
• Purpose: To define the functions and responsibilities of the Assembly during the constitution-making process.

15. Committee on Chief Commissioners’ Provinces

• Chairman: B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya
• Purpose: To decide the administrative structure and constitutional position of Chief Commissioners’ provinces like Delhi, Ajmer, and Coorg.

16. Expert Committee on Financial Provisions

• Chairman: N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar
• Purpose: To examine financial distribution between the Centre and the provinces, later forming the basis of Centre-State financial relations in the Constitution.

Significance of the Committees

The committees of the Constituent Assembly were instrumental in ensuring a comprehensive, participatory, and structured approach to constitution-making. Their significance can be summarised as follows:

• Specialisation: Division of work among committees ensured expert handling of complex issues such as federalism, rights, and minority protection.
• Efficiency: Enabled systematic drafting and deliberation, saving time and ensuring focus on every subject area.
• Consensus Building: Committees reflected diverse political, religious, and regional representation, promoting democratic consensus.
• Foundation for Constitutional Values: The reports of committees laid down the philosophical and legal framework that guided the drafting of the Constitution.