The Constituent Assembly formed several committees to divide the complex work of constitution-making. The Assembly appointed 13 committees, of which 8 were considered major committees, while the remaining committees dealt mainly with procedural, administrative and specific matters.
I. Major Committees of the Constituent Assembly
No. Major Committee Chairman
1 Union Powers Committee Jawaharlal Nehru
2 Union Constitution Committee Jawaharlal Nehru
3 Provincial Constitution Committee Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
4 Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
5 Drafting Committee Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
6 Rules of Procedure Committee Dr. Rajendra Prasad
7 States Committee Jawaharlal Nehru
8 Steering Committee Dr. Rajendra Prasad
This classification of eight major committees and their chairmen is given in the Government of India's Yojana publication.
1. Union Powers Committee — Jawaharlal Nehru
The Union Powers Committee examined the distribution and scope of powers between the proposed Union and the provinces. It was chaired by Jawaharlal Nehru. Its reports were among the important materials subsequently considered in drafting the Constitution.
2. Union Constitution Committee — Jawaharlal Nehru
This committee, also chaired by Jawaharlal Nehru, dealt with the broad principles concerning the Union Constitution. It considered important questions relating to the structure and functioning of the central constitutional system.
3. Provincial Constitution Committee — Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
The Provincial Constitution Committee was chaired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It examined the constitutional arrangements relating to the provinces, including the organization of provincial governments and legislatures.
4. Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas — Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
This was one of the most important committees and was chaired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
It dealt with:
Fundamental Rights
Safeguards for minorities
Tribal areas
Excluded and partially excluded areas
The committee had several important sub-committees, including the Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee, Minorities Sub-Committee and the Assam/Northeast tribal areas sub-committee.
5. Drafting Committee — Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
The Drafting Committee was appointed on 29 August 1947, with Dr. B. R. Ambedkar as Chairman.
Its principal responsibility was to prepare the Draft Constitution in accordance with the decisions taken by the Constituent Assembly and the reports of various committees. Ambedkar himself explained this role during the Constituent Assembly debates.
The original seven members were:
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar — Chairman
N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar
Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
K. M. Munshi
Syed Mohammad Saadulla
B. L. Mitter
D. P. Khaitan
B. L. Mitter was later replaced by N. Madhava Rau, while D. P. Khaitan was later replaced by T. T. Krishnamachari.
6. Rules of Procedure Committee — Dr. Rajendra Prasad
This committee was chaired by Dr. Rajendra Prasad. It was responsible for framing the rules governing the proceedings and functioning of the Constituent Assembly and its committees.
7. States Committee — Jawaharlal Nehru
The States Committee, also associated with negotiations with the Indian States, was chaired by Jawaharlal Nehru. It dealt with questions relating to the representation and constitutional relationship of the Princely States with the proposed Union.
8. Steering Committee — Dr. Rajendra Prasad
The Steering Committee was chaired by Dr. Rajendra Prasad. It helped coordinate and organize the business of the Constituent Assembly.
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II. Minor / Other Committees
The remaining committees dealt largely with administrative, procedural and specific constitutional matters.
Committee Chairman
Finance and Staff Committee Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Credentials Committee Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
House Committee B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya
Order of Business Committee K. M. Munshi
Ad hoc Committee on the National Flag Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Committee on the Functions of the Constituent Assembly G. V. Mavalankar
Committee on Chief Commissioners' Provinces B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya
These committee-chairman associations are recorded in parliamentary and Government of India publications.
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Important Sub-Committees
The Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas had particularly important sub-committees.
Sub-Committee Chairman
Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee J. B. Kripalani
Minorities Sub-Committee H. C. Mookherjee
North-East Frontier Tribal Areas and Assam Excluded & Partially Excluded Areas Sub-Committee Gopinath Bordoloi
Excluded and Partially Excluded Areas (other than Assam) Sub-Committee A. V. Thakkar
The official parliamentary record confirms these chairmen.
Bardoloi Committee
The North-East Frontier Tribal Areas and Assam Excluded and Partially Excluded Areas Sub-Committee was chaired by Gopinath Bordoloi and is commonly known as the Bardoloi Committee. It was particularly important for the constitutional treatment of tribal areas in Assam and the Northeast.
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⭐ Most Important Exam Facts
Union Powers Committee → Jawaharlal Nehru
Union Constitution Committee → Jawaharlal Nehru
Provincial Constitution Committee → Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Advisory Committee → Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Drafting Committee → Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Rules of Procedure Committee → Dr. Rajendra Prasad
States Committee → Jawaharlal Nehru
Steering Committee → Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee → J. B. Kripalani
Minorities Sub-Committee → H. C. Mookherjee
Bardoloi Committee → Gopinath Bordoloi
Excluded Areas Committee (other than Assam) → A. V. Thakkar
Primary/Official Sources
Digital Sansad, Parliament of India — Constituent Assembly and its committees
Government of India, Yojana — Making of the Indian Constitution
Parliament Digital Library — Committees of the Constituent Assembly and their Chairmen
Constituent Assembly Debates / Ministry of External Affairs — role of the Drafting Committee
Constitution of India — Digitised Constituent Assembly materials and committee reports
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