Major Committees

In 1946, Dr. B R Ambedkar spearheaded the constituent assembly, responsible for drafting the constitution of India met in New Delhi for the first time, to project a roadmap for the development of the constitution for the world’s largest democracy.

The constituent assembly consisted of the individuals as recommended indirectly by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies and two hundred and ninety-two members were selected by the same procedure. Furthermore, ninety-three members were representing the then Indian princely states, and four members were representing the Chief Commissioners’ Provinces. 

Due to the increasing complexities of the work involved, the assembly formulated twenty-two committees, including the drafting committee for efficient functioning and covering the diverse sectors of the country for the drafting of the constitution. 

Amongst the twenty-two committees formed, eight of the committees were recognized as the major committees and the rest of them were subcommittees. Two types of committees were instituted and were classified based on their basic functioning. Following are the types of committees formed based on their functioning:

• Committees that worked on the procedural matters

• Committees that worked on matters of material importance

The committees formulated submit in their reports which are further substantiated by the drafting committee with a probable legal framework. 

Major Committees

Out of twenty-two established committees, the constituent assembly formulated eight major committees and others were the subcommittees or minor committees. 

1. Union Power Committee: Headed by Jawaharlal Nehru

2. Union Constitution Committee: Headed by Jawaharlal Nehru

3. Provincial Constitution Committee: Headed by Sardar Patel

4. Drafting Committee: Dr. B.R Ambedkar

5. Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities, Tribal and Excluded Areas: Headed by Sardar Patel.

The Committee had the following subcommittees:

1. Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee: Headed by J.B. Kripalani

2. Minorities Sub-Committee: Headed by HC Mukherjee

3. North-East Frontier Tribal Areas and Assam Excluded and Partially Excluded Areas Sub Committee: Headed by Gopinath Bardoloi

4. Excluded and Partially Excluded Areas (Other than those in Assam): Headed by A.V. Thakkar

  6. Rules of Procedure Committee: Headed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad

  7. States Committee (For negotiation): Headed by Jawaharlal Nehru

  8. Steering Committee: Headed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Minor Communities

1. Committee on the Functions of the Constituent Assembly: Headed by G.V. Mavalankar

2. Order of Business Committee: Headed by Dr. K.M. Munshi

3. House Committee: Headed by B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya

4. Ad-Hoc Committee on the National Flag: Headed by Dr. Jawaharlal Nehru

5. Special Committee to Examine the Draft Constitution: Headed by Jawaharlal Nehru

6. Credentials Committee: Headed by Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar

7. Finance and Staff Committee: Heade by Dr. Rajendra Prasad

8. Press Gallery Committee: Headed by Usha Nath Sen

9. Committee to Examine the Effect of Indian Independence Act of 1947

10. Committee on Chief Commissioners’ Provinces: Headed by B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya

11. Commission on Linguistic Provinces: Headed by S.K. Dar

12. Expert Committee on Financial Provinces: Headed by Nalini Ranjan Sarkar

13. Ad-Hoc Committee on the Supreme Court: Headed by S. Varadarachari

14. Ad-Hoc Committee on Citizenship: Headed by S. Varadarachari

Drafting Committee

The drafting committee constitutes one of the most important committees involved in the formulation of the constitution. The committee consisted of the well-known names who were involved with the most crucial task of drafting the constitution. 

The members of the drafting committee were:

1. Dr. B R Ambedkar

2. N Gopalaswamy Ayyangar

3. Alladi Krishnaswamy  Ayyar

4. Dr. K M Munshi

5. Syed Mohammad Sadullah

6. N Madhava Rau

7. TT Krishnamachari

The committee was headed by the capable hands of Dr. B R Ambedkar. The committee based its work on the reports received by the other committees. The main purpose of the drafting committee was to provide the legal framework for the suggestions received in the reports of the other committees. Furthermore, the committee also sought and researched the constitution of the other countries for the suggestive models which can be applied in India. 

The drafting committee worked in a systematic manner and finished drafting the constitution of India in exactly two years, eleven months, and seventeen days.

Interesting Facts about Indian Constitution

• The constituent assembly paid special attention to contributing to making the Indian constitution one of the most unique ones in the world.

• Every page of the constitution is handwritten and calligraphed by the local artists of Shantiniketan.

• Indian constitution is also one of the largest constitutions to be ever written in the world.

• The total expenditure incurred on drafting the constitution came to be approximately Rs. 6.4 Billions

• The newly drafted constitution replaced the Government of India Act of 1935

• Article 32, which talks about the Right to Constitutional Remedies is considered the heart and soul of the constitution.

Conclusion

The constitutional assembly was formulated for the purpose of drafting the official constitution of India. The assembly further formed several committees for the purpose of including diverse research reports and opinions to draft the constitution of the world’s largest democracy. Twenty-two committees were formed, eight of which were classified as the major committees, and the rest were grouped as the minor or subcommittees.