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Indian Polity / Making of the Constitution

Committees of Constituent Assembly of India


Different committees were being constituted by the Constituent Assembly of India to deal with various important issues while making the Constitution. Out of these, some committees were dealing with procedural affairs and others were dealing with substantive affairs. Each of these committees were headed by a chairman.



List of Committees of Constituent Assembly

  • Drafting Committee headed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

  • Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas headed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

  • Provincial Constitution Committee headed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

  • Committee on the Rules of Procedure headed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad

  • Steering Committee that was headed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad

  • Finance and Staff Committee headed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad

  • Ad hoc Committee on the National Flag headed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad

  • States Committee that was headed by Jawaharlal Nehru

  • Union Powers Committee that was headed by Jawaharlal Nehru

  • Union Constitution Committee that was headed by Jawaharlal Nehru

  • Credential Committee headed by Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer

  • Special Committee to Examine the Draft Constitution that was headed by Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer

  • Order of Business Committee that was headed by K.M. Munshi

  • House Committee headed by Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya

  • Committee on the Functions of the Constituent Assembly that was headed by G.V. Mavalankar

Drafting Committee of Constituent Assembly

  • The most important Committee of the Constituent Assembly was Drafting Committee, which was formed on 29th August, 1947 consisting of B.R. Ambedkar as its chairman and 6 members, namely Gopalaswami Ayyangar, Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer, K.M. Munshi, Mohammed Sadullah, N. Madhava Rao and T.T. Krishnamachari.

  • In the Drafting Committee, N. Madhava Rao replaced B.N. Mitter, who resigned due to ill health and T.T. Krishnamachari replaced D.P. Khaitan, who expired.

    Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who was initially represented Bengal province lost his membership due to division Bengal, part of which went to Pakistan. However, he was elected from Bombay province subsequently.

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

It is the largest Committee of the Constituent Assembly, consisting of 54 members headed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This Committee had 4 Sub-Committees.

  • Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee, which was headed by J.B. Kripalani

  • North-East Frontier Tribal Areas and Assam Excluded & Partially Excluded Areas Sub-Committee, which was headed by Gopinath Bardoloi

  • Excluded and Partially Excluded Areas (other than those in Assam) Sub-Committee, which was headed by A.V. Thakkar

  • Minorities Sub-Committee, which was headed by H.C. Mookherjee