Legislative Body Formed for Political Change
Key Committees that Shaped India's Constitution
The Constituent Assembly, the group responsible for drafting India's Constitution, was guided by several significant committees, each chaired by prominent figures of the time. Here's a look at the major committees and their chairpersons.
The Drafting Committee, chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, was the cornerstone of the Constitution-making process. Appointed on the 29th of August 1947, this committee took 166 days to prepare the draft of the Constitution.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, who presided over the Constituent Assembly, also chaired several crucial committees. The Committee on the Rules of Procedure was one such committee, defining the Assembly's working methods. Prasad also chaired the Steering Committee, which coordinated the work of various committees, and the Ad hoc Committee on the National Flag, which selected the design of the Indian flag. Additionally, he led the Finance and Staff Committee, managing the financial and administrative affairs of the Assembly.
Jawaharlal Nehru, another prominent figure, chaired the Union Powers Committee and the Union Constitution Committee of the Constituent Assembly. Sardar Patel, on the other hand, chaired the Provincial Constitution Committee and the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities, and Tribal and Excluded Areas.
The Constituent Assembly ratified India's membership of the Commonwealth in May 1949, and on January 24, 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the first President of India by the Assembly. On the same day, the national anthem and the national song of India were also adopted. The national flag was adopted on July 22, 1947.
These committees, and the individuals who led them, played a pivotal role in the creation of India's Constitution, a process that is well-documented by authoritative historical sources.
- The Drafting Committee, chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, was a key constituent in India's Constitution-making process, preparing the draft in just 166 days.
- The Steering Committee, chaired by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, coordinated the work of various committees in shaping India's Constitution, a significant part of the country's policy-and-legislation and general-news.
