Major and Minor Committees in the Constituent Assembly

Constituent Assembly Committees: Navigating Key Issues in Shaping India’s Constitution

These committees were instrumental in addressing key issues such as union powers, the union constitution, state negotiation, provincial constitution, fundamental rights, minorities, tribal and excluded areas, drafting the constitution, and establishing the rules of procedure. 

Together, they worked meticulously to ensure that the Indian Constitution embodied the diverse aspirations and values of the newly independent nation.

In the constituent assembly, eight were major committees and the others were minor committees:

Key Minor Committees of the Constituent Assembly: Shaping India’s Constitutional Landscape

1. Finance and Staff Committee: Dr. Rajendra Prasad
2. House Committee: B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya
3. Credentials Committee: Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
4. Order of Business Committee: Dr. K.M.Munshi
5. Committee on the Functions of the Constituent Assembly: G.V. Mavalankar
6. Committee on Chief Commissioners’ Provinces: B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya
7. Expert Committee on the Financial Provisions of the Union Constitution: Nalini Ranjan Sarkar(Not an Assembly Member)
8. Linguistic Provinces Commission: S.K. Dar (Not an Assembly Member)
9. Special Committee to Examine the Draft Constitution: Jawaharlal Nehru
10. Press Gallery Committee: Usha Nath Sen
11. Ad-hoc Committees of COnstitutional Assembly
    • On the National Flag: Dr. Rajendra Prasad
    • On the Supreme Court: S. Varadachari (Not an Assembly Member)
    • On Citizenship: S.Varadachari

Conclusion

• The establishment of major and minor committees in the Constituent Assembly played a vital role in streamlining the constitution-making process. 
• It allowed for a systematic examination of various aspects of governance and ensured that different perspectives and interests were adequately represented. 
• This division of labor helped in expediting the drafting process while ensuring thorough deliberation and consideration of diverse viewpoints, ultimately leading to the creation of a comprehensive and inclusive constitution for the newly independent India.

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