Role of Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly — MCQs

All questions with answers and explanations

Read the full set here, or use the practice card above to test yourself one question at a time.

1. The Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly was formed on:

   • 9 December 1946
   • 29 August 1947 (correct answer)
   • 26 November 1949
   • 22 January 1947

   Explanation. The Drafting Committee was formed on 29 August 1947 with seven members.

2. Who chaired the Drafting Committee and is widely regarded as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution?

   • Dr. Rajendra Prasad
   • Sir B.N. Rau
   • Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (correct answer)
   • K.M. Munshi

   Explanation. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Committee and is regarded as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution.

3. N. Madhava Rau joined the Drafting Committee to replace:

   • D.P. Khaitan, who died
   • B.L. Mitter, who resigned owing to ill health (correct answer)
   • Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar
   • Syed Mohammad Saadullah

   Explanation. N. Madhava Rau replaced B.L. Mitter after his resignation on grounds of ill health; T.T. Krishnamachari separately replaced D.P. Khaitan, who died in 1948.

4. The Drafting Committee's work was based on an initial draft prepared by:

   • Jawaharlal Nehru
   • Sir B.N. Rau, the Assembly's Constitutional Advisor (correct answer)
   • N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar
   • M.N. Roy

   Explanation. Sir B.N. Rau prepared the initial working draft from committee reports and comparative constitutional research; the Drafting Committee then scrutinised and finalised it.

5. The Draft Constitution was published for public discussion in:

   • December 1946
   • February 1948 (correct answer)
   • November 1949
   • January 1950

   Explanation. The Committee submitted the Draft Constitution to the Assembly's President in February 1948. The draft was published so that the public could comment.

6. Roughly how many amendments did members of the Constituent Assembly propose to the draft, once it was opened for debate?

   • About 200
   • About 2,000
   • Over 7,000 (correct answer)
   • Exactly 389

   Explanation. Members proposed more than 7,000 amendments, and more than 2,000 of them were discussed.

7. The description of Dr. Ambedkar as the chief architect of the Constitution is:

   • An official designation
   • An honorific, a title of respect (correct answer)
   • A title given by the British Crown
   • A designation under Article 393

   Explanation. Dr. Ambedkar is often called the chief architect of the Constitution. This is only a title of respect, not an official designation.

8. The reason Dr. Ambedkar is remembered as the Constitution's principal author, rather than merely its chairman, is:

   • He was the only member who never missed a meeting
   • Because other members were often absent, ill or busy with other public work, and the burden fell heavily on him (correct answer)
   • He was the youngest member of the Committee
   • He alone wrote the Objectives Resolution

   Explanation. Members of the Committee were absent, ill or busy with other public work, and two had been replaced. The burden fell heavily on Ambedkar.