Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly of India, responsible for drafting the main text of the Constitution?

Introduction / Context:
The Constituent Assembly of India created several committees to prepare different parts of the Constitution. Among them, the Drafting Committee played a central role, as it was responsible for preparing the actual draft of the Constitution. The chairman of this committee is often called the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and is a very frequent exam question.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The committee in question is the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly.
• We need to identify its chairman.
• Options include several prominent members of the Constituent Assembly and national leadership.
• The answer must match recorded constitutional history.

Concept / Approach:
The Drafting Committee was set up on 29 August 1947 and had seven members. Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, a renowned jurist and social reformer, served as its Chairman. Due to his pivotal role in steering discussions on the draft and defending its provisions in the Constituent Assembly debates, he is widely regarded as the chief architect of the Constitution of India.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the name most associated with drafting the Indian Constitution is Dr B R Ambedkar. Step 2: Remember that he headed the Drafting Committee, which was among many committees formed by the Constituent Assembly. Step 3: Verify that while many other leaders like K M Munshi and T T Krishnamachari were important members, they were not the chairperson. Step 4: Therefore, the correct answer is Dr B R Ambedkar.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can recall that school textbooks and competitive exam books consistently introduce Dr B R Ambedkar as Chairman of the Drafting Committee and a key figure in framing the Constitution. Historical records of the Constituent Assembly debates also show him presenting and defending the draft Constitution, which confirms his role as chairman.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• K M Munshi: He was an important member of the Drafting Committee and contributed significantly, but he was not the chairman.
• D P Khaitan: He was also a member of the committee but not the chairperson.
• T T Krishnamachari: He played an important role in the Assembly and in later politics, but he did not chair the Drafting Committee.
• Jawaharlal Nehru: Nehru was a leading national leader and moved the Objectives Resolution, but he did not head the Drafting Committee.

Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes candidates confuse the chairman of the Constituent Assembly, the chairman of important committees and the first Prime Minister. Another pitfall is to assume that Jawaharlal Nehru must have headed every major committee because of his prominence. To avoid this, it is useful to memorise that Dr B R Ambedkar headed the Drafting Committee, Dr Rajendra Prasad was President of the Constituent Assembly and Nehru moved the Objectives Resolution.

Final Answer:
The Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly of India was Dr B R Ambedkar.