Who served as the chairman of the Provincial Constitution Committee of the Constituent Assembly of India?

Introduction / Context:
The Constituent Assembly of India worked through a series of specialised committees to draft different parts of the Constitution. Each committee had a specific focus such as fundamental rights, union powers, or provincial arrangements. The Provincial Constitution Committee played a key role in deciding the structure of provincial or state governments within the federal framework. This question asks which national leader chaired that particular committee. Such questions test detailed knowledge of the drafting process and the roles played by major figures in framing the Constitution.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The setting is the Constituent Assembly of India between 1946 and 1950.
• The committee mentioned is the Provincial Constitution Committee.
• Four senior leaders of the freedom struggle and Constituent Assembly are given as options.
• The learner must know who chaired this specific committee.

Concept / Approach:
The Constituent Assembly had several key committees. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee, which prepared the final text. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel chaired the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities, and Tribal and Excluded Areas. Jawaharlal Nehru chaired the Union Constitution Committee and also the Provincial Constitution Committee, reflecting his central role in designing both union and provincial structures. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the president of the Constituent Assembly. Recognising this pattern of roles helps identify the correct match for the Provincial Constitution Committee.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: List the main committees and their chairpersons in the Constituent Assembly. Step 2: Recall that Dr. B. R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee, not the Provincial Constitution Committee. Step 3: Remember that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel headed the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights and Minorities. Step 4: Recognise that Jawaharlal Nehru headed both the Union Constitution Committee and the Provincial Constitution Committee, dealing with centre and provinces. Step 5: Therefore select Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard summaries of the Constituent Assembly's working often list committee names alongside their chairs. In such lists, one can consistently see Nehru's name against both Union Constitution Committee and Provincial Constitution Committee. Ambedkar appears against the Drafting Committee, and Patel appears for the Advisory Committee. Dr. Rajendra Prasad is mentioned separately as president of the Assembly as a whole. Cross verifying with such tables provides a reliable way to confirm that Nehru chaired the Provincial Constitution Committee.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: He is rightly famous as the chairman of the Drafting Committee but did not head the Provincial Constitution Committee. Dr. Rajendra Prasad: He presided over the Assembly but is not associated with chairing this specific committee. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: He chaired the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights and Minorities and was deeply involved in integration of princely states, not in chairing the Provincial Constitution Committee. Since the question targets a particular committee, these other roles do not match and these options are incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:
Many aspirants tend to over associate Dr. Ambedkar with all aspects of constitution making and may wrongly pick his name whenever a committee is mentioned. Others confuse Patel's influential political role with his specific committee responsibility. The best way to avoid such errors is to memorise a concise mapping: Ambedkar for Drafting Committee, Nehru for Union and Provincial Constitution Committees, Patel for Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, and Rajendra Prasad as president of the Assembly. Keeping this mapping in mind ensures quick and accurate answers to related questions.

Final Answer:
The chairman of the Provincial Constitution Committee of the Constituent Assembly of India was Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.