Union Powers Committee
Topic: Making of the Constitution: Constituent Assembly, Sources and Salient Features · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
This was a Constituent Assembly committee chaired by Jawaharlal Nehru. It recommended how law-making powers should be divided between the Union and the units, which later became the states. After Partition in 1947 it favoured a strong Centre, because the country faced violence and the challenge of keeping its parts together.
Example
The Objectives Resolution (1946) had said the units would keep residuary powers, meaning powers over subjects not listed anywhere. After Partition this was reversed, and residuary powers went to the Union (Art. 248). This reflects the strong-Centre approach.
Don't confuse with
- Union Constitution Committee: also chaired by Nehru, but it designed the President and Parliament, not the division of powers.
Related concepts
- Drafting Committee
- Union Constitution Committee
- States Committee
- Provincial Constitution Committee
- Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas
- Fundamental Rights Sub-committee
- Steering Committee