Previous Year Question
The Constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly was
Sachidanand Sinha
K. M. Munshi
B. N. Rao
T. T. Krishnamachari
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
B. N. Rau (Benegal Narsing Rau) was the Constitutional Adviser to the Constituent Assembly. Official parliamentary material and records of the Constituent Assembly expressly refer to him as the Constitutional Adviser.
His role went beyond merely giving advice. After consolidating reports of various Committees and decisions taken by the Constituent Assembly, B. N. Rau prepared a Draft Constitution in October 1947. This initial draft contained 240 Articles, 25 Parts and 13 Schedules. The Drafting Committee subsequently scrutinised this draft along with other material while preparing the later Draft Constitution.
The roles of the persons in the options can be distinguished as follows—
Sachidanand Sinha → Temporary Chairman of the Constituent Assembly
B. N. Rau → Constitutional Adviser
K. M. Munshi → Member of the Drafting Committee
T. T. Krishnamachari → Member of the Drafting Committee
The Constituent Assembly debates themselves also refer to B. N. Rau as a distinguished jurist serving as the Assembly's Constitutional Adviser.