📖 Constitutional vs Non-Constitutional Bodies
🟢 Constitutional Bodies
  • Mentioned in Constitution
  • Powers from Constitution
  • ECI, UPSC, CAG, AG, NCSC, NCST, NCBC, GST Council, Linguistic Minorities Commission
🟠 Non-Constitutional Bodies
  • NOT in Constitution
  • By Act of Parliament or Cabinet
  • NHRC, CIC, CVC, CBI, NCW, NCM, Lokpal, NITI Aayog
⚠ Exam Trap

NITI Aayog — Non-Constitutional AND Non-Statutory (no act of Parliament). Lokpal — Statutory (created by Lokpal Act, 2013). NHRC — Statutory (Human Rights Protection Act, 1993). Ye teen alag categories hain!

📋 Quick Reference — All Bodies
Body Article/Act Type
Election Commission (ECI) Art. 324 Constitutional
UPSC Art. 315 Constitutional
CAG Art. 148 Constitutional
Attorney General Art. 76 Constitutional
NCSC / NCST Art. 338/338A Constitutional
NCBC Art. 338B Constitutional
GST Council Art. 279A Constitutional
Linguistic Minorities Commission Art. 350B Constitutional
NHRC HRPA 1993 Statutory
CIC RTI Act 2005 Statutory
CVC CVC Act 2003 Statutory
Lokpal Lokpal Act 2013 Statutory
NCW NCW Act 1990 Statutory
NITI Aayog Cabinet Res. Non-Const. Non-Statutory
CBI DSPE Act 1946 Statutory
🗳️ Election Commission of India (ECI)
XV
Part
324–329
Articles
25 Jan 1950
Established
3
Members
  • Quasi-judicial body
  • Originally single-member until 16 Oct 1989 Became multi-member from 1 Oct 1993 → 1 CEC + 2 ECs
  • 1st CECSukumar Sen
  • Appointment → By President Based on recommendations of committee headed by PM Committee: PM + LoP (LS) + Union Cabinet Minister (nominated by PM) [from 2023 amendment]
  • Tenure → 6 years or 65 years of age (whichever earlier)
  • Resignation → To the President
  • Removal → CEC: Like SC Judge (Special Majority) · Other ECs: On CEC's recommendation
  • National Voters' Day → 25th January (since 2011)
⚠ Exam Trap

CEC removal = SC Judge level (Special Majority). Other EC removal = on CEC's recommendation (much easier to remove). 2023 amendment changed appointment committee — earlier only PM + CJI + LoP, now CJI removed, replaced by Cabinet Minister.

⚡ Functions of ECI
  • Conducting / supervising elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, offices of President & VP
  • Preparing the Electoral Rolls
  • Allotment of election symbols to political parties
  • Delimitation of constituencies
  • Granting recognition to national and state parties
Electoral Reform Committees
  • Tarkunde Committee (1974)
  • Dinesh Goswami Committee (1990)
  • Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998)
💡 Quick Recall

ECI elections conduct karta hai: LS, RS, State Legislative elections + President + VP. But NOT Panchayat/Municipality elections — those are under State Election Commissions (Art. 243K).

📋 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
XIV
Part
315–323
Articles
1926
Established
6 yrs/65
Tenure
  • Father of Civil ServicesLord Cornwallis
  • 1st Indian ICSSatyendra Nath Tagore
  • 1st Civil Services Exam held in London & Allahabad (1922)
  • Established 1926 (recommended by Lee Commission)
  • Civil Services Day → 21st April
  • Appointment → By President (Art. 316)
  • Term → 6 years or 65 years of age (whichever earlier)
  • Removal → By President after SC inquiry
  • Salary from Consolidated Fund of India
  • Annual Report → Submitted to President
📊 Post-Tenure Rules & SPSC
Category UPSC SPSC
Part / Articles XIV / 315-323 XIV / 315-323
Appointment President Governor
Tenure 6 yrs / 65 age 6 yrs / 62 age
Removal President (SC inquiry) President (VERY IMPORTANT)
Suspension President Governor
Post-Chairman No appointment at all ❌ Eligible for UPSC/other SPSC ✅
Salary Source CF of India CF of State
Report to President Governor
Second Term Not eligible ❌ Not eligible ❌
⚠ Exam Trap

SPSC Chairman removal = PRESIDENT (not Governor). Governor sirf suspend kar sakta hai. Removal always President's prerogative — both UPSC and SPSC. UPSC Chairman post-retirement = NO government job ever. SPSC Chairman = can become UPSC/other SPSC Chairman.

💡 Quick Recall — All India Services (only 3)

IAS · IPS · IFS (Indian Forest Service). These 3 are constitutional — Art. 312 gives Parliament power to create them. Other services like IRS, IFS (Foreign) are NOT All India Services.

💰 Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG)
148
Article
6 yrs/65
Tenure
No Re-appt.
Post-tenure
  • Appointed by President under Art. 148
  • 1st CAGV. Narahari Rao (1948)
  • Current CAG → K. Sanjay Murthy
  • Guardian of public finances
  • Audits Union & State expenditures & revenues
  • Audits Consolidated Fund expenditure
  • Salary determined by President
  • Removal → Same as SC Judge (Special Majority)
  • No Reappointment after retirement
⚠ Exam Trap

CAG = Art. 148 · Removed like SC Judge · NO reappointment. Public Accounts Committee (PAC) examines CAG reports — PAC chairman = Opposition Leader. CAG reports ke baad PAC action leta hai.

⚖️ Attorney General of India (AG)
76
Article
V
Part
SC Judge
Qualification
  • Chief Legal Advisor / 1st Law Officer of India
  • Appointed by President (Art. 76)
  • 1st AGM.C. Setalvad
  • Current AG → R. Venkataramani
  • Speaks in Parliament but NO voting right
  • NOT barred from private legal practice
  • Qualification → eligible to be appointed as SC Judge
  • Salary determined by President
💡 Quick Recall — +89 Rule

Attorney General (Art. 76) + 89 = Advocate General (Art. 165). AG qualification = SC Judge level. Advocate General qualification = HC Judge level. AG can practice privately — judges cannot!

💱 GST Council (Art. 279A)
  • Formed under Art 279A101st Amendment (2016)
  • Constituted by President
  • Composition: Union Finance Minister (Chairman) ✦ Union Minister of State (Finance) ✦ State Finance Minister / State nominee ✦ Vice-Chairman (elected among themselves)
⚠ Exam Trap

GST Council Chairman = Union Finance Minister (not PM). This is a Constitutional body (via 101st Amendment). Inter-State Council Chairman = PM. NITI Aayog Chairman = PM. Different bodies, different chairpersons!

👥 National Commissions — SC, ST, BC
Feature NCSC (Art. 338) NCST (Art. 338A) NCBC (Art. 338B)
Amendment 65th CAA, 1990 89th CAA, 2003 102nd CAA, 2018
Effective 1990 2004 2018
Previously Originally combined — bifurcated by 89th Amendment Statutory (1993) → Constitutional (2018)
Composition Chairperson + Vice Chairperson + 3 Other Members
Appointment By President
Tenure 3 years
Function Protect SC interests Protect ST interests Protect Backward Classes interests
⚠ Exam Trap

Originally NCSC & NCST ek single commission thi (65th Amendment, 1990). 89th Amendment (2003) ne inhe bifurcate kiya. NCBC pehle Statutory (1993) tha, 102nd Amendment (2018) ne Constitutional status diya. Teen alag amendment numbers!

Linguistic Minorities Commission
  • Art. 350B → 7th Constitutional Amendment, 1956
  • Special Officer for linguistic minorities — One-membered body
  • Appointed by President
  • Works under Union Ministry of Minority Affairs
  • HQ → New Delhi
⚖️ National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
Statutory
Type
1993
Established
3 yrs/70
Tenure
12
Members
  • Statutory body under Human Rights Protection Act, 1993
  • Established 12th October, 1993 (In effect: 28 Sep 1993)
  • Int'l Human Rights Day → 10th December
  • Composition → Chairperson + 11 Members
  • Appointed by President — Must be former CJI or SC Judge
  • Tenure → 3 years or 70 years of age
  • Re-appointment eligible but no further GOI/State appointment
  • 1st Chairperson → Ranganath Misra
  • Current → Justice V. Ramasubramanian
⚠ Exam Trap

NHRC Chairperson must be former CJI (not sitting CJI). Maximum age = 70 years. Other bodies like CAG/UPSC have 65 years — NHRC alone has 70 years. Also: Int'l Human Rights Day = 10 Dec, not 12 Oct.

📄 Central Information Commission (CIC)
Statutory
Type
2005
RTI Act
3 yrs/65
Tenure
1+10
Members
  • Statutory under Right to Information Act, 2005
  • Effective from 12th October, 2005
  • Composition → 1 CIC + up to 10 Information Commissioners
  • Appointed by President
  • Resignation → To the President
  • Tenure → 3 years or 65 years of age (whichever earlier)
💡 Quick Recall

RTI Act effective = 12 Oct 2005. CIC oversees implementation of RTI at Union level. Each State has State Information Commission (SIC) — appointed by Governor.

🔍 Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
1964
Established
2003
Statutory
4 yrs/65
Tenure
  • Recommended by K. Santhanam Committee
  • Statutory status → CVC Act, 2003
  • Designated as Central Agency in 2004
  • Composition → 1 Chairman + up to 2 Vigilance Commissioners
  • Appointed by President Selection committee: PM + LoP + Union Home Minister
  • Tenure → 4 years or 65 years
  • Function → Investigation of corruption offences
  • Not eligible for further appointment after retirement
⚠ Exam Trap

CVC appointment selection committee = PM + LoP + Home Minister. CEC appointment selection committee = PM + LoP + Cabinet Minister (nominated by PM). Dono mein LoP common hai — baaki members alag hain!

🔎 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
1963
Founded
DSPE Act
Governed by
  • Founded 1963 on recommendation of K. Santhanam Committee
  • Functions under Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946
  • Motto → "Industry, Impartiality, and Integrity"
  • Under Ministry of Personnel, Pension & Public Grievances
  • Director appointed on recommendation of committee headed by PM
  • Acts as National Central Bureau of Interpol in India
  • Function → Investigates corruption & specific crimes
💡 Quick Recall

Both CVC and CBI recommended by same K. Santhanam Committee (1964). CVC is supervisory; CBI is investigative. CBI operates under DSPE Act 1946 — an old colonial-era law that was never replaced!

👩 National Commission for Women (NCW)
Jan 1992
Established
3 years
Chairperson Term
7
Total Members
  • Under National Commission for Women Act, 1990
  • Composition → 1 Chairperson + 5 Members + 1 Member Secretary
  • Appointed by Central Government
  • HQ → New Delhi
  • Term of Chairperson → 3 years
  • 1st Chairperson → Jayanti Patnaik
  • Current → Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar
🕌 National Commission for Minorities (NCM)
1978
Established
1992
Statutory
7
Members
  • Established 1978 (by resolution of Central Government)
  • Statutory status → Commission for Minorities Act, 1992
  • Composition → 1 Chairperson + 1 VP + 5 Other Members
  • 6 Minorities recognized by Central Government: Jain, Buddhist, Muslim, Sikhs, Christians, Parsi
⚠ Exam Trap

Minorities recognized by Central Government = 6 groups. Note: Jain was added later. Hindus are NOT a minority nationally. But in some states (J&K, Manipur etc.) Hindus can be minority — state-level declaration alag hoti hai.

🔨 Lokpal
2013
Created
5 yrs/70
Tenure
1+8
Members
  • Lokpal at Central level · Lokayuktas at State level
  • Created → Lokpal & Lokayuktas Act, 2013
  • Composition → Chairperson + up to 8 members ✦ Atleast 50% from SC/ST/OBC/Minority/Women ✦ 50% from Judicial background
  • Appointed by President
  • Tenure → 5 years or 70 years of age
  • Investigation includes Prime Minister (with conditions)
  • Also covers Group A, B, C, D officers
⚠ Exam Trap

1st Lokpal in World = 1809, Sweden (called "Ombudsmen"). 1st Lokpal in India = Pinaki Chandra Ghose (2019). Current = Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar. 1st Lokayukta in India = Maharashtra (1971).

💡 Quick Recall

Lokpal investigation includes PM with restrictions — not fully covered. PM investigation only after Lokpal's full bench approves it (7/8 members). International Peace, External Affairs, Atomic Energy — PM excluded for these subjects.

📊 NITI Aayog
Full Name
National Institution for Transforming India
Non-Constitutional · Non-Statutory Body
  • Established → 1st January, 2015
  • Replaced → Planning Commission (est. 1950)
  • Nature → Non-Constitutional, Non-Statutory (Cabinet Resolution)
  • Chairperson → Prime Minister (Ex-Officio)
  • Vice-Chairperson → Appointed by PM 1st VC: Arvind Panagariya · Current: Suman Bery
  • CEO → B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
⚠ Exam Trap

Planning Commission = Statutory body? NO — also non-statutory. NITI Aayog also non-statutory. Difference: Planning Commission had binding allocations, NITI Aayog only advisory role. States can now reject NITI Aayog recommendations. Arvind Panagariya = 1st VC + now 16th Finance Commission Chairman!

🏁 Major National Political Parties of India
Est. 1885
Indian National Congress (INC)
Dominant force in Nehru Era. Post 1989 — decline due to rise of regional parties.
Est. 1980 (revived from Jan Sangh)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Hindutva ideology. Ruling party at Centre since 2014 (3 consecutive terms).
Est. 1964 (split from CPI)
Communist Party of India (Marxist) — CPI(M)
Major presence in Kerala & West Bengal. Anti-capitalism ideology.
Est. 1984 by Kanshi Ram
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
Focus on Dalits and Backward Classes representation. Major support in North India.
Est. 2013 by P.A. Sangma
National People's Party (NPP)
Recognized as National Party in 2019. Strong support in Eastern Region (NE India).
Est. 2012 by Arvind Kejriwal
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
Established after 2011 Anti-Corruption movement. Currently in power in Punjab.
📊 Master Comparison — All Bodies at a Glance
Body Article/Act Type Appointed by Tenure Removal
ECI (CEC) Art. 324 Constitutional President 6 yrs / 65 age Like SC Judge
UPSC Chairman Art. 315 Constitutional President 6 yrs / 65 age President (SC inquiry)
SPSC Chairman Art. 315 Constitutional Governor 6 yrs / 62 age President ⚠️
CAG Art. 148 Constitutional President 6 yrs / 65 age Like SC Judge
Attorney General Art. 76 Constitutional President At President's pleasure
NCSC / NCST / NCBC Art. 338/338A/338B Constitutional President 3 years President
NHRC Chairperson HRPA 1993 Statutory President 3 yrs / 70 age President
CIC RTI Act 2005 Statutory President 3 yrs / 65 age President
CVC Chairman CVC Act 2003 Statutory President 4 yrs / 65 age President
Lokpal Chairperson Lokpal Act 2013 Statutory President 5 yrs / 70 age President
NCW Chairperson NCW Act 1990 Statutory Central Govt 3 years Govt
NITI Aayog VC Cabinet Resolution Non-Constitutional Non-Statutory PM At PM's pleasure PM
⚠ Exam Trap — Most Common Confusions

1. SPSC removal = PRESIDENT (not Governor) · 2. NHRC & Lokpal tenure = 70 years (others = 65) · 3. CAG = No reappointment · 4. UPSC Chairman = No further govt job at all · 5. NITI Aayog = Non-Statutory (not even an act of Parliament)

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