Statutory Body: Meaning, Examples, List of Statutory Bodies in India

What is Statutory Body?

A statutory body is a government-created organisation that operates under the authority of a legislative act, also known as a statute. These bodies are typically established to carry out specific functions that are in the public interest and to regulate and oversee certain industries or sectors. The responsibilities and duties of statutory bodies in India are defined by the statute, which is a written law that creates them, and they typically have the authority to create new rules, regulations, and decisions with the force of law.

Statutory Body Meaning

Statutory bodies in India are established to carry out specific functions that are in the public interest and to regulate and oversee certain industries or sectors. They are accountable to the Parliament or state legislature that created them. Furthermore, statutory bodies in India play a significant role in promoting accountability and transparency in both government and public institutions. In fact, these bodies are established to monitor and regulate specific areas and institutions.

List of Statutory Bodies in India

In general, statutory bodies are created by the government to perform specific functions outside of traditional departmental executive structures. As a result, they fulfil the requirements for some operational independence from the government. These bodies are typically set up in countries governed by parliamentary democracy. The list of statutory bodies in India is as follows:

List of Statutory Bodies in India	Governing Act
National Commission for Women	National Commission for Women Act, 1990
Central Vigilance Commission	CVC Act 2003
NHRC (National Human Rights Commission)	Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
NABARD	National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981
National Commission for Minorities	National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992
National Green Tribunal	National Green Tribunal Act 2010
Securities and Exchange Board of India	SEBI Act, 1992
Competition Commission of India	Competition Act, 2002
Armed Forces Tribunal	Armed Forces Tribunal Act 2007
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas	Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020
Unique Identification Authority of India	Aadhaar Act, 2016
National Legal Services Authority	Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights	Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005

What is a Non Statutory Body?

In contrast to a statutory body, a non-statutory body is an organisation that is not created by any legislative act but rather by executive action or by an agreement between parties. Moreover, non-statutory bodies do not have the power to make rules and regulations that have the force of law. Instead, their powers and responsibilities are defined by the agreement that created them, and they typically operate on a voluntary or advisory basis.

Hence, they are completely different from a statutory body in India. Some examples of non statutory bodies in India include NGOs, Industrial associations, Advisory committees, and more.

Statutory Body Examples

Now that you are aware of the powers and responsibilities of statutory bodies, here are some examples of statutory bodies in India that you should know about:

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI): The central banking institution of India responsible for monetary policy and regulation of the banking sector.
• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI): The regulator for the securities market in India, responsible for protecting the interests of investors and promoting the development of the securities market.
• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): The regulator for the telecommunications sector in India, responsible for promoting and ensuring orderly growth of the telecommunications sector.
• Medical Council of India (MCI): MCI is the statutory body or governmental agency responsible for establishing and maintaining uniform standards of medical education in India.

Is SEBI a Statutory Body?

SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) is a statutory body in India. It was established by an act of the Indian Parliament, the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992. SEBI is the regulator for the securities market in India, responsible for protecting the interests of investors and promoting the development of the securities market. Furthermore, as a statutory body, SEBI has the power to make rules and regulations that have the force of law, and its decisions and actions can be challenged in a court of law.

Is CBI a Statutory Body?

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is a statutory body in India. It was established by a resolution of the Indian government based on the provisions of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. The CBI is the premier investigating agency in India, responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption, economic offences, and other serious crimes. As a statutory body, the CBI has the power to conduct investigations and make arrests, and its actions can be challenged in a court of law.

Is NITI Aayog a Statutory Body?

National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog is not a statutory body in India. It was established by a resolution of the Indian government in 2015, replacing the previous planning commission. NITI Aayog is the premier policy think tank of the Indian government, providing advice on economic and social issues to the Prime Minister and other senior government officials. Although NITI Aayog plays a significant role in shaping public policy in India, it does not have the legal powers and responsibilities of a statutory body.

Difference between Statutory and Non Statutory Bodies

While both statutory and non statutory bodies are significant, they have different functions and powers. The main differences between statutory and non-statutory bodies are discussed in the table below.

Statutory Body	Non Statutory Body
These are created by a legislative act.	Non-statutory bodies are established by executive action or by agreement between parties.
Statutory bodies have the power to make rules and regulations that have the force of law.	These bodies do not have the power to make rules and regulations.
These have specific responsibilities defined by the legislative act that creates them.	The responsibilities of non-statutory bodies are defined by the agreement or executive order that created them.
These organisations have legal standing, and their decisions and actions can be challenged in a court of law.	The decisions and actions of such bodies are not legally binding.
These are often funded by the government.	They may be funded by various sources, including government grants, private donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Difference Between Regulatory and Statutory Body

Regulatory bodies are those bodies that are charged with regulating the activities of companies and ensuring that they are operating in accordance with the law. Statutory bodies, on the other hand, are those that are charged with ensuring that companies use in accordance with the rules and regulations.

• The difference between regulatory and Statutory bodies is vital because it allows companies to be more transparent and accountable. It also helps companies to avoid any conflicts of interest when it comes to their decisions.
• However, there is a big difference between both. Regulatory bodies are more concerned about enforcing the law, while Statutory bodies are more concerned about protecting the public from risks associated with companies operating in an unregulated environment.
• This means that regulatory bodies should be considered as a backup when a company’s business model is not working as well as expected.
• In addition, because regulatory bodies have the power to enforce rules, they can be used by companies to protect themselves from potential risks.

Difference between Statutory body and Constitutional Body

The difference between a statutory body and a constitutional body is critical because it directly affects the way that courts interpret the law.

• The statute must be construed in light of the whole body of law. If the statute is interpreted in light of its terms, it is not subject to any constitutional challenge.
• On the other hand, if it is interpreted in light of a broad interpretation, it is subject to constitutional challenge. In short, statutes are constitutional if they are read in light of the whole body of law.
• Constitutional challenges to statutes must be made on a case-by-case basis. A law that disobeys the Constitution cannot be declared invalid based only on a technicality.

Statutory Body UPSC

To prepare well for the UPSC exam, candidates must have a detailed knowledge of various constitutional and non-constitutional bodies of India, including the statutory bodies. It involves learning the examples and meaning of the statutory body and remembering the names of organisations included in the list. Questions can be asked about any statutory body, their functions, difference, etc., in the Prelims and Mains exams.

Other Important UPSC Notes
Black Carbon	Permanent Settlement
Aspirational District Programme	Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA 2019)
Gaganyaan Mission	5G Technology In India
Balance of Payment	Basic Structure of Indian Constitution