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Constitutional Bodies – Constitutional Bodies in India Chart UPSC

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: November 14th, 2023

Constitutional Bodies are an integral part of a democratic country like India. The Constitutional Body in an Indian government is an Institute established by the Constitution of India. These bodies can be created and demolished, bypassing the Constitutional Amendment Bill. The establishment of the Constitutional Bodies is based on the provision mentioned in the constitution of India.

The powers of Constitutional Bodies are in regard to the constitution, and these bodies are extremely powerful than any other government organizations or non-Constitutional Bodies. Having in-depth knowledge about the Constitutional Bodies in India is highly essential for the UPSC exam because all of them play an important role in the upliftment of the country by maintaining its polity, economy, and law and order. Walk through the article to get conversant about all the Constitutional Bodies in India along with their powers and functions performed by them.

What are Constitutional Bodies?

The bodies whose formation is prescribed by the constitution of India itself are known as Constitutional Bodies. The major responsibility that has been endowed upon the constitutional bodies is to take care of the law and order of the country. Examples of constitutional bodies are the Election Commission of India, the Union Public Service Commission, the Finance Commission, etc.

  • The powers of Constitutional Bodies are derived from the Indian Constitution.
  • To change any powers or functions related to Constitutional Bodies, A constitutional amendment is often required.

List of Constitutional Bodies in India

Maintaining the proper law and order in the country is the utmost responsibility of the Government of India, for which a number of Constitutional Bodies are constituted. There are many constitutional bodies in India out of which some important are mentioned below. Follow the constitutional bodies chart facilitated below to know the types of constitutional bodies present in India.

  1. Election Commission of India
  2. Union Public Service Commission of India
  3. State Public Service Commission of India
  4. Finance Commission
  5. Goods and Services Tax Council
  6. National Commission for SCs
  7. National Commission for STs
  8. National Commission for BCS
  9. Comptroller and Auditor General of India
  10. Attorney General of India

Above mentioned is the constitutional bodies chart, which you should revise to memorize for the UPSC exam. Next, we are going to learn about the list of Constitutional Bodies along with their powers and functions defined in the Constitution of India.

Election Commission of India

India is a democratic country, and the election commission of India is the biggest landmark for it as it helps to maintain democracy by conducting free and fair elections in the country. The election commission of India is a permanent body structured by the constitution of India under Article 324. It is an integral part of the constitutional bodies of India. The election commission is composed of a Chief Election Commissioner, which is appointed by the President of India.

Election Commission of India – Important Constitutional Bodies
Article Article 324
Composition The election commission of India is composed of the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners.
Tenure and Removal The working tenure for the chief election commissioner of India is of 6 years or 65 years of age or whatever applies first.
Powers and Functions On the basis of the delimitation commission act of Parliament, the election commission determines the territorial areas for elections throughout the country.

Keep an eye on the elections being conducted in the country to be in a free and fair manner.

The election commission has the power to cancel the polls if the offenses like both capturing violence and other irregularities are found.

Also, the election commission can advise the Governor and matters related to the disqualification of the members.

Union Public Service Commission of India

The Union Public Service Commission is the permanent body constituted by the parliament. It is the central recruiting agency that has detailed provisions with regard to composition appointment and removal of the members along with the functions of the powers and the independence of UPSC. The Union Public Service Commission of India is an eminent part of the constitutional bodies for taking the UPSC exam and recruiting competent candidates for the firm.

UPSC – Essential Constitutional Body
Article Article 315 to Article 323 in Part XIV
Composition The Union Public Service Commission is composed of a chairman along with the members appointed by the president of India. Generally, the UPSC consists of 9 to 10 members along with the chairman.
Tenure and Removal The working tenure for the UPSC Chairman is of 6 years or 65 years of age or whatever applies first.
Powers and Functions UPSC conducts all India exams for the appointment of candidates for all India services, Central Services, and Public Services of the Country.

It helps to frame and operate the scheme of joint recruitment for which the candidates have special qualifications.

UPSC also helps in solving matters related to the methods of recruitment for civil services and civil posts.

It also assists the requirements of the state if requested by the State Governor or directed by the President of India.

State Public Service Commission of India

The state public service commission is the same as the Union Public Service Commission. The only difference prevailing between them is that the Union Public Service Commission works at all Indian levels whereas all the states have their separate state public service commissions for appointment to various constitutional posts. Likewise UPSC the state public service commission also deals with the composition, appointment, removal of members, and defining the powers and functions, and independence of the State Public Service Commission. Check out the complete details of the constitutional bodies pertaining to the recruitment of competent candidates in the firm.

Important Constitutional Bodies – State Public Service Commission of India
Article Articles 315 to 323 in Part XIV
Composition The State Public Service Commission is composed of a chairman along with some members who are appointed by the governor of the state.
Tenure and Removal The working tenure for the Chairman of SPSC is of 6 years or 62 years of age or whatever applies first.
Powers and Functions The State Public Service Commission conducts the exams to appoint Civil servants for the states.

The State Public Service Commission is consulted by the personnel management of the state on matters related to the recruitment of candidates for civil posts and civil services.

Finance Commission – Important Constitutional Body

The finance commission is a Constitutional Body that was constituted to allocate the revenue resources between the Union and State governments. The prime purpose for creating the finance commission was to maintain healthy financial relations between Centre and States. It is a part of one of the integral and eminent constitutional bodies in India.

About Finance Commission- Constitutional Body of India
Article Article 280
Composition of Finance Commission The finance commission is composed of a chairman along with 4 other members who are appointed by the President of India.
Eligibility The eligibility of members of the finance commission is decided by the parliament. Generally, the chairperson of finance commission ought to be experienced in public affairs and have sound knowledge of financial issues.
Powers and Functions The function of the finance commission is to distribute the net proceeds of taxes among the state and center.

The finance commission is authorized to decide the sharing of taxes by the Centre and States.

The finance commission enjoys power equal to that of the Civil Court.

Goods and Services Tax Council

Constitutional bodies play an instrumental role in democracy. The Goods and Services Tax was a Revolutionary event that was enacted in 2016 by the 101st Amendment Act. The proper functioning and administration of goods and services tax are only possible when both centre and state governments cooperate and coordinate with each other.

Important Constitutional Body of India – Goods and Servies Tax
Article Article 279A
Composition of GST Council The GST Council is composed of a union finance minister who is the chairperson of the Council, the Union Minister of State charge, and the Minister in charge of Finance or Taxation.
Powers and Functions The function of the Council is to recommend to the center and States the matters related to the taxes and charges that are livid by the center and States.

It also recommends to both levels of government the goods and services that can be exempted or included in the GST list.

Apart from these the Members of GST Council also decide the saturation limit of the turnover under which the goods and services can be assumed exempted from GST.

In fact, the dates on which the petroleum crude oil diesel natural gas aviation turbine fuel will be levied GST.

Amendment Act 101st Amendment Act

National Commission for SCs

The National Commission for Scheduled Caste is a Constitutional Body. This body was constituted specially to work in favor and safeguard the issues and interests of the Scheduled Castes in India. Precisely it turns out to offer the protection to schedule caste communities from being discriminated against and exploited along with providing them with the necessary facilities for their upliftment.

National Commission For SCs – Constitutional Body in India
Article Article 338
Composition The National Commission for Scheduled Caste is composed of a chairman along with 4 other members out of which one is a vice chairman.
Powers and Functions As the name suggests the functions of the National Commission for Scheduled Caste are investigating and monitoring all the issues that relate to the legal safeguards for the Schedule Castes.

It takes the special and specific complaints related to the deprivation of rights of the special category people.

It participates actively in the planning process for the social and economic development of the scheduled caste and evaluation of their development in a state.

Discharging of similar functions that relate to the Welfare and protection of seas as the President may specify them.

National Commission For STs

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes is positive under the 83rd Amendment Act, 2003. Earlier there was a specific definition given to Scheduled Tribes, however, with the advent of this Commission, many apps like POA and PCR came into existence. The constitutional bodies are essential for the IAS exam. This National Commission for STs is constituted specifically for the welfare and development of the Scheduled Tribes of India.

National Commission For STs- Important Constitutional Body
Article Article 338
Composition The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes consists of 5 members where one will be the chairman, the second would be the vice chairman, and out of the rest, the third one has to be a woman.
Tenure and Removal The serving tenure for all the members of the commission is of 3 years.
Powers and Functions The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes look into the matters related to scheduled tribes and resolves their issues at the state and union level.

Like the National Commission for scheduled caste, this Commission also looks into the complaints registered and takes action against the issues related to the deprivation of rights.

National Commission for BCs

The National Commission for Backward Classes was established under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under the National Commission for Backward Classes Act 1993. This commission was constituted to find out the problems faced by the backward classes economically and socially and make recommendations to curb these problems.

Constitutional Body of India – National Commission for BCs
Article Article 338B
Composition The National Commission for backward classes is composed of 5 members out of which one is a chairperson second is the vice chairperson and the other three important members are appointed by the President of India.
Tenure and Removal The serving tenure for all the members of the commission is of 3 years.
Powers and Functions The National Commission for backward classes works for the economically and socially backward section of society by registering their complaints and taking action against them.

This Commission also prepares the report about the Welfare and safeguarding of the rights and of socially and economically backward classes and presents it to the President of India along with the concerned state if required.

Comptroller and Auditor General of India

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is the top body that is responsible for maintaining the internal and external expenses of state and union governments. It is one of those few offices that are appointed directly by the President of India.

About Comptroller and Auditor General of India
Article Article 148
Tenure and Removal The tenure of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India is of 6 years for serving the office or 65 years of age or whatever applies first.

The removal of CAG is the same as the judge of the Supreme Court.

Powers and Functions The Comptroller and Auditor General of India can audit the accounts which are related to the expenditure from the consolidated funds of India.

Along with the consolidated fund, he also manages the contingency fund of India and public accounts.

He also keeps an eye on all the manufacturing trading balance sheet profit and loss accounts of all the departments of the central and state government.

Attorney General of India – Important Constitutional Body

The Attorney General of India is the highest law officer in the country.  The Attorney General of India advises the Union government on all legal matters hence he can be called the Union legal advisor. Check here the other details.

About the Attorney General of India
Article Article 76
Tenure and Removal The President of India appoints the Attorney General of India. The eligibility of an Attorney General is that he must be the person who is qualified enough to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court.

There is no fixed tenure mentioned in the constitution about the term of office of the attorney general; neither the grounds of dismissal nor removal is mentioned in it.

Powers and Functions The Attorney General of India advises the Government of India on legal matters which are referred to him by the President of India.

Also, he performs all other duties that are important as the legal character is assigned to him by the President.

Constitutional Bodies UPSC

Constitutional Bodies topic is an important topic for every UPSC aspirant. To prepare for both UPSC Prelims and Mains, candidates are expected to have detailed knowledge about all the constitutional and non-Constitutional Bodies. The aspirants are expected to have a basic knowledge of the constitution of India which can be gained by following the NCERT Books for UPSC.

You should stay in touch with Current Affairs to know the appointment and dismissals of the authorities of these Constitutional Bodies. Also to learn about the pattern of questions being asked in the UPSC Exam, aspirants can follow the previous year question papers.

Constitutional Bodies UPSC Questions

The candidates must be completely conversant with the types of constitutional bodies and all the parameters associated with them. Check the sample questions as listed here to get in touch with the pattern of the questions asked from the topic “constitutional bodies”.

Question: The chief election commissioner of India can be removed from the service by whom? [A] Both houses of Parliament, [B] Union Council of Ministers, [C] President of India, [D] Option 1 and 3

Answer: Option D – Both houses of Parliament and the President of India.

Question: How many whole-time members are there in National Human Rights Commission [NHRC]? [A] 5 Members, [B] 6 Members, [C] 7 Members, [D] 8 Members

Answer: Option [A] 5 Members

Question: Who was the first Chief Election Commissioner of India? [A] Sukumar Sen [B] K.V.K Sundaram [C] M.Ptanjali Sastri [D] S.P Sen Verma

Answer: Sukumar Sen

Question: When was the National Commission for Scheduled Caste established? [A] 2004 [B] 2005 [C] 2006 [D] 2007?

Answer: Option [A] 2004

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