Constitutional and Statutory Bodies MCQs for UPSC Prelims with Answers

This UPSC Prelims practice paper on constitutional and statutory bodies has 15 questions on the Election Commission, UPSC, CAG, Finance Commission, NITI Aayog, NHRC, CIC, Lokpal and similar institutions. The UPSC asks questions on this topic almost every year, because it checks whether you can tell apart a body made by the Constitution, by a law or by an executive decision. Each answer has a short explanation, followed by tables and tricks to make the topic easy.

Why This Topic Is Important for UPSC

Constitutional and statutory bodies are the pillars of governance, and they appear in the news often, such as the Election Commission during elections or the CAG when a report is tabled. In the Prelims, the common questions ask for the Article number, the type of the body, the term or the appointing authority. In the Mains, these bodies are used in answers on accountability, transparency and electoral reforms. A neat set of three tables will cover the entire chapter.

Instructions

• Total questions: 15. Suggested time: 15 minutes.
• Each correct answer gives 2 marks and each wrong answer deducts 0.66 marks, as in the real Prelims.
• Attempt all the questions first and check the answer key only after you finish.

Practice Questions

Q1. The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body established under
(a) Article 315
(b) Article 324
(c) Article 280
(d) Article 148

Q2. The Union Public Service Commission is established under
(a) Article 148
(b) Article 280
(c) Article 315
(d) Article 338

Q3. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is mentioned in
(a) Article 76
(b) Article 148
(c) Article 165
(d) Article 324

Q4. The Finance Commission is constituted by the President under
(a) Article 280
(b) Article 275
(c) Article 112
(d) Article 324

Q5. The Attorney General of India is appointed under
(a) Article 76
(b) Article 124
(c) Article 148
(d) Article 165

Q6. The GST Council was created by inserting which Article through the 101st Amendment?
(a) Article 246A
(b) Article 268A
(c) Article 279A
(d) Article 280A

Q7. NITI Aayog was set up in 2015 as a
(a) Constitutional body
(b) Statutory body
(c) Neither constitutional nor statutory body
(d) Judicial body

Q8. Which of the following is NOT a constitutional body?
(a) Union Public Service Commission
(b) Finance Commission
(c) National Human Rights Commission
(d) Comptroller and Auditor General

Q9. The Central Information Commission was established under the
(a) Right to Information Act, 2005
(b) Lokpal Act, 2013
(c) Consumer Protection Act, 1986
(d) Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act

Q10. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act was passed in
(a) 2005
(b) 2010
(c) 2013
(d) 2016

Q11. The Central Vigilance Commission got statutory status by
(a) An Act of 2003
(b) The Constitution
(c) A Cabinet resolution of 1964
(d) An Act of 1947

Q12. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) became a statutory body in
(a) 1988
(b) 1992
(c) 2000
(d) 2008

Q13. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes derives its status from
(a) Article 338
(b) Article 338B
(c) Article 340
(d) Article 350B

Q14. Constitutional status was given to the National Commission for Backward Classes by the
(a) 89th Amendment
(b) 101st Amendment
(c) 102nd Amendment
(d) 103rd Amendment

Q15. The Advocate General of a State is appointed under
(a) Article 76
(b) Article 148
(c) Article 165
(d) Article 226

Answer Key with Explanations

1. Q1: (b) Article 324 vests the superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission.
2. Q2: (c) Article 315 provides for the Public Service Commissions for the Union and the States.
3. Q3: (b) Article 148 provides for the CAG, who audits the accounts of the Union and the States.
4. Q4: (a) Article 280 requires the President to constitute a Finance Commission every five years to recommend the sharing of taxes between the Centre and the States.
5. Q5: (a) Article 76 provides for the Attorney General, the chief legal adviser of the Government of India, who is appointed by the President.
6. Q6: (c) Article 279A, inserted by the 101st Amendment Act, 2016, provides for the GST Council.
7. Q7: (c) NITI Aayog was created by a Cabinet resolution in January 2015 to replace the Planning Commission. It has no constitutional or statutory status.
8. Q8: (c) The NHRC is a statutory body created by the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The other three are created by the Constitution.
9. Q9: (a) The CIC is a statutory body under the RTI Act, 2005.
10. Q10: (c) The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act was passed in 2013 and came into force in January 2014.
11. Q11: (a) The CVC was set up in 1964 on the recommendation of the Santhanam Committee. It got statutory status through the CVC Act, 2003.
12. Q12: (b) SEBI was set up in 1988 as a non-statutory body and received statutory powers through the SEBI Act, 1992.
13. Q13: (a) Article 338 deals with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. Article 338A deals with Scheduled Tribes.
14. Q14: (c) The 102nd Amendment (2018) inserted Article 338B and gave constitutional status to the commission.
15. Q15: (c) Article 165 provides for the Advocate General of a State, who is appointed by the Governor.

Table 1: Important Constitutional Bodies

Table 2: Important Statutory Bodies

Table 3: Neither Constitutional Nor Statutory

NITI Aayog (2015) and the National Development Council (1952) are examples of bodies created by executive resolutions. The Planning Commission, which NITI Aayog replaced, was also created by a resolution in 1950. Such bodies can be changed or closed by the government without a new law, which is the main difference from the other two types.

Constitutional vs Statutory: A Quick Comparison

Appointment and Removal: Key Facts

The President appoints the Chief Election Commissioner, the members of the UPSC, the CAG and the Attorney General. The CEC and the CAG can be removed only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court, which gives them independence. Other Election Commissioners can be removed only on the recommendation of the CEC. The chairman and members of the UPSC can be removed by the President only after an inquiry by the Supreme Court proves misbehaviour. The Advocate General holds office during the pleasure of the Governor.

Tricks to Remember

• Use the order of Articles: 76 (Attorney General), 148 (CAG), 165 (Advocate General), 280 (Finance Commission), 315 (PSC), 324 (Election Commission), 338 (SC Commission).
• Link the Act to the body: RTI Act with CIC, Lokpal Act with Lokpal, Human Rights Act with NHRC.
• "Commission" is not always constitutional: NHRC, CIC and CVC are statutory.
• Think of independence: If a body audits, judges or conducts elections, it is likely to be constitutional.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Calling NITI Aayog a statutory body: It was set up by a Cabinet resolution.
• Confusing the Attorney General and the Advocate General: One is for the Union and the other for the State.
• Mixing Articles 338, 338A and 338B: They are for SC, ST and backward classes in that order.
• Ignoring the amendments: GST Council (101st) and the backward classes commission (102nd) are favourite questions.

For concepts, read the polity notes, and practise more with the polity MCQs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between a constitutional and a statutory body?

A constitutional body is created by the Constitution, and a statutory body is created by an Act of Parliament or a State Legislature.

Which Article deals with the Election Commission?

Article 324 deals with the Election Commission of India.

Is NHRC a constitutional body?

No. The NHRC is a statutory body created by the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

Is NITI Aayog a constitutional or statutory body?

Neither. It was created by a Cabinet resolution in 2015.

Which Article provides for the CAG?

Article 148 provides for the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

How often is a Finance Commission constituted?

A Finance Commission is constituted by the President every five years under Article 280.

Under which Article is the GST Council created?

The GST Council is created under Article 279A, inserted by the 101st Amendment in 2016.

Who appoints the Attorney General of India?

The President appoints the Attorney General under Article 76.

Which Act created the Central Information Commission?

The Right to Information Act, 2005 created the Central Information Commission.

Which amendment gave constitutional status to the OBC commission?

The 102nd Amendment (2018) gave constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes under Article 338B.

How can the Chief Election Commissioner be removed?

The CEC can be removed in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.

How should I prepare constitutional bodies for the Prelims?

Make three tables for constitutional, statutory and executive bodies, learn the Article numbers and solve MCQs regularly.