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Indian Polity & Constitution

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high importance~3 Q in Tier 1⚡ 16 shortcuts8 subtopics
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Constitutional & Statutory Bodies (with current heads)

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⏱ 4 min read🧩 6 question types🎯 14 practice Q
The idea in one minute

Constitutional bodies exist because an Article says so, such as the Election Commission and the CAG. Statutory bodies exist because a law of Parliament created them, such as the NHRC and Lokpal. NITI Aayog is neither. A Cabinet resolution created it.

01

Constitutional bodies

BodyArticleHead (as on 23 Sep 2026)
Election Commission324CEC Gyanesh Kumar (26th CEC, since Feb 2025)
UPSC315-323Dr Ajay Kumar (since 15 May 2025)
CAG148K. Sanjay Murthy (15th CAG, since Nov 2024)
Attorney-General76R. Venkataramani (16th AG, extended till 30 Sep 2027)
Finance Commission28016th FC: Dr Arvind Panagariya

Watch: Names change. Learn the structure now and re-check the names just before your exam.

02

Election Commission (Article 324)

It conducts elections to Parliament, state assemblies and the offices of President and Vice-President. Since 1993 it has three members: the CEC and two Election Commissioners with equal powers.

  • The CEC can be removed only like a Supreme Court judge.
  • The other Commissioners are removed on the CEC's recommendation.
  • Local-body elections belong to the State Election Commissions.
  • Appointments follow the 2023 Act: PM, Leader of Opposition (LS) and a Union Minister.
03

UPSC and CAG

  • UPSC (Articles 315-323): members serve 6 years or till 65. Expenses are charged on the Consolidated Fund. State PSC members retire at 62.
  • CAG (Article 148): the 'guardian of the public purse'. Term 6 years or 65. He cannot hold any further government post. He audits the Union and states, and reports go to the President or Governor. The PAC examines these reports.
04

Finance Commission (Article 280)

It is quasi-judicial and set up every five years. It has a Chairman and four members.

  • It recommends how central taxes are shared: between Centre and states (vertical) and among states (horizontal).
  • It also recommends grants-in-aid and support for panchayats and municipalities.
  • Its advice is not binding.
  • The 16th FC report was tabled on 1 February 2026. The award period is 2026-31. The states' share stays 41% of the divisible pool.
05

Statutory and other bodies

BodyParent law
CVCCVC Act, 2003
CICRTI Act, 2005
NHRCProtection of Human Rights Act, 1993
LokpalLokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013
NGTNational Green Tribunal Act, 2010
NCWNational Commission for Women Act, 1990
NITI AayogCabinet resolution, 1 Jan 2015 (neither)

NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission (1950). The PM chairs it.

06

Other constitutional posts

  • Advocate-General (Article 165): the state's chief law officer.
  • NCSC (Article 338) and NCBC (Article 338B).
  • Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities (Article 350B).
  • Attorney-General can speak in Parliament but cannot vote.

Rule: If the source is an Article, the body is constitutional. If the source is a dated Act, it is statutory.

07

Question types you will see

Each type: how to recognise it, the method step by step, and one question to try.

Type 1very common3 practice Q

Election Commission structure and removal

How to spot it:

The question asks how many members the EC has, how the CEC can be removed, or who conducts Presidential elections.

Method

  1. It has been multi-member since 1993: the CEC and two Election Commissioners with equal powers.

  2. The CEC is removed like a Supreme Court judge. Others are removed on the CEC's recommendation.

  3. It conducts elections to Parliament, state legislatures and the President and Vice-President.

  4. Local-body elections belong to the State Election Commissions.

Why it works:

Structure and removal are fixed rules.

Try this

In what manner can the Chief Election Commissioner be removed?

Show solution

  1. The rule copies another high office.

  2. It is the same as for a Supreme Court judge.

Answer

In the same manner as a Judge of the Supreme Court

Type 2common3 practice Q

UPSC and CAG: tenure and features

How to spot it:

The question asks the CAG's nickname, UPSC members' tenure, or which expenses are charged on the Consolidated Fund.

Method

  1. UPSC: Article 315, 6 years or till 65, expenses charged on the Consolidated Fund.

  2. CAG: Article 148, 6 years or 65, no further government post.

  3. The CAG audits Union and state accounts and reports to the President or Governor.

  4. The PAC examines his reports.

Why it works:

The two bodies share the '6 years or 65' rule.

Try this

The CAG of India is appointed by the President under which Article?

Show solution

  1. The Article number sits between 76 and 280.

  2. It is the 148th.

Answer

Article 148

Type 3common2 practice Q

Finance Commission

How to spot it:

The question asks how often it is formed, who sits on it, or whether its advice binds.

Method

  1. Article 280: quasi-judicial, formed every five years.

  2. It has a Chairman and four members.

  3. It recommends tax sharing (vertical and horizontal) and grants-in-aid.

  4. Its advice is not binding.

Why it works:

The five-year cycle and non-binding advice are the usual tests.

Try this

The Finance Commission is normally formed once in how many years?

Show solution

  1. It is set by Article 280.

  2. It is quasi-judicial.

Answer

Every five years

Type 4very common2 practice Q

Constitutional, statutory and executive bodies

How to spot it:

The question asks which body is constitutional, what created NITI Aayog, or which is the odd one out.

Method

  1. Constitutional: EC, UPSC, CAG, Finance Commission, NCSC (338), NCBC (338B).

  2. Statutory: CVC (2003), CIC (2005), NHRC (1993), Lokpal (2013), NGT (2010), NCW (1990).

  3. Executive: NITI Aayog (Cabinet resolution, 1 Jan 2015).

Why it works:

The parent law or Article gives the answer at once.

Try this

Which of these is not a statutory body: CVC, CIC, NHRC or NITI Aayog?

Show solution

  1. The CVC, CIC and NHRC each rest on an Act.

  2. One was created by a Cabinet resolution.

Answer

NITI Aayog

Type 5occasional2 practice Q

Rights commissions and special officers

How to spot it:

The question asks under which Article the NCSC sits, or which amendment gave NCBC constitutional status.

Method

  1. NCSC is Article 338. The separate ST commission is Article 338A.

  2. NCBC is Article 338B, given constitutional status by the 102nd Amendment (2018).

  3. The Special Officer for linguistic minorities is Article 350B.

Why it works:

Each body has its own Article number.

Try this

The NCBC was given constitutional status by which amendment?

Show solution

  1. It inserted Article 338B.

  2. It came in 2018.

Answer

The 102nd Amendment

Type 6occasional

Current heads and latest Finance Commission

How to spot it:

The question names a current post and asks who holds it, or asks about the latest Finance Commission.

Method

  1. Recall the CEC, UPSC Chairman, CAG and Attorney-General from the first table.

  2. Recall the 16th FC: Dr Arvind Panagariya, award 2026-31, states' share 41%.

  3. Re-check the names before the exam.

Why it works:

Current names are the one part of this topic that changes.

Try this

The 16th Finance Commission recommends what share of the divisible pool for states?

Show solution

  1. The share is the same as the 15th FC.

  2. The award period is 2026-31.

Answer

41%

08

Shortcuts that save time

⚡ Article blocks for bodies

76 AG, 148 CAG, 280 FC, 315 UPSC, 324 EC. Reading upward gives the order AG, CAG, FC, UPSC, EC.

Example

Under which Article is the Comptroller and Auditor General appointed?

Show solution

  1. Recall the block after 76.

  2. The Article is 148.

Answer

Article 148

⚡ Statutory versus constitutional filter

A dated Act (NHRC 1993, CVC 2003, CIC 2005, Lokpal 2013) means statutory. An Article number means constitutional. NITI Aayog is neither.

Example

Name a high-profile advisory body that is neither constitutional nor statutory.

Show solution

  1. It was set up by a Cabinet resolution in 2015.

  2. It replaced the Planning Commission.

Answer

NITI Aayog

09

Mistakes to avoid

Where most students lose marks on this subtopic.

Mistake 01

Calling NITI Aayog a statutory body.

It was created by a Cabinet resolution.

Mistake 02

Saying the 15th FC still governs transfers.

From FY 2026-27 the 16th FC (41% share, 2026-31) applies.

Mistake 03

Saying the Estimates Committee examines CAG reports.

The Public Accounts Committee does.

Mistake 04

Thinking the Finance Commission's advice is binding.

It is advisory.

Mistake 05

Thinking the Election Commission runs panchayat elections.

State Election Commissions run local-body elections.

10

Quick revision

Read this the night before the exam.

  • Election Commission: Article 324, multi-member since 1993, CEC removed like a Supreme Court judge.

  • UPSC: Article 315, 6 years or 65, expenses charged on the Consolidated Fund.

  • CAG: Article 148, guardian of the public purse, 6 years or 65, PAC examines reports.

  • Finance Commission: Article 280, every 5 years, Chairman and four members, advice not binding.

  • Statutory: CVC, CIC, NHRC, Lokpal, NGT, NCW. NITI Aayog is executive.

  • NCSC: Article 338. NCBC: Article 338B. Linguistic minorities officer: Article 350B.

11

Practice: 14 questions

Sets of 10, mixed across the question types above. Every answer has a step-by-step explanation.

Topic test · 10 questions

Suggested time 4 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.

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