Constitutional Bodies
Constitution Special · संवैधानिक निकाय · 18 facts
The Election Commission of India is established under Article 324 of the Constitution — it is an independent constitutional body.
The Election Commission consists of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and 2 Election Commissioners — all appointed by the President.
The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only like a judge of the Supreme Court — by impeachment through Parliament's special majority.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is established under Article 148 — the CAG audits all expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India.
The CAG is appointed by the President and can be removed only by impeachment — the same procedure as for a Supreme Court judge.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is under Articles 315-323 — it recruits for All India Services and Central Services through competitive examinations.
Under Article 316, the Chairman and members of UPSC are appointed by the President. They serve until 65 years of age.
The Finance Commission (Article 280) is constituted by the President every 5 years — it recommends the distribution of tax revenues between Centre and states.
The Attorney General of India (Article 76) is the highest law officer of the country — appointed by the President and entitled to appear in any court.
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (Article 338) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (Article 338A) are constitutional bodies to safeguard SC/ST rights.
The National Commission for Backward Classes (Article 338B) — added by the 102nd Amendment (2018) — safeguards the interests of OBCs.
The Official Language Commission (Article 344) reviews the progress of Hindi and recommends its use as the official language of the Union.
The Inter-State Council (Article 263) is set up by the President to investigate and discuss subjects of common interest between states and the Centre.
The Solicitor General of India is the second highest law officer — assists the Attorney General in legal matters of the Central Government.
The Advocate General of a State (Article 165) is the highest law officer of a state — appointed by the Governor.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was established under the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 — it is statutory, not constitutional.
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are statutory bodies, not constitutional bodies.
The Election Commission of India has the power to recognize political parties, allot election symbols, and enforce the Model Code of Conduct.