Constitutional Bodies — Set 1

Correct Answer: B. Article 324

• **Article 324 = Election Commission of India** = Article 324 provides for the superintendence, direction, and control of all elections to Parliament and State Legislatures; it vests these powers in the Election Commission of India. • **Constitutional status** — The ECI is a constitutional body (not statutory), drawing its authority directly from Article 324; it functions as an independent body overseeing free and fair elections. • 💡 Option A (Article 330) reserves seats in Lok Sabha for SC/ST; Option C (Article 320) deals with functions; Option D (Article 315) establishes Public Service Commissions — none establish the ECI.

Correct Answer: D. The Comptroller and Auditor General

• **CAG = 'Guardian of the Public Purse'** = The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is called the 'Guardian of the Public Purse'; he audits all expenditure of Union and State governments and ensures money is spent as Parliament approved. • **Article 148 — independence guaranteed** — The CAG holds office under Article 148; his salary is charged on the Consolidated Fund of India (not votable by Parliament) ensuring financial independence. • 💡 Option A (RBI Governor) controls monetary policy; Option B (Finance Minister) presents the budget; Option C (Prime Minister) heads the government — none audits government accounts; only the CAG does.

Correct Answer: B. President

• **President appoints Chairman and members — Article 316** = The President of India appoints the Chairman and members of the under Article 316; they serve a term of six years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier. • **Removal: President on SC inquiry** — Only the President can remove them, and only after an inquiry by the Supreme Court; this dual protection ensures independence from executive pressure. • 💡 Option A (Home Minister) appoints no constitutional commission; Option C (Prime Minister) makes informal recommendations but the formal appointment is the President's; Option D (Chief Justice) removes them through inquiry but does not appoint.

Correct Answer: A. 5 years

• **Finance Commission — constituted every 5 years under Article 280** = The President constitutes the Finance Commission every five years (or earlier if needed) under Article 280; it recommends how tax proceeds are distributed between the Centre and States. • **1+4 composition** — It consists of a Chairman and four other members; the 15th Finance Commission (2021-2026) was chaired by N.K. Singh. • 💡 Option B (6 years) is the tenure of/CAG members; Option C (3 years) is not a constitutional period for any commission; Option D (4 years) is not correct — Finance Commission is strictly every 5 years.

Correct Answer: D. Article 76

• **Article 76 = Attorney General of India** = Article 76 establishes the office of the Attorney General of India; he is the highest law officer of the country, appointed by the President, and holds office at the President's pleasure. • **Must be SC-judge qualified** — The AG must be qualified to be a Supreme Court Judge; he has the right of audience in all courts in India and can speak in Parliament (but not vote) under Article 88. • 💡 Option A (Article 280) deals with Finance Commission; Option B (Article 165) deals with State Advocate General; Option C (Article 148) deals with the CAG — Article 76 is exclusively for the Attorney General of India.

Correct Answer: D. 102nd Amendment

• **102nd Amendment (2018) = NCBC gets constitutional status via Article 338B** = The 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2018 elevated the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) to constitutional status by inserting Article 338B; earlier it was a statutory body under the NCBC Act, 1993. • **Article 338B** — Article 338B now governs the NCBC; similarly Article 338 covers National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Article 338A covers National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. • 💡 Option A (103rd Amendment) introduced 10% EWS reservation; Option B (101st Amendment) introduced GST; Option C (104th Amendment) extended reservation of SC/ST seats — the 102nd is specifically for NCBC.

Correct Answer: B. President

• **CAG submits Union audit reports to the President** = The CAG submits his three audit reports on Union accounts to the President; the President then causes them to be laid before both Houses of Parliament for scrutiny. • **Three reports** — The three audit reports cover: (1) appropriation accounts, (2) finance accounts, and (3) public undertakings; for state accounts he submits to the respective Governor. • 💡 Option A (Public Accounts Committee); Option C (Parliament) receives them indirectly through the President; Option D (Finance Minister) has no role in receiving CAG reports.

Correct Answer: A. President

• **President removes members — only after Supreme Court inquiry** = Only the President can remove a Chairman or member, and only on the ground of misbehaviour after referring the matter to the Supreme Court for inquiry; the SC's advice is binding. • **Protection from executive interference** — This two-step removal (President + SC inquiry) is a safeguard's independence; it is the same protection given to State PSC members. • 💡 Option B (Chairman of) has no power to remove members; Option C (Parliament) cannot remove members (unlike the CAG or SC judges); Option D (Prime Minister) makes no formal appointments or removals.

Correct Answer: A. Three

• **ECI = 3 members (1 CEC + 2 ECs) since 1993** = The Election Commission currently consists of three members — one Chief Election Commissioner and two other Election Commissioners; it became a permanently multi-member body in 1993. • **CEC's removal protection** — The CEC can be removed only by Parliament through impeachment (like a Supreme Court judge); other ECs can be removed by the President on the CEC's recommendation. • 💡 Option B (Five) is not correct; Option C (Four) is not correct; Option D (Two) was historically the case before 1993 but is not the current position — since 1993, three is the correct answer.

Correct Answer: D. Article 165

• **Article 165 = Advocate General of the State** = Article 165 provides for the office of the Advocate General for the State; he is the highest law officer of the state, appointed by the Governor, and must be qualified to be a High Court judge. • **State-level counterpart of AG** — Just as the Attorney General (Article 76) is the highest law officer of the Union, the Advocate General (Article 165) performs the same role at state level; both hold office at the pleasure of the appointing authority. • 💡 Option A (Article 148) deals with the CAG; Option B (Article 324) deals with the Election Commission; Option C (Article 76) deals with the Attorney General of India (Union level) — Article 165 is the state-level law officer article.