Constitutional Bodies — Set 2

Correct Answer: D. Parliament

• **Parliament specifies Finance Commission qualifications** = The Constitution (Article 280) authorises Parliament to determine the qualifications for the Chairman and members of the Finance Commission; Parliament enacted the Finance Commission (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1951 for this purpose. • **Chairman's qualification** — The Chairman should be a person with experience in public affairs; members may have expertise in finance, economics, administration, or accounts. • 💡 Option A (Finance Minister) has no constitutional role in fixing qualifications; Option B (Constitution) leaves this to Parliament; Option C (President) constitutes the commission but does not set qualifications — Parliament sets the qualifications.

Correct Answer: B. Article 338

• **Article 338 = National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)** = Article 338 establishes the NCSC to investigate all matters relating to constitutional safeguards for SCs and report to the President. • **89th Amendment (2003) — bifurcation** — Originally Article 338 covered both SCs and STs; the 89th Amendment bifurcated it, keeping 338 for NCSC and adding 338A for NCST. • 💡 Option A (Article 338B) covers NCBC; Option C (Article 340) provides for appointment of a backward-classes commission but not NCSC; Option D (Article 338A) covers NCST — only Article 338 is for NCSC.

Correct Answer: C. Article 338A

• **Article 338A = National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)** = Article 338A establishes the NCST, focused exclusively on safeguards, rights, and welfare schemes for Scheduled Tribes. • **89th Amendment, 2003 — insertion** — Article 338A was inserted by the 89th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003; the separate NCST became operational in 2004. • 💡 Option A (Article 340) allows appointing a Backward Classes Commission by President; Option B (Article 338) is for NCSC; Option D (Article 342) specifies STs but does not create the commission — only 338A covers NCST.

Correct Answer: A. Article 350B

• **Article 350B = Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities** = Article 350B provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities, appointed by the President to investigate matters relating to safeguards for linguistic minorities. • **7th Amendment, 1956 — insertion** — Article 350B was inserted on the recommendation of the States Reorganisation Commission by the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1956; the officer is also called the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities. • 💡 Option B (Article 347) lets the President recognise a language as official; Option C (Article 350) allows representations in any language; Option D (Article 351) directs promotion of Hindi — only 350B creates the Special Officer.

Correct Answer: D. Article 279A

• **Article 279A = GST Council** = Article 279A provides for the Goods and Services Tax Council; it empowers the President to constitute the Council to make recommendations on GST rates, exemptions, and model laws. • **101st Amendment, 2016** — Article 279A was inserted by the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016; the Union Finance Minister chairs the Council with state finance ministers as members. • 💡 Option A (Article 280) is Finance Commission; Option B (Article 269A) covers levy of IGST on inter-state supply; Option C (Article 270) is distribution of tax proceeds — only 279A establishes the GST Council.

Correct Answer: C. 6 years or 65 years of age

• **CEC tenure = 6 years or age 65, whichever is earlier** = The Chief Election Commissioner holds office for 6 years or until attaining the age of 65 years, whichever comes first, as fixed by the Election Commission (Conditions of Service) Act, 1991. • **Removal like SC judge** — The CEC can be removed only by Parliament through the same impeachment procedure as a Supreme Court judge (special majority on grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity). • 💡 Option A (5 years/62) is wrong on both counts; Option B (5 years/65) has wrong tenure; Option D (6 years/62) has the wrong retirement age — only 6 years or 65 is correct.

Correct Answer: B. Attorney General of India

• **Attorney General — right to speak in Parliament under Article 88** = The Attorney General of India has the right to speak and take part in proceedings of either House of Parliament or any joint sitting, without being a member, under Article 88. • **No voting right** — Despite this speaking right, the AG cannot vote in Parliament; he also enjoys privileges and immunities of a Member of Parliament while attending. • 💡 Option A (Chief Election Commissioner) has no parliamentary rights; Option C (Chief Justice of India) cannot attend proceedings; Option D (Solicitor General) is a statutory post with no Article 88 right — only the AG qualifies.

Correct Answer: A. Judge of the Supreme Court

• **CAG removal = like a Supreme Court Judge** = The CAG can be removed only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court Judge — by the President after Parliament passes an address with special majority. • **Grounds — proved misbehaviour or incapacity** — The only grounds for removal are proved misbehaviour or incapacity; this extraordinary procedure secures his independence from the executive. • 💡 Option B (HC Judge) is a lower standard not applied to CAG; Option C (Governor) is removed at President's pleasure; Option D (Cabinet Minister) is removed by PM — only the Supreme Court Judge parallel is correct.

Correct Answer: B. President

• ** annual report — submitted to President** = The submits its annual report on its performance to the President of India under Article 323(1); the President places it before both Houses of Parliament. • **Non-acceptance memorandum** — Along with the report, the government lays a memorandum explaining any cases where's advice was not accepted, with reasons. • 💡 Option A (Prime Minister) has no constitutional role in receiving reports; Option C (Parliament) receives it only via the President; Option D (Home Minister) handles cadre but not reports — only the President is correct.

Correct Answer: D. K.C. Neogy

• **K.C. Neogy = Chairman of the 1st Finance Commission** = K.C. Neogy chaired the 1st Finance Commission, constituted by the President in 1951 under Article 280. • **1952-1957 — coverage period** — The recommendations of the 1st FC covered the five-year period from 1952 to 1957; the 15th FC (N.K. Singh) covers 2021-2026. • 💡 Option A (K. Santhanam) was a member of the 1st FC but not chairman; Option B (Y.V. Reddy) chaired the 14th FC; Option C (A.K. Chanda) chaired the 4th FC — only K.C. Neogy was the first.