Constitutional & Statutory Bodies of India
Constitutional and statutory watchdog institutions ensure administrative accountability, electoral integrity, and fiscal federalism in India. Constitutional bodies are established directly under constitutional articles: the Election Commission of India (Article 324) conducts free and fair national and state elections; the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG, Article 148) audits all public expenditure; the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC, Article 315) conducts civil service recruitments; and the Finance Commission (Article 280) recommends tax devolution between the Centre and states. In contrast, statutory bodies are established by acts of Parliament, such as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Central Information Commission (CIC), while NITI Aayog functions as the apex non-statutory policy think-tank.
Key Concepts & Examination Highlights
- The Election Commission of India operates under Article 324, consisting of a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is termed the 'guardian of the public purse' under Article 148.
- The Finance Commission is constituted by the President every five years under Article 280 to recommend tax-sharing formulas.
- NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) replaced the Planning Commission on January 1, 2015, as a policy think tank.