Constitutional and Statutory Bodies of India Notes for SSC Exams

Constitutional and statutory bodies are asked in almost every SSC exam: Which Article provides for the Election Commission? Who appoints the CAG? Which body is a statutory body and not a constitutional body? These constitutional and statutory bodies of India notes for SSC give you the Article, the appointment, the term and the main work of each important body in simple tables, followed by 20 practice questions. Read them with the Important Articles of the Indian Constitution, Parliament of India Notes and Supreme Court, High Courts and Writs Notes notes.

Constitutional, Statutory and Non-statutory Bodies: The Difference

The easy rule is: if the Article number is given, it is a constitutional body; if an Act is given, it is a statutory body; if only a resolution is given, it is a non-statutory body.

Election Commission of India (Articles 324 to 329)

• The voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years by the 61st Amendment (1988); the right to vote is given by Article 326 (adult suffrage).
• NOTA (None of the Above) was introduced after the Supreme Court judgment of 2013; EVM was first used in 1982 in Kerala and used fully in 2004; VVPAT is used with the EVM.
• The first Chief Election Commissioner was Sukumar Sen. The Delimitation Commission is a separate body that draws the boundaries of the constituencies.

Union and State Public Service Commissions (Articles 315 to 323)

• The Federal Public Service Commission was set up in 1926 (as per the Lee Commission) and was renamed as the UPSC in 1950. The first Chairman of the UPSC was Ross Barker.
• The UPSC is headquartered in New Delhi (Dholpur House).
• The Union Parliament can extend the functions of the UPSC; the SSC is not a constitutional body but a Government commission under the Department of Personnel and Training.

Finance Commission (Article 280)

• Appointed by the President every five years. It has a Chairman and four other members.
• It recommends the distribution of the net proceeds of the taxes between the Centre and the states and among the states, the grants-in-aid, and the measures to increase the Consolidated Fund of a state to help the panchayats and the municipalities.
• The first Finance Commission was set up in 1951 under K. C. Neogy. The 15th Finance Commission (chairman N. K. Singh) covered the period 2021-26. The 16th Finance Commission (chairman Arvind Panagariya) covers the period 2026-27 to 2030-31; it recommended 41 percent of the divisible pool to be shared with the states, as per reports.
• Its recommendations are advisory and not binding on the Government.

See the Union Budget 2026-27 Highlights Notes note for the Budget numbers.

Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Articles 148 to 151)

Other Constitutional Bodies

Important Statutory Bodies

The NITI Aayog (1 January 2015) is a non-statutory and non-constitutional body that replaced the Planning Commission; the Prime Minister is its Chairperson. See the Five-Year Plans and NITI Aayog Notes note.

Comparison: Appointment, Term and Removal

Important Questions Explained

Question 1: Which Article provides for the Election Commission of India?
Answer: Article 324.

Question 2: Who appoints the CAG, and what is his term?
Answer: The President appoints him; the term is six years or up to the age of 65, whichever is earlier.

Question 3: Which Article provides for the Finance Commission and how often is it set up?
Answer: Article 280; every five years.

Question 4: Which Article provides for the UPSC?
Answer: Article 315.

Question 5: Which Amendment gave the constitutional status to the GST Council?
Answer: The 101st Amendment (2016), Article 279A.

Question 6: Is the NHRC a constitutional or a statutory body?
Answer: Statutory body (the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993).

Question 7: Is NITI Aayog a constitutional body?
Answer: No; it is a non-statutory body created by a resolution of the Government.

Quick Tips to Remember

• Learn the Article for each constitutional body: 76, 148, 280, 315, 324, 338 and 279A.
• Remember that the term of the CEC, the CAG and the UPSC chairman is 6 years or the age of 65.
• Remember that the SSC, the NITI Aayog and the NHRC are not constitutional bodies.
• Learn the removal like a Supreme Court judge for the CEC and the CAG.
• Make a one-page table of the constitutional and the statutory bodies and revise it weekly.
• Remember the year of establishment: Election Commission 1950, NHRC 1993, CVC 1964, Lokpal Act 2013, RTI Act 2005.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Writing the NHRC or the CVC as a constitutional body.
• Mixing the Articles of the Election Commission (324) and the UPSC (315).
• Writing that the Governor removes the State PSC chairman.
• Thinking that the Finance Commission is permanent.
• Writing the term of the CAG as 5 years.

Quick Revision Points

• Constitutional bodies: EC (324), UPSC (315), FC (280), CAG (148), GST Council (279A), Attorney General (76).
• Statutory bodies: NHRC (1993), CVC, CBI, Lokpal (2013), CIC (RTI 2005), NCW, SEBI.
• Non-statutory: NITI Aayog.
• Term: 6 years or 65 years for the CEC, CAG and the UPSC chairman.
• Finance Commission: every 5 years; the 16th under Arvind Panagariya (2026-31).

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Which Article provides for the Election Commission?
   Answer: Article 324 (Part XV).
2. When was the Election Commission set up?
   Answer: 25 January 1950 (National Voters' Day).
3. What is the term of the CEC?
   Answer: 6 years or 65 years of age (Whichever is earlier).
4. Which Article provides for the UPSC?
   Answer: Article 315 (Part XIV).
5. Which Article provides for the Finance Commission?
   Answer: Article 280 (Every five years).
6. Which Article provides for the CAG?
   Answer: Article 148 (Guardian of the public purse).
7. Which Article provides for the Attorney General?
   Answer: Article 76 (First law officer).
8. Which Article provides for the GST Council?
   Answer: Article 279A (101st Amendment).
9. Which Article provides for the National Commission for the SCs?
   Answer: Article 338 (89th Amendment).
10. Which Article provides for the National Commission for Backward Classes?
    Answer: Article 338B (102nd Amendment).
11. Which Article provides for the Inter-State Council?
    Answer: Article 263 (Set up in 1990).
12. Who was the first Chief Election Commissioner?
    Answer: Sukumar Sen (1950).
13. Who chairs the 16th Finance Commission?
    Answer: Arvind Panagariya (2026-31).
14. Who was the first Chairman of the Finance Commission?
    Answer: K. C. Neogy (1951).
15. To whom does the CAG submit the Union audit reports?
    Answer: The President (Lays before the Parliament).
16. Which committee examines the CAG reports?
    Answer: Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
17. When was the NHRC set up?
    Answer: 1993 (Statutory body).
18. Which Act created the Lokpal?
    Answer: Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (Statutory body).
19. Which body replaced the Planning Commission?
    Answer: NITI Aayog (2015).
20. Which Amendment lowered the voting age to 18 years?
    Answer: The 61st Amendment (1988).

How to Practise This Topic

1. Make a table of the bodies with the Article, appointment, term and removal.
2. Learn the difference between the constitutional, statutory and non-statutory bodies with examples.
3. Revise the present holders of the posts the day before the exam.
4. Attempt the practice questions without looking at the answers.
5. Solve the SSC practice papers and the previous year papers for the polity pattern.

Related Notes and Practice

• Important Articles of the Indian Constitution
• Parliament of India Notes
• Supreme Court, High Courts and Writs Notes
• Five-Year Plans and NITI Aayog Notes
• Indian Polity Notes
• SSC practice papers

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a constitutional body?

A constitutional body is a body that is created directly by the Constitution, with its Article number, such as the Election Commission, the UPSC, the Finance Commission and the CAG.

What is the difference between a constitutional body and a statutory body?

A constitutional body is created by the Constitution, while a statutory body is created by an Act of the Parliament, such as the NHRC, the CVC and the Lokpal.

Which Article provides for the Election Commission?

Article 324 of the Constitution provides for the Election Commission of India.

What is the term of the Chief Election Commissioner?

The CEC holds office for six years or until the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

Who appoints the CAG of India?

The President of India appoints the Comptroller and Auditor General under Article 148.

How often is the Finance Commission appointed?

The President appoints the Finance Commission every five years under Article 280.

Which commission is chaired by Arvind Panagariya?

The 16th Finance Commission, which covers the period from 2026-27 to 2030-31, is chaired by Arvind Panagariya.

Is the NHRC a constitutional body?

No. The National Human Rights Commission is a statutory body created by the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

Is NITI Aayog a constitutional body?

No. NITI Aayog is a non-statutory body that was created by a Government resolution in 2015.

What is the GST Council?

The GST Council is a constitutional body under Article 279A that decides the GST rates; the Union Finance Minister is its Chairperson.

How many questions come from the constitutional bodies in SSC exams?

Usually 1 or 2 questions come from the constitutional and statutory bodies in each SSC exam.

How can I remember the bodies easily?

Make a table of the Article, appointing authority, term and removal for each body and revise it weekly with the MCQs.