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UPPCS Polity Gap Sheet: Constitutional Bodies.

UPPCS has asked 27 of these. 7 have not been asked yet. Lock the first list, then read the second: it holds what UPPCS has not used yet.

First, the concept

A constitutional body is named in the Constitution itself, so only an amendment can abolish it. To protect its independence, the Constitution fixes four things: who appoints, the term, how the member is removed, and that the salary is charged on the Consolidated Fund.

The removal rule is the key test. CEC and CAG are removed like a Supreme Court judge (Parliament, special majority). UPSC and State PSC members are removed by the President after a Supreme Court inquiry. The Attorney General serves at the President's pleasure.

✅ Already asked (27)

Election Commission (Article 324)

  • Set up 25 January 1950 · National Voters' Day is kept on 25 January (since 2011)
  • Single-member till 1989; multi-member since 1993 · CEC and two Election Commissioners; decisions by majority
  • Term: six years or age 65 · Whichever comes first
  • Removal of the CEC · Like a Supreme Court judge; other Commissioners on the CEC's recommendation
  • First CEC Sukumar Sen; first woman CEC V. S. Ramadevi (1990) · T. N. Seshan brought voter ID cards and enforced the Model Code

UPSC, State PSCs and UPPSC (Articles 315–323)

  • Roots: Public Service Commission 1926 · Lee Commission's advice; Ross Barker chairman; Federal PSC 1937; UPSC from 26 January 1950
  • Term: six years or 65 (UPSC), 62 (State PSC) · State PSC members are appointed by the Governor
  • Removal only by the President (Article 317) · For misbehaviour, after a Supreme Court inquiry; even State PSC members
  • Joint State Public Service Commission · Made by a law of Parliament on the States' request; a statutory body
  • Annual report (Article 323) · UPSC to the President; State PSC to the Governor
  • UPPSC: set up 1 April 1937 at Allahabad (Prayagraj) · Under the Government of India Act 1935; the Commission that sets this exam

CAG (Articles 148–151)

  • Appointed by the President; six years or 65 · Removed like a Supreme Court judge; no further government post
  • Reports to the President and the Governor (Article 151) · Laid before Parliament; examined by the Public Accounts Committee
  • Accounts separated from audit (1976) · CAG now only audits the Centre's accounts

Law officers

  • Attorney General (Article 76) · Qualified to be a Supreme Court judge; no fixed term; serves at the President's pleasure
  • Attorney General in Parliament (Article 88) · Can speak in both Houses and committees, but cannot vote
  • Solicitor General · Not in the Constitution; assists the Attorney General
  • Advocate General of the State (Article 165) · Appointed by the Governor; qualified to be a High Court judge; may speak in the State Legislature (Article 177)

Money and federal bodies

  • Finance Commission (Article 280) · Chairman and four members; every five years; quasi-judicial; qualifications set by the 1951 Act
  • Finance Commission chairmen · First K. C. Neogy; 15th N. K. Singh; 16th Arvind Panagariya (2026–31)
  • GST Council voting · Centre one-third, States two-thirds of the weight; decisions need three-fourths; advice not binding (Mohit Minerals, 2022)
  • Inter-State Council (Article 263) · Set up 1990 on Sarkaria's advice; PM chairs
  • State Election Commission (243K) and State Finance Commission (243I) · For Panchayat and municipal polls and funds

Commissions for groups

  • National Commission for Scheduled Castes (Article 338) · Separate body since the 89th Amendment (2003)
  • National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (Article 338A) · Started 2004
  • National Commission for Backward Classes (Article 338B) · Statutory 1993; constitutional by the 102nd Amendment (2018)
  • Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities (Article 350B) · Added by the 7th Amendment (1956); reports to the President

❌ Not asked yet (7)

🔒 7 items not asked yet

Election Commission (Article 324): 2 · UPSC, State PSCs and UPPSC (Articles 315–323): 1 · CAG (Articles 148–151): 1 · Law officers: 2 · Money and federal bodies: 1

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⚠️ The Attorney General can speak in Parliament but not vote, and he is not a member of the Cabinet. The President removes UPSC and State PSC members; the Governor only appoints State PSC members. NITI Aayog and the Planning Commission are not constitutional bodies; the GST Council and the Finance Commission are.

'Asked' and 'not asked' are checked against every UPPCS question on this site. 'Not asked yet' does not mean it will surely come.

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