Constitutional & Statutory Bodies Quiz: Indian Polity Practice

Spoilers! These are the Starter quiz’s answers. Easy, Medium, Hard and Mixed rounds show their own answers when you finish.

1. Which of the following is NOT a constitutional body?

   • Finance Commission
   • Union Public Service Commission
   • NITI Aayog
   • National Commission for Scheduled Castes

   Answer: NITI Aayog. NITI Aayog was set up by a Cabinet resolution in 2015. The Finance Commission (Article 280), UPSC (Article 315) and NCSC (Article 338) are constitutional.

2. The reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General relating to the accounts of the Union are submitted to:

   • the President, who causes them to be laid before Parliament
   • the Speaker of the Lok Sabha directly
   • the Union Finance Minister
   • the Prime Minister's Office

   Answer: the President, who causes them to be laid before Parliament. Under Article 151 the reports go to the President and are then laid before Parliament, where the Public Accounts Committee examines them.

3. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India holds office for:

   • five years or until the age of 62, whichever is earlier
   • five years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier
   • as long as the President is pleased
   • six years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier

   Answer: six years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier. The CAG has a fixed tenure of six years or up to 65 and can be removed only like a Supreme Court judge, which protects independence.

4. A member of the UPSC can be removed on the ground of misbehaviour only after an inquiry by:

   • the Chief Justice of India alone
   • the Supreme Court
   • a joint committee of Parliament
   • the Central Vigilance Commission

   Answer: the Supreme Court. Article 317 requires a reference to the Supreme Court; if the Court upholds the charge, the President removes the member.

5. Members of a State Public Service Commission are appointed by the Governor but can be removed only by:

   • the Governor
   • the President
   • the High Court of the state
   • the state Legislative Assembly

   Answer: the President. Like UPSC members, State PSC members are removed only by the President, which shields them from state-level pressure.

6. Under which Article does the President constitute a Finance Commission every five years?

   • Article 270
   • Article 275
   • Article 324
   • Article 280

   Answer: Article 280. Article 280 provides for the Finance Commission. Article 270 deals with sharing of taxes, Article 275 with grants-in-aid and Article 324 with the Election Commission.

7. The National Commission for Backward Classes got constitutional status through the:

   • 102nd Amendment Act, 2018
   • 89th Amendment Act, 2003
   • 65th Amendment Act, 1990
   • 103rd Amendment Act, 2019

   Answer: 102nd Amendment Act, 2018. The 102nd Amendment inserted Article 338B. The 89th Amendment had split the SC and ST commissions, and the 103rd introduced EWS reservation.

8. The National Human Rights Commission is:

   • a constitutional body under Article 338 of the Constitution
   • an executive body set up by a Cabinet resolution
   • a statutory body created under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
   • a body created under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013

   Answer: a statutory body created under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. NHRC is statutory. Its chairperson must have been CJI or a Supreme Court judge, and it is appointed on the advice of a committee headed by the PM.

9. The Central Vigilance Commission was set up in 1964 on the recommendation of the Santhanam Committee. In which year did it receive statutory status?

   • 1993
   • 2005
   • 2013
   • 2003

   Answer: 2003. The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 made it a statutory body. 2005 is the RTI Act and 2013 the Lokpal Act.

10. The Lokpal consists of a chairperson and up to how many members, at least half of whom must be judicial members?

    • Eight
    • Ten
    • Six
    • Twelve

    Answer: Eight. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 allows up to eight members, at least 50% judicial and at least 50% from SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities and women.