National Commissions, UPSC and Anti-Corruption Bodies

India has a whole family of commissions and watchdog bodies. But they do not all stand on the same legal footing. Some come straight from the Constitution. Some come from an Act of Parliament. Some come from nothing more than an executive resolution. That difference decides how independent each one really is.

1Chapter 1: Constitutional Bodies

Must Know

UPSC: India’s constitutional recruiter

• The Union Public Service Commission recruits for the All India Services, including the IAS.
• It is an independent constitutional body.
• Being written into the Constitution gives it a standing that Parliament alone cannot simply legislate away.
• A UPSC member can be removed only through a special process. The President acts after the Supreme Court inquires and reports.
• He cannot be removed at a government’s routine discretion.
• That protection makes recruitment truly merit-based. An examiner who fears being sacked cannot stay independent.
• Read more: Constitutional Bodies: UPSC, State PSCs and the SC/ST Commissions.

NCSC and NCST

• The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes each got their own constitutional identity through amendments.
• Before the split, one combined commission covered both communities.
• The two were separated to give each community a dedicated watchdog.
• The Union and every State Government must consult the NCST on all major policy matters affecting Scheduled Tribes.
• While investigating a matter, the Commission has all the powers of a civil court. It can summon witnesses and demand documents.
• Its reports must be laid before both Houses of Parliament, not the Lok Sabha alone.

2Chapter 2: Statutory and Executive Bodies

Good to Know

Statutory commissions

• Several rights-focused bodies sit one level below UPSC and the NCSC/NCST.
• They are statutory. A specific Act of Parliament created them, not the Constitution.
• They include the NHRC, the National Commission for Women and the National Commission for Minorities.
• Read more: NHRC: India’s Human Rights Watchdog, NCW: National Commission for Women and National Commission for Minorities (NCM).

An executive body: NITI Aayog

• NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission.
• It was set up by an executive resolution, not a constitutional amendment or an Act.
• Read more: NITI Aayog: Founding, Structure and Mandate.

Joint PSC and the Mandal Commission

• Two or more States can share one Joint Public Service Commission instead of each running its own.
• Parliament sets it up on the request of the States involved.
• Its Chairman is appointed by the President, the same authority as for UPSC.
• The Mandal Commission was not a standing body like the others. It was a one-time inquiry.
• Its OBC reservation recommendations triggered major national protest when implemented in 1990.
• Read more: V.P. Singh and the Mandal Commission Controversy.

3Chapter 3: Why the Standing Differs

Good to Know

Different standing, by design

• Constitutional, statutory and executive bodies sit at different levels of independence. This is deliberate.
• A constitutional body like UPSC is the hardest to weaken. It needs a constitutional amendment.
• An executive body like NITI Aayog is the easiest to reshape.

Anti-corruption, piece by piece

• India splits anti-corruption oversight across several bodies instead of one office.
• They are the Central Vigilance Commission, the CBI, the Lokpal and each State’s Lokayukta.
• The CVC broadly supervises vigilance across the Union government.
• The CBI investigates specific cases.
• The Lokpal sits above both as an external ombudsman that can direct either one.
• Splitting supervision, investigation and final oversight means no single office controls a corruption case from start to finish.
• Read more: Central Vigilance Commission, CBI: Central Bureau of Investigation, Lokpal: India’s Anti-Corruption Ombudsman and Lokayukta: State-Level Ombudsman.

4Chapter 4: Past Papers and the News

Exam Point of View

NDA & NA (II) 2017: who proposed the Lokpal?

• The question gave four options: the Law Commission, the Santhanam Committee, the Shah Commission and the Administrative Reforms Commission.
• The answer: the Administrative Reforms Commission.
• The First ARC, in a 1966 interim report chaired by Morarji Desai, proposed a Lokpal at the Centre and a Lokayukta in each State.
• The Santhanam Committee recommended the CVC, not the Lokpal.
• (Source: NDA & NA (II) 2017, Q137.)

CAPF 2017: who recommended the CVC?

• The options were the First ARC, the Gorwala Committee, the Kripalani Committee and the Santhanam Committee.
• The answer: the Santhanam Committee.
• The trap is mixing up the two: Santhanam gave the CVC; the First ARC gave the Lokpal and Lokayukta idea.
• (Source: CAPF (ACs) 2017, Q11.)

CDS (II) 2016: the NCST reporting trap

• The question asked which statement about the NCST is not correct.
• The answer: the claim that its reports go only to the Lok Sabha.
• The other three statements, on consultation, civil-court powers and procedure, are correct.
• (Source: CDS (II) 2016, Q118.)

UPSC CSP 2025: what the Lokpal can and cannot do

• The question gave four statements: reach outside India, who can chair it, a minimum age rule, and probing a sitting Prime Minister.
• The answer: only the minimum-age statement is correct.
• The Lokpal’s jurisdiction does extend to public servants posted outside India.
• Its Chairperson need not be a former Chief Justice of India.
• It can inquire into a sitting Prime Minister, subject to carve-outs like international relations and security.
• (Source: UPSC CSP 2025, GS Paper I, Q98.)

A new UPSC Chairman, May 2025

• In May 2025, Dr. Ajay Kumar took charge as UPSC Chairman.
• He is a 1985-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre and a former Defence Secretary.
• He replaced Preeti Sudan after her retirement.
• His term runs until October 2027.
• (Source: All India Radio.)

Quick Q&A

• Who proposed the Lokpal? First ARC, 1966.
• Who gave the CVC? Santhanam Committee.
• NCST reports go to? Both Houses.
• NITI Aayog created by? Executive resolution.
• UPSC Chairman 2025? Dr. Ajay Kumar.