National Commissions, UPSC and Anti-Corruption Bodies

India maintains a range of constitutional and statutory bodies to protect specific groups’ rights and to recruit and safeguard civil servants.

MCQquestion.com

Polity0059 · Indian Polity & Constitution

Commissions & Recruiting Bodies

Constitutional, statutory, and executive bodies, each with a different standing

Independent recruiter

UPSCConstitutional body

Executive body

NITI AayogBy resolution, not amendment

Statutory rights body

NHRCBy Act of Parliament

UPSC

Constitutional Body

Recruits for All India Services; members removable only like a Supreme Court Judge.

NCSC

Constitutional Body

Given a separate constitutional identity for Scheduled Castes through an amendment.

NCST

Constitutional Body

The equivalent constitutional body for Scheduled Tribes.

NITI Aayog

Executive Body

Replaced the Planning Commission, established by executive resolution.

NHRC

Statutory Body

Established under a specific Act, not the Constitution directly.

NCW

Statutory Body

Created by a specific Act to safeguard women’s rights.

Different Standing, By Design

Constitutional, statutory, and executive bodies each sit at a different level of independence — a deliberate design choice, not an accident.

MCQquestion.com

Download as image

Must Know

• The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes were given separate constitutional identities through specific amendments.
• The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recruits for All India Services like the IAS, functioning as an independent constitutional body.
• UPSC members can be removed only through a process resembling a Supreme Court Judge’s removal, protecting their independence.
• NITI Aayog, which replaced the Planning Commission, was established through an executive resolution, not a constitutional amendment.
• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was established under a specific Act of Parliament, not the Constitution directly.

Good to Know

• The Mandal Commission’s recommendations on OBC reservation triggered major national debate and protest when implemented.
• The National Commission for Women was created through a specific Act, focused on safeguarding women’s rights and interests.
• A Joint Public Service Commission can serve two or more States, with its Chairman appointed by the President.

Test Yourself

Please wait…

1. Which Constitutional Amendment led to the establishment of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as a combined constitutional body?

41st Amendment

65th Amendment

76th Amendment

82nd Amendment

 Loading…

 

Great to Know

• NITI Aayog’s status as an executive body, unlike UPSC’s constitutional status, reflects a deliberate design choice giving government more flexibility over policy planning.
• Commissions dedicated to Scheduled Castes, Tribes, and Women show a constitutional commitment to protecting historically marginalised groups through dedicated institutions.
• UPSC’s independence protections mirror those given to the judiciary and CAG, reflecting how seriously merit-based recruitment is treated constitutionally.