Constitutional Bodies — UPSC Prelims Polity previous year questions

Statement I is incorrect. The Act covers public servants in India and also those posted abroad.
Statement II is incorrect. The Chairperson can be a former Chief Justice of India, a former Supreme Court judge, or an eminent person of impeccable integrity. It is not only a former Chief Justice.
Statement III is correct. The minimum age for the Chairperson or a Member is 45 years.
Statement IV is incorrect. The Prime Minister is within the Lokpal's reach, with safeguards. Matters of security, atomic energy and space are excluded.
So only Statement III is correct.

Source: Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013

Four Delimitation Commissions have been set up under Acts of Parliament. They were formed in 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.
The 1952, 1962 and 2002 Commissions redrew boundaries. The 1972 Commission worked on 1971 Census data. After that, seat numbers were frozen by constitutional amendment till 2026, and then till the first Census after 2026.
So the count is four.
Remember: the Delimitation Commission's orders cannot be questioned in any court.

Source: Delimitation Commission Acts (1952, 1962, 1972, 2002); Constitution of India, Arts. 82 and 170

Body 1 is constitutional. The 102nd Amendment Act, 2018 inserted Article 338-B for the NCBC.
Body 2 is statutory, under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
Body 3 is a non-statutory, executive body.
Body 4 is statutory, under the Consumer Protection Act.
So only one is constitutional.

Source: Constitution of India, Art. 338-B; Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993

Statement 1 is correct. The CCO collects and publishes coal statistics.
Statement 2 is correct. It monitors captive and commercial coal blocks.
Statement 3 is correct. It is the competent authority that hears objections under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957.
Statement 4 is incorrect. It does not supervise delivery to end users.

Source: Ministry of Coal, Coal Controller's Organisation; Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957

Statement 1 is correct. The Tea Board was set up under the Tea Act, 1953.
Statement 2 is incorrect. It is under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Statement 3 is incorrect. Its head office is in Kolkata.
Statement 4 is correct as per the UPSC key. It had overseas offices in Dubai and Moscow.

Source: Tea Act, 1953; Tea Board of India

Statement 1 is correct. QCI was set up in 1997 as a non-profit body by the Government and Indian industry (ASSOCHAM, CII, FICCI).
Statement 2 is correct. The Chairman is appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the industry bodies, as per the UPSC key.
QCI works under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.

Source: Quality Council of India; DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Statement 1 is incorrect. The Commission has the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners, so it has three members at present.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Election Commission decides the schedule, not the Home Ministry.
Statement 3 is correct. Under the Symbols Order, 1968, the Commission decides disputes on splits and mergers of recognised parties.

Source: Constitution of India, Art. 324; Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, para 15

Article 88 and Article 76(3) give the Attorney General the right to speak and take part in proceedings of either House and its committees if named a member.
Statements 1, 2 and 3 are therefore correct.
Statement 4 is incorrect. The Attorney General has no right to vote.

Source: Constitution of India, Arts. 76 and 88

Statement 1 is correct. Art. 281 requires the President to lay Finance Commission recommendations before Parliament.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Public Accounts Committee reports to Parliament directly. The President does not lay it.
Statement 3 is correct. Art. 151 requires the President to lay the CAG report before Parliament.
Statement 4 is correct. Art. 338(6) requires the President to lay the report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes before Parliament.
Remember: The PAC is a parliamentary committee. Its report goes to the House, not through the President.

Source: Constitution of India, Arts. 151, 281 and 338(6)

The Finance Commission is set up under Art. 280. Its main task is to recommend sharing of tax proceeds between the Union and States, and grants-in-aid to States.
Option (a) is wrong. It has no role in attracting foreign capital.
Option (b) is wrong. It deals with Union-State finance, not finance among public sector undertakings.
Option (c) is wrong. Transparency in financial administration is not its function.
So none of the first three statements is correct.

Source: Previous year paper; answer key cross-checked against published sources

Art. 281 says the President shall cause every recommendation of the Finance Commission to be laid before each House of Parliament.
He lays it with an explanatory memorandum on the action taken on it.
The Speaker presides over Lok Sabha. He does not lay the report.
The Prime Minister and the Finance Minister act on the report, but the Constitution gives the duty to the President.

Source: Previous year paper; answer key cross-checked against published sources

The Finance Commission is set up under Art. 280. It recommends the principles for sharing tax revenue between the Union and the States.
The Inter-State Council discusses Centre-State issues. It does not fix revenue sharing.
The Union Finance Ministry prepares the budget. It does not recommend devolution principles.
The Planning Commission (now replaced by NITI Aayog) gave plan assistance, not the constitutional tax share.

Source: Constitution of India, Art. 280

The President's oath is to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law. The UPSC key matches it with Faith and Allegiance (3).
A Supreme Court Judge's oath is to uphold the Constitution and the laws. This matches 4.
A Member of Parliament swears to faithfully discharge the duty he is about to enter. This matches 2.
A Union Minister takes an oath of secrecy about matters brought before him. This matches 1.
So the code is A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1, the same as the book key.
Remember: oath forms are in the Third Schedule.

Source: Previous year paper; answer key cross-checked against published sources

The Election Commission decides the election schedule and recommends it. It does not issue the notification itself.
Under the Representation of the People Act 1951, the President issues the notification for Lok Sabha elections. The Governor issues it for State Assembly elections.
Option (a) is wrong. The Government does not recommend elections.
Option (b) is wrong. The Home Ministry does not issue the notification.
Option (d) is wrong. The Commission only recommends.

Source: Representation of the People Act 1951, ss. 14-15; Constitution of India, Art. 324

Assertion (A) is false. Art. 280(2) says Parliament by law decides the qualifications of the Chairman and members. The President does not decide them.
Reason (R) is true. Art. 280(1) says the President appoints the Chairman and four members.
So (A) is false but (R) is true.

Source: Constitution of India, Art. 280(1) and (2)

Assertion (A) is true. The CAG checks that spending is legal. He also checks its propriety, meaning wisdom, economy and faithfulness to the intended purpose.
Reason (R) is true. The CAG swears an oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws.
R explains A in the sense that his duty to protect the financial system covers both legality and propriety.

Source: Constitution of India, Art. 148 and Third Schedule; CAG (DPC) Act 1971, s. 13

Assertion (A) is true. The Model Code of Conduct applies to parties and candidates from the date the Election Commission announces the election.
Reason (R) is false. The Code is not a law passed by Parliament. It began as a voluntary agreement among parties and is issued by the Election Commission.
So (A) is true but (R) is false.

Source: Election Commission of India, Model Code of Conduct

The CAG is provided for in Article 148. So A matches 3.
The Finance Commission is set up under Article 280. So B matches 2.
Administrative Tribunals are provided for in Article 323A. So C matches 4.
The Union Public Service Commission is covered by Article 315. So D matches 1.
The correct code is 3 2 4 1.
Remember: Article 323B deals with tribunals for other matters.

Source: Constitution of India, Arts. 148, 280, 315, 323A

Article 76 provides for the Attorney General of India. So A matches 3.
Article 148 provides for the CAG. So B matches 1.
Article 75(1) says the President appoints other Ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister. So C matches 4.
Article 131 gives the Supreme Court original jurisdiction in disputes between governments. So D matches 2.
The correct code is 3 1 4 2.
Remember: Article 124 covers establishment of the Supreme Court.

Source: Constitution of India, Arts. 75, 76, 131, 148

Assertion (A) is true. The Constitution uses the word 'minority' in Arts. 29 and 30. It does not define it.
Reason (R) is true. The National Commission for Minorities is a statutory body set up by the 1992 Act. It is not a constitutional body.
R does not explain A. The absence of a definition is not caused by the nature of the Commission.

Source: National Commission for Minorities Act 1992; Constitution of India, Arts. 29-30