Constitutional Bodies: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Polity)
17 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on constitutional bodies are listed here, from 2000 to 2023. They cover the Election Commission, the Finance Commission, the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Attorney General. UPSC checks composition, appointment, functions and what each body may not do, so the explanations spell out the Articles.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 11–17 of 17 questions
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UPSC 2004Polity · Constitutional Bodies
Q11. Consider the following tasks: 1. Superintendence, direction and conduct of free and fair elections 2. Preparation of electoral rolls for all elections to the Parliament, state Legislatures and the Office of the President and the Vice-President 3. Giving recognition to political parties and allotting election symbols to political parties and individuals contesting the election. 4. Proclamation of final verdict in case of election disputes. Which of the above are the functions of the Election Commission of India?
Explanation
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is the constitutional authority responsible for ensuring the smooth conduct of elections in the country. Its key functions include:
Statement 1 is correct: The ECI oversees, directs, and conducts free and fair elections across India.
Statement 2 is correct: The ECI prepares and maintains electoral rolls for elections to the Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President.
Statement 3 is correct: The ECI is responsible for recognizing political parties and assigning election symbols to both political parties and individual candidates.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The proclamation of final verdicts in election disputes falls under the jurisdiction of courts or tribunals, not the Election Commission.
UPSC 2003Polity · Constitutional Bodies
Q12. Consider the following statements: The function(s) of the Finance commission is/are: 1. to allow the withdrawal of the money out of the Consolidated Fund of India 2. to allocate between the States the shares of proceeds of taxes 3. to consider applications for grants-in-aid from States 4. to supervise and report on whether the Union and State governments are levying taxes in accordance with the budgetary provisions Which of these statements is/are correct?
Explanation
The Finance Commission of India primarily deals with the distribution of financial resources between the Union and the States.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Finance Commission does not authorize withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund of India. This function falls under the purview of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
Statement 2 is correct: One of the key roles of the Finance Commission is to determine the distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the States, ensuring an equitable allocation of resources.
Statement 3 is correct: The Finance Commission considers applications for grants-in-aid from States. These grants help supplement the financial resources of states, particularly those in need.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The Commission does not supervise or report on tax compliance by the Union or State governments. Its primary focus is on reviewing financial relations and making recommendations on revenue sharing and grants.
UPSC 2002Polity · Constitutional Bodies
Q13. Consider the following statements with reference to India: 1. The Chief Election Commission and other Election Commissioners enjoy equal powers but receive unequal salaries 2. The Chief Election Commissioner is entitled to the same salary as is provided to a judge of the Supreme Court 3. The Chief Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on like grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court 4. The term of office of the Election Commissioner is five years from the date he assumes his office or till the day he attains the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier Which of these statements are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Election Commissioners (ECs) have equal powers and responsibilities within the Election Commission of India. They receive equal salaries as well and there is no disparity in salaries between the Chief Election Commissioner and the other Election Commissioners.
Statement 2 is correct: The Chief Election Commissioner is entitled to the same salary as is provided to a judge of the Supreme Court. Note: This fact was correct in accordance to the year in which it was asked. As per latest amendments in the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Act, 2023, the salary of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) is now equivalent to that of the Cabinet Secretary.
Statement 3 is correct: The removal process for the Chief Election Commissioner mirrors that of a Supreme Court judge. This safeguards the CEC’s independence and ensures impartiality in their role. While an EC can be removed on the CEC’s recommendation.
Statement 4 is incorrect: An Election Commissioner serves a term of six years or until they reach the age of 65, whichever comes earlier. This discrepancy makes the statement incorrect.
Additional insight:
As per The Chief Election Commissioner And Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service And Term of Office) Act, 2023 Qualifications: The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall be appointed from amongst persons who are holding or have held a post equivalent to the rank of Secretary to the Government of India and shall be persons of integrity, who have knowledge of and experience in management and conduct of elections. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall not be eligible for re-appointment. Where an Election Commissioner is appointed as Chief Election Commissioner, his term of office shall not be more than six years in aggregate as the Election Commissioner and the Chief Election Commissioner. Selection Committee: It consists of Prime Minister (Chairperson), leader of Opposition in House of People and Union Cabinet minister (nominated by Prime Minister) Search Committee: A Search Committee headed by the Minister of Law and Justice and comprising two other members not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of India, shall prepare a panel of five persons for consideration of the Selection Committee. Salary: The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall be paid a salary which is equal to the salary of a Judge of the Supreme Court.
UPSC 2002Polity · Constitutional Bodies
Q14. Which one of the following authorities recommends the principles governing the grants-in-aid of the revenues to the states out of the Consolidated Fund of India?
Explanation
The Finance Commission plays a crucial role in India’s fiscal structure. It is a constitutional body constituted by the President of India every five years, or more frequently if deemed necessary. Its primary responsibility is to recommend the distribution of financial resources between the central and state governments. One key function of the Finance Commission is to propose principles and guidelines for distributing grants-in-aid to states from the Consolidated Fund of India. These grants aim to support states in addressing fiscal needs, ensuring balanced regional development, and mitigating economic disparities among states.
UPSC 2001Polity · Constitutional Bodies
Q15. Which one of the following duties is not performed by Comptroller and Auditor general of India?
Explanation
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India plays a crucial role in auditing and reporting on the financial transactions of the Indian government. However, some functions fall outside the purview of the CAG’s responsibilities. Statement (a) is correct: The CAG audits and reports on all expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India, which includes government expenses related to various ministries and departments. Statement (b) is correct: The CAG is responsible for auditing and reporting on all expenditures from the Contingency Funds and Public Accounts. These funds are used for emergency and specific purposes, respectively. Statement (c) is correct: The CAG also audits and reports on trading, manufacturing, and profit and loss accounts of government-owned enterprises and other related entities. Statement (d) is incorrect: The duty of controlling the receipt and disbursement of public money and ensuring public revenue is deposited into the exchequer is managed by other government entities, such as the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of India.
UPSC 2000Polity · Constitutional Bodies
Q16. Consider the following statements about the Attorney General of India: (i) He is appointed by the President of India (ii) He must have the same qualifications as are required for a judge of the Supreme Court (iii) He must be a member of either House of Parliament (iv) He can be removed by impeachment by Parliament Which of these statements are correct?
Explanation
The Attorney General of India holds the highest legal office in the country, providing advice to the government on legal matters.
Statement 1 is correct: According to Article 76(1) of the Indian Constitution, the President appoints the Attorney General. The appointment is based on the President’s discretion.
Statement 2 is correct: As per Article 76(1), the qualifications for the Attorney General match those of a Supreme Court judge. This includes being an Indian citizen and having served as a High Court judge for at least five years, or an advocate in a High Court for at least ten years, or being an eminent jurist.
Statement 3 is incorrect: There is no constitutional requirement for the Attorney General to be a member of either House of Parliament. Unlike ministers, the Attorney General does not need parliamentary membership to hold the office.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The Attorney General serves at the pleasure of the President and can be dismissed at any time by the President. The process of impeachment, which applies to the President and judges, is not applicable to the Attorney General.
UPSC 2000Polity · Constitutional Bodies
Q17. The primary function of the Finance Commission in India is to:
Explanation
The Finance Commission is a constitutional body established under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution. Its key role is to recommend how financial resources should be distributed between the Central Government and the State Governments. The Commission assesses several factors, including:
The financial conditions of the Centre and States Revenue needs and expenditure patterns The fiscal capacity of different states Based on this evaluation, it recommends the allocation of tax revenues, the distribution of revenue between the Centre and the States, as well as grants-in-aid and other financial resources. This helps ensure a balanced and equitable distribution of funds, promoting both fiscal autonomy and development across various states.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
11
2004
(a) 1, 2 and 3
12
2003
(b) 2 and 3
13
2002
(b) 2 and 3
14
2002
(a) Finance Commission
15
2001
(d) To control the receipt and issue of public money, and to ensure that the public revenue is lodged in the exchequer
16
2000
(a) 1 and 2
17
2000
(a) distribution of revenue between the Centre and the States
What UPSC has tested in Constitutional Bodies
The Election Commission (Article 324) conducts and supervises elections; the Chief Election Commissioner and other Commissioners have equal powers.
The Finance Commission (Article 280) recommends how tax revenue is shared between the Union and the States.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (Article 148) audits government accounts and does not control receipt and issue of public money.
The Attorney General can take part in Lok Sabha proceedings and speak but cannot vote.
The Election Commission decides the election schedule, not the Ministry of Home Affairs, and is not necessarily a five-member body.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Constitutional Bodies?
This page covers 17 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Constitutional Bodies (Polity), asked from 2000 to 2023. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
Which Article establishes the Election Commission?
Article 324. It vests the superintendence, direction and control of elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, the Presidency and the Vice-Presidency in the Election Commission, which is appointed by the President.
What does the Finance Commission do?
Constituted every five years under Article 280, it recommends how net tax proceeds are shared between the Union and the States, the principles for grants-in-aid from the Consolidated Fund, and measures to supplement State funds for Panchayats and Municipalities.
What is the role of the CAG?
The Comptroller and Auditor General audits the accounts of the Union and the States, and reports to the President or Governor. The office checks that expenditure follows the law, but it does not control the issue of money from the Consolidated Fund.
Can the Attorney General vote in Parliament?
No. The Attorney General can speak in and take part in the proceedings of either House and its committees, but has no right to vote, under Article 88. The post is created by Article 76.
