Brief Summary
Okay ji, so in this lecture, we're wrapping up Polity with a look at Constitutional and Non-Constitutional Bodies. Before that, there's a quick chat about History lectures and a heads-up on a new "What's New" series based on the RRB NTPC exam. Then, it's straight into the types of bodies in Polity, focusing on key constitutional bodies like the Attorney General, CAG, Election Commission, and Finance Commission. We also touch upon non-constitutional bodies like NHRC, CBI, and NITI Aayog.
- History lectures will start soon, with a focus on Modern History first.
- A "What's New" series is coming, based on questions from the RRB NTPC exam.
- Constitutional bodies have articles in the Constitution, Statutory bodies are created by law, and Executive bodies are formed through resolutions.
Intro and Announcements
The lecture will cover Constitutional and Non-Constitutional Bodies. Before that, there's a plan to start History lectures soon, aiming to finish by July 20th, with two lectures per day focusing on Modern History first. Also, a new series called "What's New" will cover recent questions from the RRB NTPC exam, helping students stay updated on current exam trends.
Constitutional, Statutory, and Executive Bodies Explained
There are three types of bodies in polity: Constitutional, Statutory, and Executive. Constitutional bodies are mentioned in the Constitution with specific articles, like the Finance Commission and Election Commission. Statutory bodies are created by law, such as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), established through an act of Parliament. Executive bodies, like NITI Aayog, are created through executive resolutions and are not mentioned in the Constitution or created by an act.
Attorney General (AG): Article 76
The Attorney General (AG), or Mahanyayvadi, is mentioned in Article 76 of the Constitution and is the highest law officer in the country, acting as the central government's lawyer. The President appoints the AG, and they serve at the President's pleasure, without a fixed tenure. To be appointed, one must be qualified to be a Supreme Court judge. The AG advises the government on legal matters, represents the government in the Supreme Court and High Courts, and has the right to speak in parliamentary proceedings but cannot vote. The first AG was MC Selvad, and the current AG is R Venkat Ramani.
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG): Article 148-151
The CAG is a single-member body mentioned in Article 148 to 151 of the Constitution. The CAG is the guardian of the public purse, referring to the Consolidated Fund of India (Article 266), and acts as the guide and philosopher of the Public Accounts Committee. Appointed by the President, the CAG has a fixed tenure of 6 years or until the age of 65. The removal process is the same as that of a Supreme Court judge, and they are not eligible for reappointment. The Parliament determines the salary, and Article 149 outlines the duties and powers of the CAG. The first CAG was V Narhari Rao, and the current one is tasked with auditing WHO data.
Election Commission of India: Article 324-329
The Election Commission of India is covered in Article 324 to 329 of the Constitution and is a permanent and independent body. It conducts elections for the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Assemblies, and the President and Vice President. Originally a single-member body, it became multi-member in 1989. The commission consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and two other Election Commissioners, all appointed by the President with a term of six years or until the age of 65. The powers of the Election Commission are administrative, advisory, and quasi-judicial. The first Chief Election Commissioner was Sukumar Sen, and the current Chief Election Commissioner is Rajiv Kumar.
Finance Commission of India: Article 280
The Finance Commission of India, mentioned in Article 280, is a quasi-judicial body constituted by the President. Its composition is one chairman and four members, who are eligible for reappointment. The Parliament determines their qualifications. The commission recommends the distribution of net proceeds of taxes between the Centre and the States and determines grants to the states. The recommendations are advisory and not binding. The first head of the Finance Commission was K.C. Niyoggi, the 15th was headed by N K Singh, and the upcoming 16th will be headed by Arvind Panagariya.
National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) was initially a Special Officer, later changed to a commission by the 65th Amendment. The 89th Amendment separated the NCSC from the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), with NCSC under Article 338 and NCST under Article 338A. The National Commission for Backward Classes is under Article 338B, created by the 102nd Constitutional Amendment. The composition of NCSC includes a chairman, vice-chairman, and three other members, all appointed by the President.
Public Service Commission (UPSC, State PSC, JPSC)
The Public Service Commission includes UPSC, State PSC, and Joint Public Service Commission (JPSC). JPSC is not a constitutional body but is created by the Parliament through an Act. Article 315 to 323 in Part 14 of the Constitution covers these commissions. The President appoints members of UPSC, while the Governor appoints members of State PSC. The term of office is 6 years or 65 years of age for UPSC and 6 years or 62 years for State PSC. Only the President can remove members of any of these commissions.
Non-Constitutional Bodies: Statutory and Executive
Non-constitutional bodies are classified into Statutory and Executive. Statutory bodies are created through law, such as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), established by the Protection of Human Rights Act of 1993. Executive bodies are created by executive resolution, like the CBI, which derives its power from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act of 1946. Other examples include the Law Commission and NITI Aayog.
Interstate Council and Zonal Council
The Interstate Council is provided in Article 263 and is constituted by the President, with the Prime Minister as the chairman. It includes Chief Ministers of all states, Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories, and six Union Ministers nominated by the Prime Minister. The Zonal Council is not mentioned in the Constitution but is established under the States Reorganization Act of 1956. There are five zonal councils, with the Home Minister as the chairperson.
