Constitutional Bodies

294

Q45. Election Commissioner statements:
I CEC draws Supreme Court judge-equivalent salary;
II six years or age 65;
III ordinary EC resigns to CEC.

Correct?

[MPPSC State Service 2021 Preliminary, held 19 June 2022]

1. I and III
2. I and II
3. All three
4. III only

Answer: (B) I and II

Explanation: At the time of the paper, the first two descriptions reflected the statutory pay and tenure scheme. The Election Commissioners resigned to the President, not the Chief Election Commissioner. Pay provisions have since been amended.

Q44. Who has the authority to approve or refuse leave for the Comptroller and Auditor General?

[MPPSC State Service 2021 Preliminary, held 19 June 2022]

1. Finance Minister
2. President
3. Prime Minister
4. Chief Justice of India

Answer: (B) President

Explanation: The President is the competent authority in respect of CAG leave under the applicable service-condition framework. Article 148 also provides the constitutional foundation of this independent audit office and protects its service terms.

Q43. Who appoints a State Election Commissioner?

[MPPSC State Service 2021 Preliminary, held 19 June 2022]

1. Governor
2. President
3. Chief Justice of High Court
4. Home Minister

Answer: (A) Governor

Explanation: Article 243K provides that the State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor. Independent State commissions administer Panchayat elections, with analogous provisions for municipal elections under Article 243ZA.

Q42. Who was appointed the Attorney General of India by President Droupadi Murmu for a three-year term in 2022?

[SSC CGL Tier I, 7 December 2022 (Shift 1)]

1. Shehan Karunatilaka
2. D. Y. Chandrachud
3. Rishi Sunak
4. R. Venkataramani

Answer: (D) R. Venkataramani

Explanation: Senior advocate R. Venkataramani was appointed as Attorney General in September 2022 and succeeded K. K. Venugopal. Unlike judges, the Attorney General holds office at the pleasure of the President under Article 76.

Q41. Who held the office of Attorney General of India on 30 May 2022?

[Punjab and Haryana High Court Clerk, 3 October 2022 (Shift 3)]

1. Mukul Rohatgi
2. Soli Sorabjee
3. K. K. Venugopal
4. Goolam Vahanvati

Answer: (C) K. K. Venugopal

Explanation: K. K. Venugopal served as Attorney General throughout May 2022. He entered office in July 2017 after Mukul Rohatgi and was succeeded by R. Venkataramani in October 2022, making the reference date central to the answer.

Q40. The Election Commission of India is constituted through appointment by whom?

[WBCS Preliminary, 22 August 2021]

1. Vice-President
2. Prime Minister
3. President
4. Chief Justice of India

Answer: (C) President

Explanation: Article 324 vests appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners in the President, subject to relevant legislation. The independent Election Commission supervises the conduct of parliamentary, State legislative and presidential elections.

Q39. The Election Commission of India is which kind of institution?

[WBCS Mains 2021, conducted May 2022 (Paper V)]

1. Constitutional body
2. Statutory body
3. Private body
4. Government-controlled body

Answer: (A) Constitutional body

Explanation: The Election Commission is directly created by Article 324 of the Constitution, so it is a constitutional body. Its independence is important for conducting elections without improper control by the government of the day.

Q38. Which elections are administered by the Election Commission of India?

[WBCS Mains 2021, conducted May 2022 (Paper V)]

1. Parliament, State legislatures, President and Vice-President
2. Parliament and State councils only
3. Parliament only
4. Parliament and State assemblies only

Answer: (A) Parliament, State legislatures, President and Vice-President

Explanation: The Election Commission of India oversees elections to Parliament, State legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President. Elections for Panchayats and Municipalities instead come under the relevant State Election Commissions.

Q37. What is the primary duty of the Union Finance Commission?

[UPPSC PCS Preliminary GS-I, 24 October 2021]

1. Recommending Union–State tax distribution
2. Preparing the Union Budget
3. General financial advice to President
4. Allocating department-level expenditure

Answer: (A) Recommending Union–State tax distribution

Explanation: Under Article 280, the Finance Commission recommends how divisible Union tax proceeds are apportioned between Union and States and among States. Preparing the Union Budget is instead an executive function.

Q36. Assertion: President determines Finance Commission members’ qualifications.
Reason: President appoints its Chairperson and members.

Choose correct.

[UPPSC PCS Preliminary GS-I, 24 October 2021]

1. Both true; reason explains assertion
2. Both true; reason not explanation
3. Assertion true; reason false
4. Assertion false; reason true

Answer: (D) Assertion false; reason true

Explanation: The President appoints the members, but Article 280 allows Parliament to determine their qualifications and selection method by law. Consequently the assertion is false while the reason accurately states the appointing authority.