Constitutional Bodies

282

Q155. Which constitutional authority audits the Union and State governments’ accounts?

[SSC GD Constable, 6 May 2026 (Shift 1)]

1. Finance Commission
2. Comptroller and Auditor General
3. NITI Aayog
4. Union Public Service Commission

Answer: (B) Comptroller and Auditor General

Explanation: The Comptroller and Auditor General is India’s supreme public audit institution under Articles 148 to 151. Its financial examination supports legislative accountability, with Union audit reports sent to the President and State reports to Governors.

Q154. Which Finance Commission statements are accurate:
I Article 280;
II recommendations advisory;
III eight members;
IV reappointment possible?

[OSSSC Forester/Forest Guard/Excise Constable, 2 May 2026 (Shift 3)]

1. I, II and IV only
2. II, III and IV only
3. I, III and IV only
4. I, II and III only

Answer: (A) I, II and IV only

Explanation: The Finance Commission is created under Article 280, has a Chairperson and four other members, and makes advisory recommendations. Members may be reappointed, so the assertion that the body has eight members is incorrect.

Q153. Who appoints the Chairperson and other members of the Finance Commission?

[SSC GD Constable, 27 April 2026 (Shift 2)]

1. Parliament
2. Union Cabinet
3. President
4. Prime Minister

Answer: (C) President

Explanation: Article 280 entrusts the President with constituting the Finance Commission and appointing its Chairperson and members. Parliament may prescribe the qualifications and selection method through legislation, but it does not make the appointments itself.

Q152. Which amendment separated the National Commission for Scheduled Castes from the former joint SC/ST commission?

[OSSSC Forester/Forest Guard/Excise Constable, 27 April 2026 (Shift 2)]

1. 80th Amendment
2. 109th Amendment
3. 89th Amendment
4. 69th Amendment

Answer: (C) 89th Amendment

Explanation: The 89th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2003 split the combined Commission into separate Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes commissions. Article 338 now governs the SC commission and the new Article 338A the ST commission.

Q151. Regarding the Election Commission:
I created by Article 324;
II CEC removed like a Supreme Court judge;
III Constitution fixes six-year tenure.

Which hold?

[UPHESC Assistant Professor (Political Science), 19 April 2026 (Shift 2)]

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

Answer: (A) I and II only

Explanation: Article 324 establishes the Election Commission and protects the Chief Election Commissioner through Supreme Court judge-equivalent removal safeguards. The Constitution itself does not prescribe a universal six-year term; the statutory framework regulates tenure.

Q150. Which Articles govern Election Commission advice on parliamentary and State legislative membership disqualification?

[UPHESC Assistant Professor (Sociology), 18 April 2026 (Shift 1)]

1. Articles 324 and 325
2. Articles 280 and 356
3. Articles 102 and 191
4. Articles 103 and 192

Answer: (D) Articles 103 and 192

Explanation: Article 103 requires presidential decisions on specified parliamentary disqualifications after obtaining the Election Commission’s opinion. Article 192 provides the corresponding arrangement for a Governor deciding specified disqualifications of a State legislator.

Q149. Which Constitutional Amendment provided for State Finance Commissions to assess Panchayat finances?

[OSSSC Forester/Forest Guard/Excise Constable, 16 April 2026 (Shift 3)]

1. 94th
2. 73rd
3. 93rd
4. 75th

Answer: (B) 73rd

Explanation: The 73rd Amendment added Part IX, including Article 243I, requiring State Finance Commissions for Panchayats. These commissions periodically review local-government finances and recommend principles for State taxes, assigned revenue and grants to Panchayats.

Q148. For NCBC, assess:
I constitutional body;
II 1993 NCBC Act repealed;
III headed by Social Justice Ministry Secretary.

Which are correct?

[UPSC CDS-I General Knowledge, 12 April 2026]

1. I and II only
2. II and III only
3. I, II and III
4. I only

Answer: (A) I and II only

Explanation: The 102nd Amendment established the constitutional National Commission for Backward Classes through Article 338B, replacing the earlier statutory regime. The commission has its own Chairperson; it is not chaired by a ministry secretary.

Q147. What is the principal Finance Commission responsibility in Centre–State fiscal relations?

[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 27 March 2026 (Shift 3)]

1. Recommending the division of net Union tax proceeds
2. Planning all economic development funds
3. Approving each State budget
4. Allocating the State GST share directly

Answer: (A) Recommending the division of net Union tax proceeds

Explanation: The Finance Commission recommends distribution of tax revenues between the Union and States under Article 280. It also considers horizontal allocation among States and principles for grants, but neither approves State budgets nor implements each allocation directly.

Q146. Regarding the Finance Commission, which statements hold:
I quasi-judicial;
II Article 280;
III President constitutes it;
IV constituted every six years?

[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 27 March 2026 (Shift 2)]

1. I, II and III only
2. I and II only
3. II and III only
4. IV only

Answer: (A) I, II and III only

Explanation: The Finance Commission is commonly classified as a quasi-judicial constitutional body under Article 280. It is constituted by the President at five-year intervals or earlier, not on the six-year timetable proposed in statement IV.