Constitutional Bodies

285

Q105. Which Election Commission statement is correct?

[RPSC RAS Preliminary, 2 February 2025]

1. It was established on 25 January 1952
2. Multi-member decisions began only in 1995
3. It advises on certain post-election disqualifications of sitting legislators
4. ECs hold five years or till age sixty

Answer: (C) It advises on certain post-election disqualifications of sitting legislators

Explanation: The Election Commission advises the President and Governors regarding specified disqualifications of sitting parliamentary and State legislators under Articles 103 and 192. Its establishment was in January 1950, and the other dates and tenures are incorrect.

Q104. What is the Finance Commission’s primary constitutional task?

[70th BPSC Re-examination, 4 January 2025]

1. Distributing revenue between Union and States
2. Allocating every department’s budget
3. Advising President on any financial matter
4. Preparing the Union Budget

Answer: (A) Distributing revenue between Union and States

Explanation: Under Article 280, the Finance Commission principally recommends division of the net proceeds of taxes between the Union and States and among States. It is not a budget-drafting body or a ministry-level fund allocator.

Q103. Who took office as an Election Commissioner on 15 March 2024?

[SSC GD Constable, 20 February 2025 (Shift 2)]

1. Manoj K. Keshav
2. Meera Ravindran
3. Ravi Methuen
4. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu

Answer: (D) Sukhbir Singh Sandhu

Explanation: Sukhbir Singh Sandhu was appointed Election Commissioner in March 2024. The Election Commission is an independent constitutional authority established under Article 324 to supervise key national and State elections.

Q102. Who was the Comptroller and Auditor General of India as of October 2024?

[SSC GD Constable, 10 February 2025 (Shift 1)]

1. Nirmala Sitharaman
2. Shivraj Singh Chouhan
3. Girish Chandra Murmu
4. Manohar Lal

Answer: (C) Girish Chandra Murmu

Explanation: Girish Chandra Murmu held the CAG office in October 2024, having assumed it in August 2020. K. Sanjay Murthy succeeded him in November 2024; the time reference therefore matters for this PYQ.

Q101. Under which Article is the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities appointed?

[OSSSC CRE Preliminary, 13 October 2025 (Shift 2)]

1. Article 350B
2. Article 342C
3. Article 338
4. Article 280

Answer: (A) Article 350B

Explanation: Article 350B authorizes the President to appoint a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities. The officer investigates the working of constitutional safeguards for linguistic groups and sends reports to the President for parliamentary and State-level consideration.

Q100. Which statements about the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities are correct: 1 Punchhi Commission recommended its creation; 2 Ninth Amendment inserted Article 350B?

[OSSSC CRE Preliminary, 7 November 2025 (Shift 1)]

1. Both 1 and 2
2. Only 2
3. Neither 1 nor 2
4. Only 1

Answer: (C) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation: Both propositions are incorrect. The original recommendation arose from the States Reorganisation Commission rather than the Punchhi Commission. Article 350B entered the Constitution through the Seventh Amendment Act, 1956, not through the Ninth Amendment.

Q99. Which officer investigates matters concerning constitutional protections for linguistic minorities?

[DSSSB TGT Natural Science, 6 September 2025 (Shift 3)]

1. Prime Minister
2. President
3. Language Commission
4. Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities

Answer: (D) Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities

Explanation: The Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities, provided for by Article 350B, examines the safeguards available to linguistic minority communities. The officer reports findings to the President, who places relevant reports before Parliament and sends them to concerned State governments.

Q98. Which of these is not a constitutional body?

[SSC Stenographer, 10 December 2024 (Shift 1)]

1. National Commission for Backward Classes
2. Comptroller and Auditor General
3. Reserve Bank of India
4. Election Commission of India

Answer: (C) Reserve Bank of India

Explanation: The Reserve Bank is a statutory institution created by the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. The other three are constitutional bodies under Articles 338B, 148 and 324 respectively.

Q97. Which Article obliges Union and State Public Service Commissions to hold recruitment examinations?

[RPF SI CBT-I, 13 December 2024 (Shift 3)]

1. Article 319
2. Article 318
3. Article 320
4. Article 322

Answer: (C) Article 320

Explanation: Article 320 specifies the Public Service Commissions’ duty to conduct examinations for Union and State appointments, respectively. The article also defines consultation on appointments, promotions, disciplinary matters and service-related claims where applicable.

Q96. Which Article states that Public Service Commissions must exist for the Union and States, subject to constitutional provisions?

[RPF SI CBT-I, 13 December 2024 (Shift 3)]

1. Article 316
2. Article 317
3. Article 318
4. Article 315

Answer: (D) Article 315

Explanation: Article 315 provides for a Public Service Commission for the Union and each State, subject to the framework for joint or otherwise authorized arrangements. The provision appears in Part XIV, Chapter II of the Constitution.