SSC CGL - Detailed Guide 2025
Self-Paced Course
Constitutional & Non-Constitutional Bodies
Reference: Lucent GK, NCERT Class 6–12
Election Commission of India (ECI)
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Constitutional Status | Article 324, Part XV |
| Composition (Post 1993) | 1 Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) + 2 Election Commissioners |
| Appointment | By the President |
| Tenure | 6 years or until age 65 (whichever earlier) |
| Removal of CEC | Like a SC Judge (by Parliament) |
| Functions | Conduct elections for President, Vice President, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Assemblies; supervise electoral rolls; Model Code of Conduct |
Powers: Advisory, quasi-judicial, and administrative (under Representation of People Act, 1950 & 1951
Finance Commission
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Constitutional Status | Article 280 |
| Composition | 1 Chairman + 4 Members |
| Appointment | By the President |
| Tenure | As decided by the President (usually 5 years) |
| Function | Recommend distribution of net tax revenue between Union and States; principles of grants-in-aid to states; any other financial matter referred by the President |
Most Recent: 15th Finance Commission Chair: N.K. Singh)( for 2021–26
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) & State Public Service Commissions (SPSC)
| Feature | UPSC | State PSC |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Article | Art. 315–323 | Art. 315–323 |
| Appointment | By President | By Governor |
| Composition | 1 Chairman + Members (as decided by President/Governor) | |
| Tenure | 6 years or up to age 65 (UPSC); 62 (State PSC) | |
| Function | Conduct exams (e.g. IAS, IPS); advise govt on promotions, appointments, transfers | Same at state level for Group A, B posts |
| Removal | By President (for UPSC) on grounds of misbehavior, proved by SC inquiry |
Reports of UPSC must be laid before Parliament; State PSC before State Legislature
NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India)
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1 January 2015 (replaced Planning Commission) |
| Nature | Non-constitutional, non-statutory body |
| Chairperson | Prime Minister |
| Vice Chairperson | Appointed by PM |
| Members | Full-time, part-time, ex-officio (CMs, LGs) |
| CEO | Appointed by PM |
| Functions | Policy think tank, cooperative federalism, bottom-up planning, strategic input for development |
It does not allocate funds (unlike Planning Commission); acts as advisory and directional body
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Established | 1993 under Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 |
| Nature | Statutory body (not constitutional) |
| Composition | Chairperson (retired CJI) + 4 members + ex-officio members |
| Appointment | By President on recommendation of committee headed by PM |
| Tenure | 5 years or up to age 70 |
| Function | Inquire into human rights violations, recommend compensation, suggest reforms, review safeguards |
Limitations: Recommendations not binding; cannot punish offenders
CVC, CBI, Lokpal & Lokayuktas
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Status | Statutory body (CVC Act, 2003) |
| Established | 1964 (recommended by Santhanam Committee) |
| Composition | Central Vigilance Commissioner + 2 Vigilance Commissioners |
| Appointment | By President on recommendation of Committee |
| Function | Supervises vigilance in central government, advises CBI, anti-corruption activities |
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Established | 1963 (via resolution by Home Ministry) |
| Parent Body | Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions |
| Legal Backing | DSPE Act, 1946 |
| Function | Investigates corruption, economic & special crimes, inter-state crimes, etc. |
Lokpal
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Act | Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 |
| Status | Statutory body |
| Composition | Chairperson (retired CJI/judge) + max 8 members |
| Jurisdiction | PM (with safeguards), ministers, MPs, govt servants |
| Appointment | President on recommendation of selection committee |
| First Lokpal | Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose (appointed in 2019) |
Lokayukta
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| State-Level Body | Appointed by Governor |
| Coverage | State CM, Ministers, and public officials |
| Status | Statutory body (created by individual states) |
Note: Every state is expected to create Lokayukta under Lokpal Act, 2013 — implementation varies
Summary Table
| Body | Type | Article / Act | Appointing Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECI | Constitutional | Art. 324 | President |
| Finance Commission | Constitutional | Art. 280 | President |
| UPSC / SPSC | Constitutional | Art. 315–323 | President / Governor |
| NITI Aayog | Non-constitutional | Executive Resolution (2015) | PM (Chair) |
| NHRC | Statutory | Human Rights Act, 1993 | President |
| CVC | Statutory | CVC Act, 2003 | President |
| CBI | Non-statutory | DSPE Act + Executive Setup | PMO (under DoPT) |
| Lokpal / Lokayukta | Statutory | Lokpal Act, 2013 | President / Governor |
Developed By Roopasree Challa
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