Constitutional Bodies MCQs

Statement II is incorrect. The 15th FC recommended that 41 percent, not 45 percent, of the divisible pool of Union taxes be shared with States.

Statement II is incorrect. The vertical devolution share recommended by the 15th FC was 41 percent, not 45 percent.

Statement II is incorrect. The 15th Finance Commission recommended 41 percent as the States' share in the divisible pool, not 45 percent.

Only one body in the list is constitutional. The NHRC was created by the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993, and it is statutory, not constitutional.

Only one body qualifies. The Law Commission is an executive body reconstituted periodically by government order, and the NCDRC is created under the Consumer Protection Act.

Only the NCBC has constitutional status. The NHRC, Law Commission, and NCDRC are non-constitutional bodies created by statute or executive action.

More than two additional criteria were used. The 15th FC used demographic performance, forest and ecology, and tax and fiscal efforts as criteria beyond population, area, and income distance.

Only three additional criteria were used. Governance reforms and stable government were not among the 15th FC's horizontal devolution criteria.

Not all five were used. The 15th FC's horizontal devolution formula included population (15%), area (15%), income distance (45%), demographic performance (12.5%), forest and ecology (10%), and tax and fiscal efforts (2.5%). Governance reforms and stable government were not part of the formula.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Only the Attorney General has a constitutional right under Article 88 to participate in parliamentary proceedings. The Solicitor General does not have this constitutional privilege.

Statement 2 is incorrect. There is no constitutional provision requiring the Attorney General to resign when the government changes. The Attorney General holds office during the pleasure of the President.

Both statements are incorrect. The Solicitor General does not enjoy the same constitutional right to participate in Parliament as the Attorney General. And there is no constitutional requirement for the AG to resign with the government, though it is a matter of convention.

The 14th FC reduced the role of sector-specific or conditional grants. Its key recommendation was the sharp increase in untied devolution, reducing the Centre's discretion in transfers.

Only Statement 1 is correct. The 14th FC's hallmark was increasing untied tax devolution rather than recommending sector-specific grants.

Statement 1 is correct. The 14th Finance Commission did increase the States' share to 42 percent of the central divisible pool.

Incomplete. While the Attorney General can take part in proceedings, Article 88 also permits him to speak in either House and be a member of any parliamentary committee.

Statement 4 is incorrect. The Attorney General has no right to vote in Parliament. While he can be a member of a committee, voting on the floor of the House is restricted to elected or nominated members.

Incomplete. In addition to taking part in proceedings and speaking, the Attorney General can also be a member of parliamentary committees under Article 88.

Incomplete. While the President must lay Finance Commission recommendations before Parliament under Article 281, the Constitution also requires the President to lay CAG reports (Article 151) and NCSC reports (Article 338) before Parliament.

The Public Accounts Committee is a parliamentary committee whose reports are presented within Parliament. They are not laid before Parliament by the President under a constitutional duty.

The PAC is a committee of Parliament itself. Its reports are presented to the House by the committee chairman, not laid before Parliament by the President.

Statements 1 and 4 are incorrect. The Indian CAG does not exercise exchequer control even during emergencies, and the CAG has no judicial or prosecutorial powers. The CAG is an audit body, not a judicial authority.

While Statement 2 is correct, Statement 3 is also correct because CAG reports have historically been used by investigating agencies as a basis for further inquiry into financial irregularities.

Statements 1 and 4 are both incorrect. The CAG has no exchequer control function and no judicial powers for prosecution. The CAG is purely an audit authority.

The Speaker presides over Lok Sabha proceedings but does not have the constitutional duty to lay Finance Commission recommendations before Parliament.

The Prime Minister heads the government but the specific constitutional duty under Article 281 rests with the President.

While the Finance Minister is involved in fiscal policy, Article 281 places the obligation to lay Finance Commission recommendations before Parliament on the President, not the Finance Minister.

District Planning Committees prepare draft development plans for the district. They do not make recommendations about principles for tax devolution to Panchayats.

The State Finance Ministry handles budgetary matters but does not have the constitutional mandate to recommend principles for tax sharing with Panchayats. That role belongs to the State Finance Commission.

The Panchayati Raj Ministry oversees policy for local governance but does not make constitutional recommendations on fiscal devolution to Panchayats.

The UGC was established under the UGC Act 1956, a parliamentary statute. It is not a constitutional body created by a specific constitutional article.

The NHRC was created by the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993. It is a statutory body, not established by a constitutional provision.

The CVC was originally set up by an executive resolution in 1964 and later given statutory backing by the CVC Act 2003. It is not a constitutional body.

This is a valid function. Under Article 149 read with the CAG (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act 1971, the CAG audits all expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India and of States.

This is a valid function. The CAG also audits expenditure from the Contingency Fund and the Public Account in accordance with statutory provisions.

This is a valid function. The CAG audits the accounts of government companies, corporations, and bodies engaged in trading and manufacturing activities.