IMPORTANT COMMISSIONS AND INSTITUTIONS OF INDIA — FUNCTIONS, STATUS AND SIGNIFICANCE

PRERNA FOR IAS

         Mehnat Aapki, Guidance Humari

         Roz ki Prelims Practice — Experts ke Saath

IMPORTANT COMMISSIONS AND INSTITUTIONS OF INDIA — FUNCTIONS, STATUS AND SIGNIFICANCE

1. Introduction

• India’s governance system includes several constitutional, statutory and executive bodies that perform specialised functions relating to elections, public finance, recruitment, policy, women’s rights and human rights.
• Their constitutional or statutory status, establishment year and functions are frequently asked in competitive examinations.
• It is important to distinguish between a constitutional body, a statutory body and a body created by an executive resolution.

2. NITI Aayog

• The Planning Commission was established by a Government Resolution on 15 March 1950.
• It was replaced by the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) on 1 January 2015. (NITI Aayog)
• NITI Aayog is an executive body and policy think tank, not a constitutional or statutory body.
• It promotes cooperative and competitive federalism, long-term policy formulation, monitoring, innovation and Centre–State cooperation.
• Its Governing Council is chaired by the Prime Minister and includes Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors as prescribed. (NITI Aayog)

3. Finance Commission

• The Finance Commission is a constitutional body under Article 280 of the Constitution.
• The President constitutes it normally every five years or earlier, consisting of a Chairman and four other members. (Finance Commission India)
• Its principal function is to recommend the distribution of divisible tax revenues between the Union and States and among the States.
• It also recommends principles governing grants-in-aid and measures to supplement resources of Panchayats and Municipalities. (Finance Commission India)
• The Finance Commission framework was operationalised through legislation in 1951.

4. Election Commission of India