Free Topic-Wise General Studies MCQs
Focus on statutory, executive, and regulatory bodies. Test your knowledge on NITI Aayog, NHRC, CBI, CIC, Lokpal, and other pivotal organizations for the UPSC governance syllabus.
Read the theory before practicing.
Your Total Marks
Syncing Benchmark...
Want to redo this specific test later?
REF ID (Save this!):
Explanation: The 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 2018 inserted Article 338B, elevating the NCBC from a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice to a constitutional body.
Explanation: NITI Aayog was established in 2015 to replace the Planning Commission. Its core philosophy revolves around cooperative federalism, encouraging states to actively participate in national policy-making.
Explanation: The NCPCR is a statutory body that operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD), Government of India.
Explanation: Only six communities are notified as national minorities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis (Zoroastrians), and Jains. Jews hold minority status in some states (like Maharashtra) but not nationally.
Explanation: The NDC was set up on August 6, 1952, to strengthen and mobilize the effort and resources of the nation in support of the Five Year Plans made by the Planning Commission.
Explanation: The CCI was established under the Competition Act, 2002 to replace the obsolete Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Commission to better suit a liberalized economy.
Explanation: Unlike the NIA, the CBI is not a statutory body. It was set up by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs, but it derives its investigating powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
Explanation: The Selection Committee consists of the PM, Speaker of Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition in LS, CJI (or nominated SC judge), and an eminent jurist. The President appoints them but is not on the committee.
Explanation: The NDMA, constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, is the apex body for disaster management in India, headed by the Prime Minister.
Explanation: The PFRDA is a statutory regulatory body functioning under the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Explanation: The Governing Council of NITI Aayog comprises the Prime Minister (Chairman), Chief Ministers of all States and UTs with legislatures, and Lt. Governors of other UTs. The President of India is not a member.
Explanation: SEBI was initially formed in 1988 as a non-statutory body. It was granted statutory status in 1992 on the recommendations of the Narasimham Committee to effectively regulate the capital market.
Explanation: The Finance Act, 2017 amended the PFRDA Act, 2013, making the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) the appellate body for decisions passed by the PFRDA.
Explanation: The Lokpal's jurisdiction covers the Prime Minister of India, except for matters related to international relations, security, public order, atomic energy, and space.
Explanation: The CVC Act, 2003 provided security of tenure to the CBI Director, ensuring they continue to hold office for not less than two years to insulate the agency from political pressure.
Explanation: IRDAI is a statutory body constituted by the IRDA Act, 1999. Unlike many other financial regulators based in Mumbai, its headquarters is located in Hyderabad.
Explanation: According to Section 4 of the IRDAI Act, 1999, the Authority is a ten-member team consisting of a Chairman, five whole-time members, and four part-time members (totaling 9 members aside from the chair).
Explanation: Six communities are notified as national minorities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, and Jains (added in 2014) under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
Explanation: The chairpersons of various national commissions (NCBC, NCSC, NCST, NCW, NCPCR, Minorities, and Chief Commissioner for PwDs) are ex-officio members of the NHRC.
Explanation: The CBDT is a statutory authority functioning under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963, which split the erstwhile Central Board of Revenue into the CBDT and CBEC.
Explanation: The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019 reduced the term of the NHRC Chairperson and members from five years to three years or till the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
Explanation: The NGT was established on 18th October 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection.
Explanation: The ED is a specialized financial investigation agency under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, responsible for enforcing FEMA (1999) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Explanation: Zonal Councils are not constitutional bodies. They were established by Part-III of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 to promote interstate cooperation.
Explanation: The Chairperson and Members of the Lokpal hold office for a term of 5 years from the date they enter office or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
Explanation: The CBI is the designated National Central Bureau for India in connection with Interpol. It coordinates investigations on behalf of Indian law enforcement agencies with foreign countries.
Explanation: Though the Governor appoints the Chairperson and members of the SHRC, they can be removed only by the President of India on grounds similar to those for the removal of NHRC members.
Explanation: The CPCB was constituted in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Later, it was also entrusted with powers under the Air Act, 1981.
Explanation: Following the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019, the eligibility criteria were broadened. Now, a retired judge of the Supreme Court is also eligible to be appointed as the Chairperson of the NHRC.
Explanation: The NCPCR is a statutory body established in March 2007 under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.
Explanation: Following the Supreme Court's directives in the Vineet Narain case, the CVC was given statutory status via the Central Vigilance Commission Act passed in 2003.
Explanation: They hold office for a term of four years from the date on which they enter office or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier, and are not eligible for reappointment.
Explanation: The CVC was set up by the Government in February 1964 on the recommendations of the Committee on Prevention of Corruption, headed by K. Santhanam.
Explanation: NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was formed via a Union Cabinet resolution on January 1, 2015.
Explanation: The CIC falls under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. It is an independent body but administratively attached to this ministry.
Explanation: The committee consists of the Chief Minister as Chairperson, the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, and a State Cabinet Minister nominated by the Chief Minister.
Explanation: The NWRC was set up by the Government of India in March 1983. The Prime Minister is the Chairman, and the Union Minister of Jal Shakti serves as the Vice-Chairman.
Explanation: The NGT deals with cases under seven specific acts. Crucially, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Forest Rights Act, 2006 are kept out of its jurisdiction.
Explanation: The Vice-Chairperson of NITI Aayog is appointed by the Prime Minister of India and enjoys the rank and status of a Cabinet Minister.
Explanation: The CIC can impose a penalty of Rs. 250 per day for delay, subject to a maximum limit of Rs. 25,000, and can also recommend disciplinary action against the erring official.
Explanation: The amendments allow the central government to extend the tenure of the CBI and ED Directors by one year at a time, up to a maximum total tenure of five years.
Explanation: The Armed Forces Tribunal Act was passed in 2007, but the Tribunal itself was formally established and inaugurated in August 2009.
Explanation: The RBI was established on April 1, 1935, in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, based on the recommendations of the Hilton Young Commission.
Explanation: As per the Competition Act, 2002, the Commission shall consist of a Chairperson and not less than two and not more than six other members appointed by the Central Government.
Explanation: The NIA was established under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, to act as a central counter-terrorism law enforcement agency.
Explanation: According to the RTI Act, 2005, the Central Information Commission shall consist of the Chief Information Commissioner and such number of Central Information Commissioners, not exceeding ten, as may be deemed necessary.
Explanation: The CBI falls under the administrative control of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which is part of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
Explanation: The National Commission for Women Act was enacted in 1990 to establish a national-level body to review constitutional and legal safeguards for women.
Explanation: UIDAI was initially set up as an attached office of the Planning Commission but later became a statutory body established under the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.
Explanation: In 2000, the TRAI Act was amended to establish TDSAT to take over the adjudicatory and disputes functions from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), leaving TRAI as a pure regulator.
Explanation: Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, a former Supreme Court judge, was appointed as India's first Lokpal in 2019 after a long delay following the passage of the 2013 Act.
Explanation: FSSAI was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and it functions under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
Explanation: The SHRC can inquire into human rights violations related to subjects covered under the State List (List II) and the Concurrent List (List III) of the Seventh Schedule.
Explanation: The 2019 amendment removed the fixed 5-year tenure and the equivalence of salaries with Election Commissioners, vesting the power to prescribe these terms entirely in the Central Government.
Explanation: The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these Councils, while the Chief Ministers of the States included in each zone act as Vice-Chairman by rotation.
Explanation: The Commission consists of a Central Vigilance Commissioner (Chairperson) and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners (Members).
Explanation: Following the Lokpal Act amendments, the CBI Director is appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the PM, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the CJI (or an SC judge nominated by them).
Explanation: The Planning Commission (and its successor NITI Aayog) was created by an executive resolution. NHRC, SEBI, and CVC are all statutory bodies backed by acts of Parliament.
Explanation: While Odisha passed the Lokayukta Act first in 1970, Maharashtra was the first state to actually establish the institution of Lokayukta in the year 1971.
Explanation: The NHRC has limited jurisdiction regarding the armed forces. It can only seek a report from the Central Government and make recommendations; it cannot independently investigate or punish.