Contents
1. Election Commission 88
1.1. Composition and Appointment 88
1.2. Independence of Election Commission 88
1.3. Powers and Functions 89
1.3.1. Administrative 89
1.3.2. Advisory and Quasi-Judicial 89
1.4. Contribution and Performance of Election Commission 89
1.5. Issues 90
1.6. Way Forward 90
2. Union Public Service Commission 91
2.1. Composition and Appointment 91
2.2. Independence of UPSC 91
2.3. Functions and Responsibilities 91
2.4. Limitation and Weakness 92
2.5. Performance of UPSC 92
3. State Public Service Commission 92
3.1. Composition and Appointment 92
3.2. Independence 93
3.3. Functions and Responsibilities 93
3.4. Limitation and Weakness 93
3.5. Performance of SPSCs 93
4. Finance Commission 94
4.1. Composition 94
4.2. Functions 94
5. National Commission for SCs 94
5.1. Functions of the Commission 95
5.2. Powers of Commission 95
6. National Commission for STs 95
7. National Commission for Backward Classes 96
7.1. Composition 96
7.2. Functions and powers 96
8. Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities 97
8.1. Role 97
8.2. Functions 97
8.3. Objectives 97
9. Comptroller and Auditor General of India 98
9.1. Independence 98
9.2. Power and functions 98
9.3. Role played by CAG 99
9.4. Controversies and Criticisms 99
9.4.1. CAG can only bark but not bite 99
9.4.2. Can CAG Audit Utility Companies? 100
9.4.3. Should CAG be a Multi-member body? 100
10. Attorney General of India 100
10.1. Duties and Functions 100
11. Advocate General of State 101
12. Inter-State Council 101
12.1. Composition 101
12.2. Functions 101
12.3. Significance 102
12.4. Issues 102
12.5. Way Forward 102
13. Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council 103
13.1. Composition 103
13.2. Functions 103
14. UPSC Mains Previous Years’ Questions 104
15. Mains Previous Years’ Questions 104
It must be understood that the Election Commission is not concerned with elections to Panchayats and Municipalities in the states. The Constitution has provided for a separate State Election Commission for this purpose.