Prelims · Polity & governance · 27 questions

Constitutional, statutory & regulatory bodies

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UPSC syllabus: “Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.” See the full syllabus →

Prelims 2017 · Q39

Medium

With reference to ‘Quality Council of India (QCI)’, consider the following statements:

1.QCI was set up jointly by the Government of India and the Indian Industry.
2.Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendations of the industry to the Government.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Both statements are correct. QCI is an autonomous society that the Government of India created in partnership with Indian industry, and its Chairman is nominated by the Prime Minister.

✓ 1. A committee of ministries and industry recommended, and the Cabinet Committee accepted, that the quality body be built jointly by Government and industry. The result was QCI, a non-profit autonomous society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
✓ 2. QCI's Council lists its Chairman as 'nominated by Prime Minister of India'. The Council has equal representation of Government, industry and other stakeholders.

Remember · QCI: autonomous society (1997) set up jointly by the Government of India and industry; its Chairman is nominated by the Prime Minister; the Commerce Ministry's DPIIT is its nodal department.

Sources

About QCI (2017 version), Quality Council of India (Internet Archive copy) ↗ · reference work “Key recommendations included the Need for establishing an organization jointly by the Government and the industry and the need for the organization to be self-sustaining and be away from the government.”
QCI Members (2017 version), Quality Council of India (Internet Archive copy) ↗ · reference work “Chairman (Nominated by Prime Minister of India) Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry Secretary, Department of Commerce”
Who We Are, Quality Council of India ↗ · reference work “The Quality Council of India represents a pioneering initiative by the Government of India to create an institution in partnership with Indian industry.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2017 · Q90

Medium

Consider the following statements:

1.The Election Commission of India is a five-member body.
2.Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections.
3.Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) 3 only

Only statement 3 is correct. The Election Commission itself, not the Home Ministry, fixes election schedules, it is not a five-member body, and the Symbols Order gives it the power to decide disputes over splits and mergers of recognised parties.

✗ 1. Article 324 provides for a Chief Election Commissioner and such other Election Commissioners as the President fixes. In practice the Commission is a three-member body, the CEC and two Election Commissioners, with equal powers.
✗ 2. The Election Commission determines the timing of elections and prepares the election schedule. The Home Ministry does not decide it.
✓ 3. Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 lets the Commission decide which rival group of a recognised party is that party, and paragraph 16 deals with amalgamation of parties. Its decision on rival groups is binding.

Remember · The Election Commission fixes election schedules, is a three-member body (CEC plus two ECs), and settles party-split disputes under para 15 of the Symbols Order, 1968.

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Ch 3 (practise this chapter) · Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Ch 3 (practise this chapter)

Sources

NCERT Class 11 · Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 3 “The CEC and the two Election Commissioners have equal powers to take all decisions relating to elections as a collective body.”
NCERT Class 11 · Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 3 “It also determines the timing of elections and prepares the election schedule.”
The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, paragraphs 15 and 16 (Legislative Department, Government of India) ↗ “When the Commission is satisfied on information in its possession that there are rival sections or groups of a recognised political party each of whom claims to be that party the Commission may”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2017 · Q96

Medium

Which of the following are not necessarily the consequences of the proclamation of the President’s rule in a State?

1.Dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly
2.Removal of the Council of Ministers in the State
3.Dissolution of the local bodies

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Answer & explanation

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only

Under Article 356 the President takes over the State Government's functions, so the Council of Ministers necessarily goes. The Assembly need not be dissolved, because its powers pass to Parliament and it can be kept suspended, and the proclamation does not touch local bodies at all. So 1 and 3 are the ones that are not necessary consequences.

✓ 1. Dissolution of the Assembly is not automatic. Article 356(1)(b) only says the Legislature's powers become exercisable by or under Parliament, and NCERT notes the Assembly may be suspended or dissolved, so both are possible.
✗ 2. Removal of the Council of Ministers is a necessary result, because the President assumes the functions of the State Government under Article 356(1)(a). The item is therefore not in the answer set.
✓ 3. Article 356 says nothing about Panchayats or Municipalities. They are constituted under Parts IX and IXA, and Article 243E(1) lets a Panchayat be dissolved only under a law in force, so President's rule does not itself dissolve them.

Remember · President's rule (Article 356) puts the State Government in the President's hands, so ministers go. The Assembly may be suspended or dissolved, and local bodies are unaffected.

📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Ch 7 (practise this chapter)

Sources

NCERT Class 11 · Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 7 “The Governor has the power to recommend the dismissal of the State government and suspension or dissolution of State assembly.”
Constitution of India (Ministry of Law and Justice), Article 356(1)(a) ↗ “assume to himself all or any of the functions of the Government of the State and all or any of the powers vested in or exercisable by the Governor … declare that the powers of the Legislature of the State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of Parliament … Every Panchayat, unless sooner dissolved under any law for the time being in force, shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

The same topic in Mains

Constitutional bodiesGS 2 syllabus
Statutory, regulatory & quasi-judicial bodiesGS 2 syllabus

Read it in NCERT

Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 3cited in 2 explanations
Class 11 Indian Constitution at Work, Chapter 7cited in 1 explanation

Constitutional, statutory & regulatory bodies

Prelims 2017 · Q39

Prelims 2017 · Q90

Prelims 2017 · Q96

The same topic in Mains

Read it in NCERT

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