2023 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2023 · GS Paper I

Question 35: Polity and Governance

Consider the following organizations/bodies in India :

  1. 1.The National Commission for Backward Classes
  2. 2.The National Human Rights Commission
  3. 3.The National Law Commission
  4. 4.The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission

How many of the above are constitutional bodies?

aOnly one
bOnly two
cOnly three
dAll four

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

Only the National Commission for Backward Classes is a constitutional body: the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 gave it constitutional status through Article 338B. The National Human Rights Commission was set up under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission under the Consumer Protection Act, and the Law Commission by executive resolution; none has constitutional backing.

  • 1. NCBC gained constitutional status through the 102nd Amendment.
  • 2. NHRC is statutory, under the 1993 Act.
  • 3. The Law Commission is an executive creation, not constitutional.
  • 4. NCDRC is statutory, under the Consumer Protection Act.

How you could have got this

No shortcut here: in a “how many” question, ruling out options doesn’t help. Every statement has to be judged.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Correct: only the NCBC is a constitutional body.
  • (b) Two would need another body with constitutional status; none of the others has it.
  • (c) NHRC, NCDRC and the Law Commission are not constitutional.
  • (d) NHRC and NCDRC are statutory; the Law Commission is executive.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.