B.1. Statutory Bodies

UPSC Sample Notes [English]

B.1. Statutory Bodies

Statutory bodies are established through laws enacted by either the Parliament or the respective state legislatures.

Unlike constitutional bodies, statutory bodies are not mentioned in the Constitution. Instead, they are empowered to create rules and make decisions on behalf of the government.
Their powers, functions, and duties are defined by the specific act under which they are formed.
Statutory organizations are created to carry out particular duties. These are sector-specific and reduce the government’s workload.
The government may offer a certain degree of autonomy in its operations and member selection. Although the government must ensure financial responsibility in its operations.
The statutory bodies are further divided into Regulatory Bodies and Quasi-Judicial Bodies

Important Statutory bodies	Details
Securities & Exchange Board of India	In compliance with the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, of 1992, SEBI was founded as a statutory entity on April 12, 1992. The Securities and Exchange Board of India‘s core responsibilities include promoting and regulating the securities market as well as safeguarding the interests of investors in securities.
National Human Rights Commission	The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was established in 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993 which was later amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006. They are mandated to protect the rights and dignity of Indian citizens.
National Commission for Women	On January 31, 1992, the National Commission for Women (NCW) was founded under the National Commission for Women Act, of 1990. It was created to ensure that women in India have a fair and equitable standard of living through legal and constitutional changes.
National Commission for Minorities	Under the National Commission for Minorities Act, the Union Government formed the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) in 1992. Six religious groups—Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis), and Jains—have been classified as minority groups by the Union Government in India’s Gazette.
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights	The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) was established under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005. Under the act, “child rights” includes the children’s rights adopted in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in November 1989 which was ratified by the Indian Government on 11 December 1992.
Central Vigilance Commission	To combat official corruption, the government established the Central Vigilance Commission in February 1964. The Central Vigilance Commission became statutory in 2003 after the Central Vigilance Commission Bill Act 2003 was enacted by Parliament.
National Green Tribunal	By the National Green Tribunal (NGT Act of 2010), the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established on October 18, 2010. It is a specialized organization charged with addressing environmental issues, particularly those involving multiple disciplines.
Armed Forces Tribunal	The Armed Forces Tribunal is an Indian military tribunal. It became a legal entity on August 8, 2009, and it was created by the Armed Forces Tribunal Act of 2007.
Unique Identification Authority of India	The central government of India’s Unique Identification Authority, or UIDAI, is an organization tasked with gathering demographic and biometric data on the nation’s citizens, storing the information in a large database, and issuing each citizen of the nation a 12-digit unique identity number known as an Aadhaar. The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, established UIDAI.
Competition Commission of India	The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is a statutory body of the Government of India responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, of 2002. It was duly constituted in March 2009.
Commission for Air Quality Management	The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, Act 2021 established the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory agency. It was founded in August 2021 as a centralized organization to regulate the air quality in Delhi NCR.
National Legal Services Authority	The National Legal Services Authority of India was founded under the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987 to build a standard national network that would offer professional legal services to the less fortunate members of society at no cost.