Q. Consider the following organizations/bodies in India :

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

How many of the above are constitutional bodies?

  • Only one
  • Only two
  • Only three
  • All four

Answer: (a) Only one

Notes:
  • National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) –
    • Was initially constituted by the Central Govt by the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.
    • The present Commission (8th) has been accorded Constitutional Status and constituted through “The Constitution (One Hundred and Second Amendment) Act, 2018” Act, whereby Article 338B has been inserted, forming a Commission for the socially and educationally backward classes to be known as National Commission for Backward Classes. 
    • Hence NCBC is a constitutional body.
  • National Human Rights Commission –
    • The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is a statutory body constituted in 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. 
  • National Law Commission –
    • Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body and is constituted by a notification of the Government of India, Ministry of Law & Justice, Department of Legal Affairs with a definite terms of reference to carry out research in the field of law and the Commission makes recommendations to the Government (in the form of Reports) as per its terms of reference.
  • National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) 
    • The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), India is a quasi-judicial commission in India which was set up in 1988 under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986.
      • To provide inexpensive, speedy redressal of consumer disputes, the act established quasi-judicial bodies have been set up in each District and State and at the National level, called the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions and the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission respectively.
    • Its head office is in New Delhi.