What is a Statutory Body in India?

In Indian Polity and Civics, government organizations are classified based on how they were created. One of the most important classifications is the Statutory Body.

Question (Click to Flip)

Is the CBI a statutory body?

Answer

No. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is NOT a statutory body. It derives its power to investigate from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, but it is an executive agency.

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Key Facts

There is a third type called an 'Executive Body' (or Extra-Constitutional Body). These are created simply by a cabinet resolution (an executive order) without any Act of Parliament. Example: NITI Aayog.

What is a Statutory Body?

A Statutory Body is an organization or agency that is created by passing an Act (a statute or law) in the Parliament or a State Legislature.

These bodies do not have their origins in the Indian Constitution. Instead, the government creates them later through specific laws when a need arises to regulate a sector or enforce certain rules.

Examples of Statutory Bodies

SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India): Created by the SEBI Act, 1992 to regulate the stock market.
RBI (Reserve Bank of India): Created by the RBI Act, 1934.
NHRC (National Human Rights Commission): Created by the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
UIDAI (Aadhaar authority): Created by the Aadhaar Act, 2016.

Difference: Constitutional vs Statutory

Feature	Constitutional Body	Statutory Body
Origin	Specifically mentioned in the Constitution.	Created later by passing a Law/Act in Parliament.
Power source	Derives power directly from the Constitution.	Derives power from the specific Act that created it.
Examples	Election Commission, UPSC, Finance Commission.	SEBI, NHRC, RBI, NGT.
Changes	Hard to change (Requires a Constitutional Amendment).	Easier to change (Requires a simple amendment to the Act).

Questions and Answers

Is the CBI a statutory body?+

No. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is NOT a statutory body. It derives its power to investigate from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, but it is an executive agency.

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