Understanding Constitutional Bodies

A constitutional body is an institution or organization established directly by the Constitution of India. These bodies derive their powers and existence from the constitutional provisions. They are crucial for the functioning of the government and are generally independent.

Analyzing the Options

Let's examine each option to determine its constitutional status:

• Election Commission: Established under Article 324 of the Constitution of India, the Election Commission is a permanent constitutional body responsible for conducting elections in the country.
• Planning Commission: This was an institution established by a resolution of the Government of India in 1950, not by any provision in the Constitution. It was an advisory body that played a key role in economic planning. It has since been replaced by NITI Aayog. Since it was not created by the Constitution, it is not a constitutional body.
• National Advisory Council: This was an advisory body established by the Government of India to provide policy advice. It was not created by the Constitution and therefore is not a constitutional body.
• Inter-State Council: Established under Article 263 of the Constitution, the Inter-State Council aims to foster cooperation between the Union and the states. It is a constitutional body.

Identifying the Non-Constitutional Body

The question asks to identify the body that is not a constitutional body. Based on the analysis:

• The Election Commission is constitutional (under Article 324).
• The Inter-State Council is constitutional (under Article 263).
• Both the Planning Commission and the National Advisory Council were established by executive action (government resolutions or orders) and do not have a basis in the Constitution itself.

However, the Planning Commission is widely recognized and frequently cited as a prime example of a non-constitutional body that previously held significant sway in India's governance structure. Its creation was through an executive decision, highlighting the distinction between bodies deriving power from the Constitution versus those created by ordinary government resolutions.

Therefore, among the given options, the Planning Commission is identified as not being a constitutional body.