Ministries and the Bodies Under Them

1. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

  • Central Information Commission
  • Union Public Service Commission
  • Staff Selection Commission
  • Central Vigilance Commission
  • Central Bureau of Investigation
  • Central Administrative Tribunal
  • Lokpal

Ministry of Personnel = India’s “Governance Hub”

Most bodies under this ministry deal with:
  • recruitment (UPSC, SSC)
  • integrity (CVC, Lokpal)
  • administration (CAT)
  • investigation (CBI)

Insight:
This Ministry indirectly shapes the steel frame of India—the bureaucracy, discipline, ethics, and governance architecture.

2. Ministry of Finance

  • Finance Commission
  • Goods and Services Tax Council
  • Comptroller and Auditor General of India

These institutions influence resource distribution, federal fiscal balance, and audit accountability.

3. Ministry of Home Affairs

  • Inter-State Council
  • Zonal Councils
  • National Investigation Agency
  • National Disaster Management Authority
  • National Human Rights Commission

Ministry of Home Affairs = Internal Security + Federal Coordination

The above-mentioned bodies deal with national security, disaster response, and Centre–State coordination.

Insight:
Think of MHA as the nerve centre of India’s internal stability.

4. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

  • National Commission for Scheduled Castes
  • National Commission for Backward Classes
  • Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities

Women & Child Development = Rights & Welfare

Bodies like NCPCR, NCW, CSWB all aim to:
  • ensure gender justice
  • protect child rights
  • promote welfare schemes

Insight:
This cluster is crucial for GS-II: Social Justice and GS-I: Society (Vulnerable Sections).

5. Ministry of Tribal Affairs

  • National Commission for Scheduled Tribes

6. Ministry of Minority Affairs

  • Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities
  • National Commission for Minorities

7. Ministry of Women and Child Development

  • National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
  • Central Social Welfare Board
  • National Commission for Women

8. Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER)

  • North Eastern Council

NEC is crucial for understanding regional development and national integration.

9. Ministry of Law and Justice

  • Attorney General of India
  • Solicitor General of India
  • Law Commission of India
  • Election Commission of India
  • Delimitation Commission of India
  • Bar Council of India

Most constitutional and statutory regulatory bodies of elections, laws, rights and legal professions fall here.

This Ministry anchors India’s legal foundations, including elections, legal reforms, and court-related institutions.

10. Ministry of Consumer Affairs

  • National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission

This body ensures consumer rights, speedy redressal, reducing litigation burden
Essential for citizen-centric governance.

11. Ministry of Planning

  • NITI Aayog

This highlights the strategic and transformative role of NITI Aayog as the primary think-tank replacing the Planning Commission.

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