Previous Year Question

The Planning Commission was not a constitutional body. It was not established under any Article of the Constitution; rather, it was set up on 15 March 1950 through a Cabinet Resolution. Therefore, it was a non-constitutional and non-statutory body.

In contrast, the Union Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commissions have their constitutional basis in Article 315. The Constitution provides for a Union Public Service Commission for the Union and Public Service Commissions for the States.

The Finance Commission is also a constitutional body. It is provided for under Article 280. The President constitutes a Finance Commission every fifth year or earlier, if necessary, consisting of a Chairman and four other members.

The Planning Commission was primarily concerned with assessing national resources, formulating Five-Year Plans, determining priorities and coordinating developmental programmes between the Union and the States.

Current position: The Planning Commission was replaced by NITI Aayog on 1 January 2015. NITI Aayog is also not a constitutional body; it was created through a Cabinet Resolution.

Thus—

UPSC/SPSC → Article 315 → Constitutional
Finance Commission → Article 280 → Constitutional
Planning Commission → Cabinet Resolution, 1950 → Non-Constitutional