Which of the following bodies is not a constitutional body established directly by the Constitution of India?

Introduction / Context:
India has several important institutions that help in governance, policy making, and oversight. Some of these are constitutional bodies, explicitly created and defined by the Constitution itself, while others are created by ordinary laws or executive orders. This question asks you to distinguish between a body that is not a constitutional body and others that are clearly mentioned in the Constitution of India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The options include a mix of well known institutions: National Advisory Council, Union Public Service Commission, Election Commission of India, Finance Commission of India, and Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
• We are asked to identify which of these is not a constitutional body.
• We assume knowledge of which offices and commissions are explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.

Concept / Approach:
A constitutional body is one whose creation, powers, and functions are directly provided for in the text of the Constitution. The Union Public Service Commission is provided for in Articles 315 to 323. The Election Commission of India appears in Article 324. The Finance Commission is dealt with in Article 280. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is mentioned in Articles 148 to 151. In contrast, the National Advisory Council was created by an executive order of the Government of India to advise on certain policy matters and was not established by any constitutional provision. Therefore, it is not a constitutional body.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: List the institutions that you know appear by name in the Constitution, such as UPSC, Election Commission, Finance Commission, and Comptroller and Auditor General. Step 2: Confirm mentally that each of these has specific articles devoted to their structure and functions. Step 3: Recognise that the National Advisory Council was a political advisory body set up by the Union government and is not mentioned in the Constitution. Step 4: Choose National Advisory Council as the body that is not a constitutional body.

Verification / Alternative check:
Checking the table of contents of the Constitution or any standard polity book shows articles on UPSC, Election Commission, Finance Commission, and the Comptroller and Auditor General. There is no article on a National Advisory Council. Political histories of the early twenty first century note that the National Advisory Council was formed by executive order, chaired for some time by a senior political leader, and later dissolved. This confirms that it is not constitutional in origin.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Union Public Service Commission: Established under Articles 315 to 323 as a constitutional body. Election Commission of India: Established under Article 324 as a constitutional body. Finance Commission of India: Established under Article 280 as a constitutional body. Comptroller and Auditor General of India: Established under Articles 148 to 151 as a constitutional authority. All of these institutions have constitutional status and cannot be classified as non constitutional.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse the legal status of advisory or coordinating bodies with constitutional institutions, especially when they receive heavy media coverage. Another pitfall is to think that any important sounding institution must be constitutional, without checking the actual text of the Constitution. A practical tip is to memorise the key constitutional bodies and match them with their article ranges, which makes it easier to spot non constitutional bodies in multiple choice questions.

Final Answer:
National Advisory Council