Correct Answer – Option 3 : a constitutional authority

The correct answer is a constitutional authority.

• The State Election Commission is the Constitutional body responsible for conducting and supervising elections to the local bodies in the State.
• The State Election Commission of Rajasthan was constituted in July 1994 under Article 243K of the Constitution of India.
• The State Election Commission of Rajasthan is a single member Committee headed by the State Election Commissioner.
• It has a Secretary who is also the Chief Electoral Officer for the State.
• The Commission discharges its Constitutional duty by way of preparing electoral rolls and holding elections for Panchayati Raj Institutions as well as for Municipal bodies.
• Elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions are being held in Rajasthan since 1960. The first election was conducted in 1960 by the Panchayat Department.
• Elections to Municipal bodies are being held in Rajasthan since 1960 by the local self department.
• Anand Kumar, IAS is the present Chief Electoral Officer for the Rajasthan State.

• There are basically two types of bodies,
  • Constitutional Bodies – Those bodies which are mentioned in the constitution of India are known as Constitutional Bodies, For example, Finance commission (Article 280), Election Commission (Article 324), UPSC & SPSC (Article 315).
  • Extra Constitutional Bodies – Those bodies which are not mentioned in the constitution of India but are established by our parliament. 
    • They are further divided into two categories,
      • Statutory Bodies – Those bodies are made by law through the parliament, and they are autonomous in their function, such as CBI, SSC, NHRC, SEBI etc.
      • Non-Statutory Bodies – Those bodies which run through cabinet resolutions are known as Non-Statutory Bodies. For example, NITI Aayog, NDC etc.