CAPF AC 2022 Q124: Indian Polity – Constitutional & Statutory Bodies
- (a) 5 years or up to 70 years of age
- (b) 3 years or up to 70 years of age
- (c) 5 years or up to 65 years of age
- (d) 3 years or up to 65 years of age
Answer: (b) 3 years or up to 70 years of age
Explanation
Term of the NHRC Chairperson and Members
How to think: the term was changed in 2019.
Earlier it was five years or 70 years of age.
The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019 cut it to three years or 70 years of age, whichever is earlier.
| Feature | Before 2019 | After the 2019 amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Term | 5 years or 70 years | 3 years or 70 years |
| Reappointment | Members: once | Chairperson and members eligible for reappointment |
| Chairperson | Retired Chief Justice of India only | Retired CJI or a retired Supreme Court judge |
About the NHRC: a statutory body under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
The President appoints the chairperson and members on the advice of a committee headed by the Prime Minister.
Answer: (b) 3 years or up to 70 years of age.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. 5 years or 70 years was the rule before the 2019 amendment.
- (b) CORRECT. The term is now 3 years or 70 years of age, whichever is earlier.
- (c) Incorrect. Neither 5 years nor 65 years is the present rule.
- (d) Incorrect. The age limit is 70, not 65.
Key point
NHRC: Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993; amended 2019: term 3 years or 70 years; chairperson may be a retired CJI or Supreme Court judge; more deemed members. Appointed by the President on the recommendation of a six-member committee headed by the PM.
Remember
NHRC: 3 years or 70 years (since 2019).
Common mistakes
- Marking the old term of five years.
- Mixing up the age limit of 70 with 65, used for many other bodies.
- Thinking the NHRC is a constitutional body; it is statutory.
Exam tip
Educated guess: the examiner offers both 5 and 3 years, so a recent change is being tested. The newer, shorter term of three years is the current law.
Sources
- The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, as amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019 — Section 6
- National Human Rights Commission, India — About the Commission