The Official Languages of India

• Article 343 of the Indian Constitution recognises Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the union; the Constitution also allows for the continuation of use of the English language for official purposes.

Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners

• The President appoints Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.
• Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners have tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years and 62 years respectively, whichever is earlier. They enjoy the same status and receive salary and perks as available to Judges of the Supreme Court of India.

Chief Election Commissioners of India:

The following have held the post of the Chief Election Commissioner of India:

1. Sukumar Sen: 21 March 1950 to 19 December 1958

2. K.V.K. Sundaram: 20 December 1958 to 30 September 1967

Election

Election Commission of India
The Election Commission of India was established on January 25, 1950 (under Article 324 of Constitution of India)

Functions of the Public Service Commission:

• The Union and State Public Service Commissions shall conduct examinations for appointment to the Union and State services respectively.
• To assist the States in framing the operating schemes of joint recruitment for any services for which candidate possessing special qualifications are required if two or more states make such a request to the Union Public Service Commission.

Public Service Commission

• The Constitution of India provides for a Public Service Commission namely Union Public Service Commission or UPSC for the Union and State Public Service Commissions of State PSCs or a Joint Public Service Commission for group of states.

Articles under Part XVIII: Emergency Provisions

• Article 352: Proclamation of Emergency
• Article 353: Effect of Proclamation of Emergency
• Article 354: Application of provisions relating to distribution of revenues while a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation

Emergency Provisions in India

Part XVIII of the Constitution of India contains Articles 352-360 which deals with 'Emergency Provisions'. There are three kinds of provisions according to the Constitution.

• National Emergency
• State Emergency
• Financial Emergency

Inter-State Relations

• Article 131 of the Constitution of India provides for the judicial determination of disputes between states by vesting the Supreme Court with exclusive jurisdiction in the matter, while Article 262 of the Constitution provides for the adjudication of once class of such disputes by an extra judicial tribunal.

National Integration Council

• Formation - 2 June 1962
• Type -     Government advisory body
• Purpose/focus     - Address the problems of communalism, casteism and regionalism
• Region served - India
• Membership -    150
• Chairman – Prime Minister of India