Tribunals in India are specialized quasi-judicial bodies established to resolve specific disputes expeditiously, alleviating caseloads in conventional courts. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 introduced Part XIV-A into the Constitution, inserting Articles 323A and 323B based on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee. Article 323A authorizes Parliament exclusively to establish Administrative Tribunals for disputes concerning public service recruitment and conditions of service for Union and State employees, leading to the enactment of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, which instituted the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and State Administrative Tribunals (SATs).
Article 323B empowers both Parliament and State Legislatures to establish tribunals for subjects such as taxation, foreign exchange, industrial disputes, and land reforms. Separately, the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 established the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for civil environmental adjudication under Article 21. In the seminal ruling L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India (1997), the Supreme Court established that tribunal decisions are subject to judicial review under Articles 226 and 227 before a Division Bench of the High Court, affirming that judicial review forms part of the basic structure.
High-yield conceptual summaries for competitive exams and rapid revision.
Part XIV-A (Articles 323A and 323B) was added to the Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976.
Article 323A authorizes only Parliament to set up Administrative Tribunals (e.g., CAT under Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985).
Article 323B empowers both Parliament and State Legislatures to establish tribunals for specific subjects (taxation, land reforms, labor).
National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established under NGT Act 2010 for expedited environmental justice under Article 21 mandates.
L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India (1997) held tribunal orders subject to High Court writ jurisdiction under Articles 226/227.
Showing 25 Curated Questions124 Total in Bank
1ID: GK-BIZ-00077
mediumCompanies Act, SEBI Regulations & Stock Markets
Constituted under Section 15K of the SEBI Act, 1992, the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) is empowered to hear appeals against decisions of which group of regulators?
Verified Explanation
The Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) is a statutory tribunal established under Section 15K of the SEBI Act, 1992. Following subsequent statutory amendments, SAT hears appeals against orders passed by SEBI, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
2ID: GK-BIZ-00282
mediumCompanies Act, SEBI & Corporate Governance
Which quasi-judicial tribunal, constituted under Section 408 of the Companies Act, 2013, replaced the erstwhile Company Law Board (CLB) and BIFR?
Verified Explanation
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) was constituted on June 1, 2016 under Section 408 of the Companies Act, 2013, dissolving the Company Law Board (CLB) and Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR). Its appellate forum is NCLAT constituted under Section 410.
3ID: GK-CYBR-00122
hardIT Act 2000, CERT-In & Digital Personal Data Act
Under the Finance Act, 2017 amendments to the IT Act, 2000, which appellate tribunal was designated to hear appeals against decisions made by the Cyber Adjudicating Officer, replacing the former Cyber Appellate Tribunal (CyAT)?
Verified Explanation
Through Part XIV of Chapter VI of the Finance Act, 2017, the Cyber Appellate Tribunal was merged into the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), which now exercises appellate jurisdiction over orders of Cyber Adjudicating Officers.
4ID: GK-CYBR-00181
hardIT Act 2000, CERT-In & Digital Personal Data Act
Under the Finance Act, 2017 amendments to the IT Act, 2000, which established appellate body took over the jurisdiction, powers, and authority of the former Cyber Appellate Tribunal (CyAT)?
Verified Explanation
Under Part XIV of Chapter VI of the Finance Act, 2017, the Cyber Appellate Tribunal (CyAT) was merged with the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), making TDSAT the appellate body for hearing appeals against orders of the Adjudicating Officers under the IT Act, 2000.
5ID: GK-CYBR-00243
hardIT Act 2000, CERT-In & Digital Personal Data Act
Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA 2023), what appellate tribunal hears appeals against decisions and penalty orders issued by the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI)?
Verified Explanation
Under Section 29 of DPDPA 2023, any person aggrieved by an order of the Data Protection Board of India may prefer an appeal before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).
6ID: GK-CYBR-00288
easyIT Act 2000, CERT-In & Digital Personal Data Act
Under the provisions of the Finance Act 2017, the appellate functions of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal (CyAT) were merged into which existing statutory appellate body?
Verified Explanation
Through the Finance Act 2017, the Cyber Appellate Tribunal was merged into the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), which now adjudicates appeals arising from orders of Adjudicating Officers under the IT Act.
7ID: GK-CYBR-00409
easyIT Act 2000, CERT-In & Digital Personal Data Act
Which statutory tribunal currently hears appeals against decisions and orders passed by Adjudicating Officers under the Information Technology Act, 2000?
Verified Explanation
The Cyber Appellate Tribunal (CyAT) was merged into the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) via the Finance Act 2017 to hear appeals under the IT Act.
8ID: GK-ENV-00520
hardEnvironmental Treaties & Laws
Which specialized environmental judicial tribunal was established in India under an Act of Parliament in 2010 to expedite the disposal of environmental dispute cases?
Verified Explanation
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established on October 18, 2010, under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010, providing specialized judicial handling of cases relating to environmental protection and forest conservation.
9ID: GK-INST-00022
easyNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Where is the Principal Bench (Headquarters) of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) established?
Verified Explanation
The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal is located in New Delhi, with four zonal benches situated in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai.
10ID: GK-INST-00061
hardNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under Section 14 of the National Green Tribunal Act 2010, within what maximum statutory timeframe is the NGT mandated to endeavor to dispose of environmental applications and appeals?
Verified Explanation
Section 18(3) of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 mandates that the Tribunal shall endeavor to dispose of every application or appeal finally within six months from the date of its filing.
11ID: GK-INST-00122
hardNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Which specialized statutory appellate tribunal was established under Section 110 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to adjudicate appeals against orders of regulatory commissions in the power and petroleum sectors?
Verified Explanation
The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) was established under Section 110 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to hear appeals against orders of Central and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions and PNGRB.
12ID: GK-INST-00217
mediumNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Which statutory autonomous body established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 has specialized regional benches in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai, in addition to its Principal Bench?
Verified Explanation
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has its Principal Bench in New Delhi and four zonal benches established across India in Bhopal (Central), Pune (Western), Kolkata (Eastern), and Chennai (Southern).
13ID: GK-INST-00296
hardNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Which specialized appellate tribunal was established under the TRAI (Amendment) Act, 2000 to adjudicate disputes between licensors and licensees and hear appeals against TRAI decisions?
Verified Explanation
The TRAI Act, 1997 was amended in 2000 to bifurcate regulatory and adjudicatory functions, establishing the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to resolve disputes and hear appeals against TRAI.
14ID: GK-INST-00299
hardNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under Section 4(1) of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, what is the statutory strength of full-time Judicial and Expert Members in the National Green Tribunal (NGT)?
Verified Explanation
Section 4(1) of the NGT Act, 2010 provides that the Tribunal shall consist of a full-time Chairperson, and not less than 10 but subject to a maximum of 20 full-time Judicial Members and 10 to 20 full-time Expert Members.
15ID: GK-INST-00408
easyNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under which statutory enactment was the National Green Tribunal (NGT) established on 18 October 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of environmental cases?
Verified Explanation
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established on 18 October 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, making India only the third country in the world (after Australia and New Zealand) to have a dedicated environmental tribunal.
16ID: GK-INST-00421
hardNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under Section 18(1) of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, what time frame is statutorily mandated for the Tribunal to dispose of environmental applications and appeals?
Verified Explanation
Section 18(1) of the NGT Act, 2010 provides that the Tribunal shall deal with applications or appeals as expeditiously as possible and endeavor to dispose of the matter finally within six months from the date of filing.
17ID: GK-INST-00482
hardNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under Section 4 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, what is the statutory requirement regarding the composition of Judicial and Expert Members in the NGT?
Verified Explanation
Section 4(1) of the NGT Act 2010 stipulates that the Tribunal shall consist of a full-time Chairperson, not less than 10 but subject to a maximum of 20 full-time Judicial Members, and not less than 10 but subject to a maximum of 20 full-time Expert Members.
18ID: GK-INST-00587
easyNHRC, NCW, NCSC, NCST & CIC
Under which statutory enactment was the National Green Tribunal (NGT) established in 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection?
Verified Explanation
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established on October 18, 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 to handle environmental disputes, making India the third country in the world (after Australia and New Zealand) to establish a specialized environmental tribunal.
19ID: GK-OCEN-00514
easyUNCLOS, Exclusive Economic Zones & Blue Economy
Which independent judicial tribunal established in Hamburg, Germany, under Annex VI of UNCLOS has jurisdiction over disputes concerning the interpretation and application of the convention?
Verified Explanation
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), located in Hamburg, Germany, is an independent judicial body established by UNCLOS. It adjudicates maritime delimitation disputes, vessel arrests, prompt release applications, and seabed exploration conflicts.
20ID: GK-OCEN-00574
easyUNCLOS, Exclusive Economic Zones & Blue Economy
In which city is the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the specialized judicial body established by UNCLOS to settle maritime delimitation and navigation disputes, based?
Verified Explanation
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) is an independent judicial body established by UNCLOS (Annex VI) with 21 independent judges elected by States Parties. It is headquartered in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Germany.
21ID: GK-OCEN-00585
hardUNCLOS, Exclusive Economic Zones & Blue Economy
In the landmark 2014 maritime boundary arbitration between India and Bangladesh under UNCLOS Annex VII, why did the Arbitral Tribunal adjust the provisional equidistance line?
Verified Explanation
In July 2014, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Arbitral Tribunal rendered its award in the Bay of Bengal Maritime Boundary Arbitration (Bangladesh v. India). The Tribunal adjusted the equidistance line due to the pronounced concave curvature of Bangladesh's coast, preventing Bangladesh from being cut off from its 200 NM EEZ.
22ID: GK-ORGS-00170
hardIndian Regulatory & Financial Institutions HQ
Where is the permanent seat of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), an independent judicial body established by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)?
Verified Explanation
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), established under Annex VI of UNCLOS in 1996 to adjudicate maritime disputes, is situated in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Germany.
23ID: GK-WATR-00166
hardWorld Major Rivers, Waterfalls & Maritime Canals
The Mahadayi (Mandovi) Water Disputes Tribunal, constituted in November 2010 to resolve inter-state water sharing, involved which three riparian states?
Verified Explanation
The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal headed by Justice J. M. Panchal resolved water allocation disputes among Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra over the Kalasa-Banduri project.
24ID: GK-TAX-00145
hardGST Architecture, 101st Amendment & Council
Under Section 109 of the CGST Act (as amended by Finance Act, 2023), where is the Principal Bench of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) established?
Verified Explanation
Section 109 of the CGST Act, amended via Finance Act 2023, establishes the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) consisting of a Principal Bench situated at New Delhi (headed by the President) and various State Benches across different States and Union Territories to hear second appeals.
25ID: GK-TAX-00256
easyGST Architecture & GST Council
Under Section 109 of the CGST Act, where is the Principal Bench of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) located?
Verified Explanation
The Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) is the statutory appellate forum established under Section 109 of the CGST Act. The Principal Bench of GSTAT is situated in New Delhi and consists of the President, a Technical Member (Centre), and a Technical Member (State), alongside state benches established nationwide.