Constitutional bodies are institutions that derive their authority directly from the Constitution of India. For instance, the Election Commission of India is established under Article 324, the Union Public Service Commission under Article 315, and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India under Article 148.

In contrast, statutory and regulatory bodies, although they often perform comparable public functions, do not originate from the Constitution. Statutory bodies are constituted through Acts enacted by Parliament. Since the enactment, amendment, and repeal of legislation fall within the legislative competence of Parliament, these bodies remain subject to statutory modification. Examples include the National Human Rights Commission and the National Commission for Women.

Regulatory bodies represent a specialised category of statutory institutions entrusted with the regulation, supervision, and standard-setting of specific sectors. They issue guidelines, grant approvals, and ensure compliance within their respective domains. The Reserve Bank of India, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, and the National Green Tribunal are notable examples.