Key Concepts & Self-Assessment15 Key Facts
Review key Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) & CBI Legal Framework exam facts and rate your mastery to track revision.
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#1
The CVC was established in 1964 on recommendations of the K. Santhanam Committee and granted statutory status via the CVC Act, 2003.
#2
The selection committee for CVC consists of the Prime Minister, Union Minister of Home Affairs, and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
#3
The Central Vigilance Commissioner and Vigilance Commissioners hold office for a 4-year term or until reaching 65 years of age, and are ineligible for further government employment.
#4
The CVC exercises superintendence over the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
#5
The CBI operates under the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946, whose Section 6A requirement for prior approval was invalidated by the Supreme Court.
#6
The Supreme Court in Vineet Narain v. Union of India (1997) issued mandatory directives to confer statutory status on the CVC and insulate the CBI Director from executive interference.
#7
The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 amended the CVC Act to authorize the CVC to conduct preliminary inquiries into complaints referred to it by the Lokpal against Group A, B, C, and D officers.
#8
Section 4A of the DSPE Act, 1946 mandates that the CBI Director be appointed by a high-level committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India (or a nominated SC Judge), and the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.
#9
In Subramanian Swamy v. Director, CBI (2014), a Constitution Bench struck down Section 6A of the DSPE Act as violative of Article 14, removing immunity that protected joint secretaries and above from probe without prior sanction.
#10
Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 introduced a requirement for prior police approval before conducting an inquiry into decisions taken by public servants in discharge of official functions.
#11
The Central Vigilance Commission comprises a Central Vigilance Commissioner as Chairperson and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners as members under Section 3 of the CVC Act.
#12
Section 6 of the DSPE Act, 1946 requires the CBI to obtain the prior consent of the concerned State Government before exercising its powers and jurisdiction within the territorial limits of that State.
#13
Several Indian states have withdrawn general consent under Section 6 of the DSPE Act, necessitating case-specific consent or constitutional court orders under Article 32 or 226 for CBI investigations.
#14
Under the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, the Commission is designated as the designated nodal agency to receive public interest disclosures under the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014.
#15
In CBI v. C.B.I. (Alok Verma Case, 2019), the Supreme Court ruled that divestment of powers from an incumbent CBI Director requires prior approval of the high-powered statutory selection committee.
Subject Specialist Commentary
Analytical perspective & practical exam advice from the Master10 academic board
Integrity in public administration depends on independent oversight institutions to detect and punish corruption. Following recommendations from the Santhanam Committee, the Central Vigilance Commission was set up in 1964 and gained statutory authority through the CVC Act of 2003. It supervises vigilance work across central government departments and oversees the Central Bureau of Investigation for offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI draws its investigative authority from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act of 1946.
In UPSC prelims and State PSC exams, selection committees and statutory provisions are high-yield question areas. Do not fall into the trap of confusing appointments: the CVC selection panel comprises the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Leader of Opposition, whereas the CBI Director panel replaces the Home Minister with the Chief Justice of India. Remember that the Central Vigilance Commissioner serves a four-year term rather than the usual five years. Review these tenure details carefully before test day.
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