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Question 34 of 60 · Constitutional & Statutory Bodies
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The Central Vigilance Commission is a:

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Answer: Option B — Statutory body

Detailed Solution

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) was originally set up by an executive resolution in 1964, but it was given statutory status by the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003. Today it is a statutory body.

Origin of the CVC:

  • It was set up in 1964 on the recommendation of the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption.
  • At first, it was a non-statutory body created by a resolution of the Central Government.

Statutory status:

  • In the Vineet Narain case (1997), the Supreme Court directed that the CVC be given statutory status.
  • An ordinance was issued in 1998, and the CVC Act was passed in 2003.

Composition:

  • A Central Vigilance Commissioner as chairperson and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners.
  • They are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a three-member committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
  • They hold office for four years or until the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
  • They are not eligible for further employment under the Central or a state government.

Functions:

  • It is the apex vigilance body of the Central Government.
  • It inquires into or causes inquiries into complaints of corruption against certain categories of central government officials.
  • It supervises the functioning of the CBI in corruption cases and reviews the progress of investigations.
  • It advises central ministries and departments on vigilance matters.
  • It acts as the designated agency for receiving complaints under the Whistle Blowers Protection Act.

Vigilance Awareness Week:

The CVC observes Vigilance Awareness Week every year in the week that includes 31 October, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Limitations:

  • It has no investigative machinery of its own and relies on the CBI and the chief vigilance officers of departments.
  • Its advice is not binding.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗It is not under the CBI; rather, it supervises the CBI in corruption cases.
  • ✗Good to know
  • ✗The CVC is not created by the Constitution.
  • ✗It is no longer a non-statutory body.

Quick tip

Remember: CVC = set up in 1964 (Santhanam Committee), made statutory by the CVC Act, 2003.

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Constitutional & Statutory Bodies — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Constitutional & Statutory Bodies, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers bodies set up under the Constitution, such as the Election Commission, UPSC, Finance Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General and the national commissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and statutory or executive bodies such as NITI Aayog, the NHRC, the CVC, the CBI and Lokpal. Questions often ask whether a body is constitutional or not, which article creates it, who appoints its head and for how long. For example, the CAG is appointed under Article 148, the Finance Commission under Article 280, and NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission in 2015 by an executive resolution. Practise the constitutional and statutory bodies questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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