Railway
The Central Bureau of Investigation traces its origin to an organisation set up in 1941 called the:
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Answer: Option D — Special Police Establishment
Detailed Solution
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) traces its origin to the Special Police Establishment (SPE), set up in 1941 by the Government of India.
Why the SPE was set up:
- During the Second World War, there was a huge increase in government spending on war supplies.
- This led to cases of bribery and corruption in the War and Supply Department.
- The SPE was set up to investigate such cases.
- It was headed by a Deputy Inspector General in the War Department.
Expansion after the war:
- After the war, the government felt the need for a central agency to investigate corruption by central government employees.
- The scope of the SPE was widened to cover all departments of the Government of India.
Formation of the CBI:
- The CBI was set up by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1963, on the recommendation of the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption.
- The SPE became one of the divisions of the CBI.
D.P. Kohli was the founder Director of the CBI.
Present position:
- The CBI works under the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
- It is the premier investigating agency of India.
- It investigates cases of corruption, economic offences and special crimes, such as serious murders, kidnapping and terrorism, when referred to it.
Consent of states:
The CBI needs the consent of a state government to investigate cases in that state, unless the investigation is ordered by the Supreme Court or a High Court.
Appointment of the Director:
The Director is appointed on the recommendation of a committee of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India, for a minimum term of two years.
Interpol:
The CBI is the National Central Bureau for Interpol in India.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Intelligence Bureau is an older intelligence agency.
- ✗The Central Reserve Police and the CID are police organisations, not the predecessor of the CBI.
Quick tip
Remember: CBI's origin = Special Police Establishment (1941); CBI set up in 1963 on the Santhanam Committee's recommendation.
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Organisations & Headquarters — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Organisations & Headquarters, 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 national and international organisations: the United Nations and its agencies, regional groups such as SAARC, ASEAN and BRICS, global bodies such as the WHO, ILO and UNESCO, and Indian institutions, with their headquarters, founding years, members and heads. Questions typically ask where an organisation is headquartered, when it was founded, or what its full form is. For example, UNESCO is headquartered in Paris and the WHO in Geneva. Membership and leadership change over time, so pair the static facts here with current affairs for recent changes such as new members or new heads. Practise the organisations and headquarters 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.