Daily Static Quiz Prelims Practice 2027
Option (c) is correct — NITI Aayog, established by Cabinet Resolution on 1 January 2015, has the Prime Minister as ex-officio Chairperson, with a Governing Council comprising all State Chief Ministers and UT Lt. Governors, a key structural break from the Planning Commission. Option (a) is wrong — NITI Aayog was created by executive resolution, not an Act, and the Planning Commission was also never a constitutional body, itself created by a 1950 Cabinet Resolution. Option (b) is wrong — NITI Aayog is a purely advisory think-tank with no binding recommendations. Option (d) is wrong — it has no fund-allocation powers; that function now rests with the Finance Commission and Union Finance Ministry.
- The NHRC is established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, and is therefore a statutory body.
- The Chairperson of the NHRC must be a retired Chief Justice of India and cannot be a retired Judge of the Supreme Court.
- The NHRC can investigate complaints against human rights violations by armed forces personnel and submit its report directly to the concerned court.
- A complaint to the NHRC must be filed within one year of the alleged human rights violation, though the Commission may condone delay in exceptional circumstances.
Statements 1 and 4 are correct. The NHRC is a statutory body under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, and under Section 36(2), complaints filed after one year from the violation are generally not entertained, though delay may be condoned in exceptional circumstances. Statement 2 is incorrect — the 2019 Amendment expanded eligibility to include retired Supreme Court judges, not just former CJIs. Statement 3 is incorrect — under Section 19, the NHRC can only seek a report from the Central Government on armed forces violations; it cannot independently investigate or approach courts directly.
Option (a) is correct — the CVC, set up in 1964 by government resolution based on the Santhanam Committee, gained statutory status through the CVC Act, 2003, following the Supreme Court's direction in the Vineet Narain case (1997). Option (b) is wrong — CVC jurisdiction extends only to the Central Government and Central PSUs, not States, which have their own Vigilance bodies. Option (c) is wrong — the CVC is purely advisory, recommending action while disciplinary authority rests with the concerned Ministry. Option (d) is wrong — the CVC is appointed on the recommendation of a High-Level Committee comprising the PM, Home Minister, and Leader of the Opposition, not unilaterally.
- The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 brought the office of the Prime Minister within the jurisdiction of the Lokpal, subject to certain procedural safeguards.
- The Lokpal can receive complaints against public servants only from citizens of India and not from foreign nationals.
- Members of Parliament are excluded from the Lokpal's jurisdiction in respect of anything said in Parliament or a vote given therein, owing to constitutional immunities.
- The Lokpal has the power to confiscate assets, proceeds, receipts and benefits arising from corruption even before the completion of trial.
Statements 1, 3 and 4 are correct. The PM falls within Lokpal jurisdiction subject to a full-bench requirement, two-thirds majority approval, and in-camera inquiry, with matters of national security, public order, foreign relations, and atomic energy excluded. Under Articles 105(2) and 194(2), MPs retain constitutional immunity for parliamentary speech and votes, preserved by the Lokpal Act. Section 11 empowers the Lokpal to provisionally attach and confiscate corruption proceeds before trial concludes. Statement 2 is incorrect — the Act imposes no citizenship requirement; any person can file a complaint.
Option (b) is correct — the CBI derives its powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946; under Section 6, it requires State government consent (general or specific) to investigate offences within that State, a consent several States have recently withdrawn. Option (a) is wrong — there is no "CBI Act, 1963"; the CBI was created by a 1963 Home Ministry Resolution but draws powers from the DSPE Act, and the "any offence anywhere" claim is false given the consent requirement. Option (c) is wrong — the CBI is not a constitutional body, Article 279A concerns the GST Council, and it operates under the Ministry of Personnel, not Lokpal supervision. Option (d) is wrong — the CBI takes up cases through Central Government references, court orders, or State requests, not autonomous suo motu registration.
