Lokpal and Important Commissions (Indian Polity and Governance) Part-I

Total Questions: 56

1. Who is the first Lokpal of our country? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

Correct Answer: (b) Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose
Solution:The Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) of India (1966-1970) recommended the setting up of two special authorities designated as 'Lokpal' and 'Lokayukta' for the redressal of citizen's grievances. According to the ARC, the chairperson and members shall be appointed by the President after obtaining the recommendations of a selection committee consisting of -

(a) the Prime Minister - Chairperson

(b) the Speaker of the Lok Sabha

(c) the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha

(d) the Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court nominated by him.

(e) one eminent jurist.

Recently, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose has been appointed the first Lokpal of India (a retired Supreme Court Judge).

2. Establishment of Lokpal and Lokayukta in India was recommended by - [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1997]

Correct Answer: (b) Administrative Reforms Commission
Solution:Lokpal and Lokayukta are public institutions established in India to investigate and prosecute corruption among public officials.
  • Recommendation of ARC: In the 1960s, the Administrative Reforms Commission of India suggested the creation of two specialized authorities, the Lokpal and Lokayukta, to address citizens' complaints and grievances pertaining to corruption.
  • Role of Ombudsman: Lokpal and Lokayukta perform the function and role of an "Ombudsman". They inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public bodies/organizations and for other related matters.
  • National and state level: The Lokpal is a national-level institution, while the Lokayukta is a state-level institution. Both have the power to investigate and prosecute corruption cases, and both are headed by a panel of judges or retired judges.
  • Jurisdiction: The Lokpal and Lokayukta handle complaints against ministers and top government officials. The Lokpal's jurisdiction extends to Indian public servants both within and outside India.

3. Choose the correct answer: [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2016]

The appointment of Lok Ayukta at the state level was first recommended by -

Correct Answer: (a) Administrative Reforms Commission of India (1966-70)
Solution:Lokpal and Lokayukta are public institutions established in India to investigate and prosecute corruption among public officials.
  • Recommendation of ARC: In the 1960s, the Administrative Reforms Commission of India suggested the creation of two specialized authorities, the Lokpal and Lokayukta, to address citizens' complaints and grievances pertaining to corruption.
  • Role of Ombudsman: Lokpal and Lokayukta perform the function and role of an "Ombudsman". They inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public bodies/organizations and for other related matters.
  • National and state level: The Lokpal is a national-level institution, while the Lokayukta is a state-level institution. Both have the power to investigate and prosecute corruption cases, and both are headed by a panel of judges or retired judges.
  • Jurisdiction: The Lokpal and Lokayukta handle complaints against ministers and top government officials. The Lokpal's jurisdiction extends to Indian public servants both within and outside India.

4. Indian Model of Ombudsman is - [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]

Correct Answer: (d) Lokpal
Solution:The Indian model of the Ombudsman is Lokpal. The Ombudsman was first established in 1809 as an independent supervisory agency in Sweden.

About Lokpal:

  • It is a statutory body established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013.
    Mandate: To inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for related matters.
    Organisational Structure:
  • It consists of a chair person and eight Members, out of whom four are Judicial Members.
  • The Chairperson should be either the former Chief Justice of India, or a former Judge of the Supreme Court, or an eminent person who fulfills the eligibility criteria as specified.
  • The judicial member of the Lokpal should be either a former Judge of the Supreme Court or a former Chief Justice of a High Court.
  • A minimum of fifty percent of the Members will be from SC/ST/OBC/Minorities and women.

5. Which of the following Commissions/Committees has recommended the creation of a Local Body Ombudsman? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]

Correct Answer: (a) First Administrative Reforms Commission
Solution:Lokpal and Lokayukta are public institutions established in India to investigate and prosecute corruption among public officials.
  • Recommendation of ARC: In the 1960s, the Administrative Reforms Commission of India suggested the creation of two specialized authorities, the Lokpal and Lokayukta, to address citizens' complaints and grievances pertaining to corruption.
  • Role of Ombudsman: Lokpal and Lokayukta perform the function and role of an "Ombudsman". They inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public bodies/organizations and for other related matters.
  • National and state level: The Lokpal is a national-level institution, while the Lokayukta is a state-level institution. Both have the power to investigate and prosecute corruption cases, and both are headed by a panel of judges or retired judges.
  • Jurisdiction: The Lokpal and Lokayukta handle complaints against ministers and top government officials. The Lokpal's jurisdiction extends to Indian public servants both within and outside India.

6. The Administrative Reforms Commission 1967, which for the first time recommended for the setting up of Lokpal and Lokayukta, was headed by [U.P. R.O./A.R.O. 2017]

Correct Answer: (a) Morarji Desai
Solution:The Indian model of the Ombudsman is Lokpal. The Ombudsman was first established in 1809 as an independent supervisory agency in Sweden.
  • In India, the former law minister Ashok Kumar Sen became the first Indian to propose the concept of a constitutional Ombudsman in Parliament in the early 1960s.
  • Further, Dr. L. M. Singhvi coined the term Lokpal and Lokayukta in 1963. Later in the year 1966, the First Administrative Reform Commission passed recommendations regarding the setting up of two independent authorities at the central and at the state level.
  • After the recommendations from the First Administrative Reform Commission, the Lokpal bill was passed in Lok Sabha in 1968 but lapsed due to the dissolution of Lok Sabha. Since then, the bill was introduced many times in Lok Sabha but has lapsed.
  • Later, in 2002, the National Commission for Review of the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) recommended the appointment of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas. In 2005, the 2nd Administrative Reform Commission (ARC) also recommended the same.
  • The Anna Hazare movement, also known as India Against Corruption (IAC) movement, was led by social activist Anna Hazare, who began a hunger strike in April 2011 to demand the creation of an independent, effective anti-corruption body known as the Lokpal.
  • As a result of the movement, the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill was introduced in the Indian parliament and passed into law in 2013.

7. The first Lokpal Bill was presented in the Parliament in- [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]

Correct Answer: (c) 1968
Solution:The first Lokpal Bill was presented in 1968 during the fourth Lok Sabha where it was passed in 1969, but before it could be passed by the Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha was dissolved, and the bill lapsed.
  • In India, the former law minister Ashok Kumar Sen became the first Indian to propose the concept of a constitutional Ombudsman in Parliament in the early 1960s.
  • Further, Dr. L. M. Singhvi coined the term Lokpal and Lokayukta in 1963. Later in the year 1966, the First Administrative Reform Commission passed recommendations regarding the setting up of two independent authorities at the central and at the state level.
  • After the recommendations from the First Administrative Reform Commission, the Lokpal bill was passed in Lok Sabha in 1968 but lapsed due to the dissolution of Lok Sabha. Since then, the bill was introduced many times in Lok Sabha but has lapsed.
  • Later, in 2002, the National Commission for Review of the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) recommended the appointment of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas. In 2005, the 2nd Administrative Reform Commission (ARC) also recommended the same.
  • The Anna Hazare movement, also known as India Against Corruption (IAC) movement, was led by social activist Anna Hazare, who began a hunger strike in April 2011 to demand the creation of an independent, effective anti-corruption body known as the Lokpal.
  • As a result of the movement, the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill was introduced in the Indian parliament and passed into law in 2013.

8. Which of the following statements about the Lokpal Bill, 2011 is/are correct? [U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Mains) 2010]

1. Was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 4, 2011.

2. Was introduced by Shri P. Chidambaram, Home Minister.

3. Has been referred to the Standing Committee.

4. Has been termed by Civil Society members as 'weak.'

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Code:

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 3 and 4 only
Solution:The Lokpal Bill was introduced on 4 August, 2011 in Lok Sabha by the then Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, V. Narayanaswami and after that it was sent to Standing Committee of Parliament on Public Grievance, law and Justice. It has been termed 'weak' by Civil Society members. Thus statement 1,3 and 4 are correct, while statement 2 is wrong. It is noteworthy that the Bill relating to Lokpal or Lokayukta has taken the form of Law or Act from 1 January, 2014.

9. Civil Society's representatives in the panel for drafting the Lokpal Bill include: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]

1. Anna Hazare

2. Prashant Joshi

3. Santosh Hegde

4. Kiran Bedi

5. Shanti Bhushan

Select your correct answer from the code given below:

Correct Answer: (d) Only 1, 3 and 5
Solution:There were five members included from the civil society for drafting the Lokpal Bill- Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejariwal, Shanti Bhushan, N. Santosh Hegde and Prashant Bhushan.
  • In India, the former law minister Ashok Kumar Sen became the first Indian to propose the concept of a constitutional Ombudsman in Parliament in the early 1960s.
  • Further, Dr. L. M. Singhvi coined the term Lokpal and Lokayukta in 1963. Later in the year 1966, the First Administrative Reform Commission passed recommendations regarding the setting up of two independent authorities at the central and at the state level.
  • After the recommendations from the First Administrative Reform Commission, the Lokpal bill was passed in Lok Sabha in 1968 but lapsed due to the dissolution of Lok Sabha. Since then, the bill was introduced many times in Lok Sabha but has lapsed.
  • Later, in 2002, the National Commission for Review of the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) recommended the appointment of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas. In 2005, the 2nd Administrative Reform Commission (ARC) also recommended the same.
  • The Anna Hazare movement, also known as India Against Corruption (IAC) movement, was led by social activist Anna Hazare, who began a hunger strike in April 2011 to demand the creation of an independent, effective anti-corruption body known as the Lokpal.
  • As a result of the movement, the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill was introduced in the Indian parliament and passed into law in 2013.

10. In which of the following States, the office of Lokayukta was, first established? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) (Re. Exam) 2015]

Correct Answer: (a) Maharashtra
Solution:In 1972, the first Lokayukta was established in Maharashtra. Lokayukta has been established in many states of India. Bihar (1973), Uttar Pradesh (1975), Madhya Pradesh (1982), Andhra Pradesh (1983), Karnataka (1984), Assam (1986), Odisha was the first State to pass the legislation related to Lokayukta, but this institution did not come into existence till 1983. Also, Odisha was the first State that abolished the Lokayukta in 1993.