UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — How anti-corruption bodies are politicised

Q1. The Central Bureau of Investigation derives its powers of investigation from which one of the following?

  • A. The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946
  • B. The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003
  • C. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013
  • D. The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988

Q2. The Central Bureau of Investigation functions under the administrative control of which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
  • B. Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
  • C. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice

Q3. Following the Vineet Narain judgment, statutory superintendence over the CBI in respect of anti-corruption investigations was vested in which body?

  • A. The Central Vigilance Commission
  • B. The Lokpal
  • C. The Comptroller and Auditor General
  • D. The Ministry of Home Affairs

Q4. The Supreme Court's description of the CBI as a 'caged parrot speaking in its master's voice' was made in 2013 in the course of hearing which case?

  • A. The coal blocks allocation (coal scam) case
  • B. The Jain hawala diaries case
  • C. The 2G spectrum allocation case
  • D. The Bofors payoff case

Q5. Under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, what is the maximum number of Members (excluding the Chairperson) that the Lokpal may have?

  • A. Eight
  • B. Four
  • C. Ten
  • D. Six

Q6. Which one of the following is the principal statute under which the Enforcement Directorate exercises its powers of arrest and attachment in criminal economic-offence cases?

  • A. The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002
  • B. The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999
  • C. The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
  • D. The Black Money Act, 2015

Q7. Under the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, who heads the Central Vigilance Commission as its Chairperson?

  • A. The Central Vigilance Commissioner
  • B. The Cabinet Secretary
  • C. The Director, CBI
  • D. The Secretary of the Commission

Q8. In the 2026 order in the Delhi excise policy case, the accused were 'discharged'. In criminal procedure, the discharge of an accused refers to which one of the following?

  • A. An order releasing the accused before charges are framed because no prima facie case is made out
  • B. An acquittal recorded after a full trial on the merits of the evidence
  • C. The grant of bail releasing the accused from custody while the trial continues
  • D. The quashing of the FIR by a constitutional court at the threshold of investigation

Q9. The committee that recommends the appointment of the Director of the CBI under the DSPE Act is chaired by which one of the following?

  • A. The Prime Minister
  • B. The Chief Justice of India
  • C. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
  • D. The Central Vigilance Commissioner

Q10. With reference to the requirement of State consent for CBI investigations, consider the following statements: 1. Under Section 6 of the DSPE Act, the CBI requires the consent of the State government to exercise its powers within that State. 2. As of 2023, more than five States had withdrawn general consent to the CBI. 3. The Supreme Court has held that even in a State that has withdrawn general consent, the CBI needs no permission whatsoever to investigate any offence committed within that State. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under Section 6 of the DSPE Act, the CBI requires the consent of the State government to exercise its powers within that State.
  2. As of 2023, more than five States had withdrawn general consent to the CBI.
  3. The Supreme Court has held that even in a State that has withdrawn general consent, the CBI needs no permission whatsoever to investigate any offence committed within that State.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3