UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Over 7,200 CBI cases under Prevention of Corruption Act pending trial, says CVC report

Q1. With reference to the Central Vigilance Commission as constituted under the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, consider the following statements: 1. The Commission consists of a Central Vigilance Commissioner as Chairperson and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners as Members. 2. The Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Vigilance Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee that includes the Minister of Home Affairs. 3. The Central Vigilance Commissioner holds office for a term of five years or till he attains the age of sixty-two years, whichever is earlier. 4. An appointment to the Commission becomes invalid if there is a vacancy in the committee that recommends the appointment. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Commission consists of a Central Vigilance Commissioner as Chairperson and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners as Members.
  2. The Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Vigilance Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee that includes the Minister of Home Affairs.
  3. The Central Vigilance Commissioner holds office for a term of five years or till he attains the age of sixty-two years, whichever is earlier.
  4. An appointment to the Commission becomes invalid if there is a vacancy in the committee that recommends the appointment.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4

Q2. Under the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, in the committee that recommends appointments to the Commission, the expression 'Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People' is to be read as referring to whom in a House where no such Leader has been recognised?

  • A. The Leader of the single largest group in opposition of the Government in that House
  • B. The Leader of the Opposition in the Council of States, nominated by its Chairman for this purpose
  • C. The Deputy Speaker of that House, irrespective of the party to which he belongs
  • D. The member of that House with the longest continuous service among opposition parties

Q3. With reference to the legal basis and control of the Central Bureau of Investigation, consider the following statements: 1. Once an offence has been notified under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, the CBI may investigate it anywhere in the country without any further requirement of consent from the State concerned. 2. The CBI derives its powers of investigation from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. 3. Superintendence over the CBI in respect of investigation of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 vests in the Central Vigilance Commission. 4. Being a statutory police force, the CBI is administratively controlled entirely by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Once an offence has been notified under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, the CBI may investigate it anywhere in the country without any further requirement of consent from the State concerned.
  2. The CBI derives its powers of investigation from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
  3. Superintendence over the CBI in respect of investigation of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 vests in the Central Vigilance Commission.
  4. Being a statutory police force, the CBI is administratively controlled entirely by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • A. 1 and 4
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4

Q4. Consider the following statements comparing the control regimes applicable to the Central Bureau of Investigation: 1. Superintendence of the CBI in matters relating to investigation of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 vests in the Central Vigilance Commission, while superintendence in all other matters vests in the Central Government. 2. The committee that recommends the appointment of the Director, CBI includes the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge nominated by him, whereas the committee that recommends appointments to the Central Vigilance Commission includes the Minister of Home Affairs in that slot. 3. The Director, CBI has a minimum statutory tenure of two years, extendable by up to one year at a time till the completion of three years from the initial date of appointment. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Superintendence of the CBI in matters relating to investigation of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 vests in the Central Vigilance Commission, while superintendence in all other matters vests in the Central Government.
  2. The committee that recommends the appointment of the Director, CBI includes the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge nominated by him, whereas the committee that recommends appointments to the Central Vigilance Commission includes the Minister of Home Affairs in that slot.
  3. The Director, CBI has a minimum statutory tenure of two years, extendable by up to one year at a time till the completion of three years from the initial date of appointment.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as amended in 2018, a person who is compelled to give an undue advantage escapes liability for the offence of bribe-giving only if the matter is reported to a law enforcement authority within how many days of giving it?

  • A. Within twenty-four hours
  • B. Within seven days
  • C. Within fifteen days
  • D. Within thirty days

Q6. Consider the following statements about how the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as it stands after the 2018 amendment differs from its pre-amendment position: 1. Giving a bribe is now a distinct offence in itself, whereas earlier a bribe-giver was ordinarily proceeded against only for abetment. 2. 'Criminal misconduct' has been narrowed to fraudulent misappropriation of property entrusted to a public servant and intentional illicit enrichment during the period of office. 3. The requirement of prior sanction for prosecuting serving public servants has been done away with and replaced by a post-facto review of every completed investigation by the Central Vigilance Commission. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Giving a bribe is now a distinct offence in itself, whereas earlier a bribe-giver was ordinarily proceeded against only for abetment.
  2. 'Criminal misconduct' has been narrowed to fraudulent misappropriation of property entrusted to a public servant and intentional illicit enrichment during the period of office.
  3. The requirement of prior sanction for prosecuting serving public servants has been done away with and replaced by a post-facto review of every completed investigation by the Central Vigilance Commission.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. With reference to the pendency figures disclosed in the Central Vigilance Commission's latest annual report, consider the following statements: 1. 7,229 CBI-investigated cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act were pending trial as on 31 December 2025. 2. 14,083 appeals, revisions and writ petitions under the Act were pending before the District and Sessions Courts. 3. 409 of the pending trials had been running for more than twenty years. 4. 3,161 cases had been pending trial for more than ten years and up to fifteen years. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. 7,229 CBI-investigated cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act were pending trial as on 31 December 2025.
  2. 14,083 appeals, revisions and writ petitions under the Act were pending before the District and Sessions Courts.
  3. 409 of the pending trials had been running for more than twenty years.
  4. 3,161 cases had been pending trial for more than ten years and up to fifteen years.
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4

Q8. The authority under which the Central Vigilance Commission monitors and annually reports the status of CBI-investigated Prevention of Corruption Act cases flows from which one of the following?

  • A. The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, read with the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003
  • B. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, which vests superintendence over all CBI investigations in the Lokpal
  • C. The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, which makes the Commission the sole authority to sanction prosecution of public servants
  • D. The Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, under which the Commission is notified as a permanent commission of inquiry

Q9. Comparing the Central Vigilance Commission's figures for the position as on 31 December 2024 with those as on 31 December 2025, which one of the following recorded the largest absolute increase?

  • A. CBI cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act pending trial in courts
  • B. Appeals and revisions pending in the High Courts and the Supreme Court
  • C. Corruption cases pending investigation with the CBI at the year's close
  • D. Cases that had been pending trial for more than twenty years

Q10. As on 31 December 2024, how many CBI-investigated cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act were reported by the Central Vigilance Commission as pending trial in courts?

  • A. 6,903
  • B. 7,072
  • C. 7,229
  • D. 7,410

Q11. Under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, who may be appointed as a special Judge to try offences punishable under the Act?

  • A. A person who is, or has been, a Sessions Judge, an Additional Sessions Judge or an Assistant Sessions Judge
  • B. A serving judicial magistrate of the first class with not less than ten years of experience in the trial of criminal cases
  • C. A retired judge of a High Court nominated by the Chief Justice of that Court in consultation with the State Government
  • D. An officer of the Indian Legal Service holding a post equivalent in rank to that of a Joint Secretary to the Government

Q12. The Director of Prosecution in the Central Bureau of Investigation is appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of which body?

  • A. The Central Vigilance Commission
  • B. The Lokpal of India
  • C. The Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice
  • D. The Department of Personnel and Training