Current Affairs 14-OCT-2023 (The Hindu)

Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)

(C,B, => Pg-1,9)

CVC

Establishment

• Established in February 1964.
• Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption.

Structure

Central Vigilance Commission consists of a Central Vigilance Commissioner and Two Vigilance Commissioners.

Legal Status

It is a Statutory Body established under the Central Vigilance Commission Act of 2003.

Functions

• Monitors all vigilance activity under the Central Government.
• Advises the central government in its vigilance work.
• Receives complaints on corruption or misuse of office.
• Investigation is carried out by the CBI or through chief vigilance officers (CVO) in government offices.
• Looks into the offenses committed by certain categories of government officers under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
• Has powers of superintendence over the CBI (in relation to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988).
• Lokpal Act 2013 - It has the power to conduct a preliminary inquiry into complaints referred by the Lokpal.
• Whistleblowers Act 2014 - It receives complaints about corruption from whistleblowers.

Commission’s Jurisdiction under CVC Act

The CVC Act covers the following categories:

• Members of All India Service serving in connection with the affairs of the Union and Group A officers of the Central Government.
• Officers of the rank of Scale V and above in the Public Sector Banks.
• Officers in Grade D and above in Reserve Bank of India, NABARD, and SIDBI.
• Chief Executives and Executives on the Board and other officers of E-8 and above in Schedule ‘A’ and ‘B’ Public Sector Undertakings.
• Chief Executives and Executives on the Board and other officers of E-7 and above in Schedule ‘C’ and ‘D’ Public Sector Undertakings.
• Managers and above in General Insurance Companies.
• Senior Divisional Managers and above in Life Insurance Corporations.
• Officers drawing a salary of Rs. 8700/- p.m. and above on Central Government D.A. pattern, as on the date of the notification and as may be revised from time to time in Societies and other Local Authorities.

Appointment

The appointment process for members of the CVC is guided by section 4 of the CVC Act:

• Appointed by the President by warrant under his or her hand and seal.
• Selection Committee consists of the Prime Minister, Union Minister of Home Affairs, and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Term

The members of the CVC have a fixed term:

• 4 years or up to the age of 65 years.
• CVC is not eligible for reappointment.

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements about the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC):

1. CVC is established on the recommendation of Santhanam Committee.
2. CVC has powers of superintendence over the CBI in all cases.
3. Whistleblowers can make complaints regarding corruption to the CVC.

How many of the above statements are correct?

a) Only one

b) Only two

c) All three

d) None

North-East Monsoon

(C,B, => Pg-1,9)

North-East Monsoon

Duration

October to December.

Wind Pattern

Wind blows from the sea to the land.

Also Known As Retreating monsoon.

Factors Responsible

• Formation and strengthening of a high-pressure system in winter.
• Influence of the Tibetan plateau and Siberian plateau.
• Westward migration and weakening of the high-pressure system in the southern Indian Ocean.
• The migration of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) to the south of India during winter.
• ITCZ - a low-pressure belt circling near the equator, where trade winds of the Northern and Southern hemispheres merge. It moves north in the northern summer and south in the northern winter.

Areas Affected

• Southern and eastern parts of India, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and parts of Kerala and Odisha.
• Significant impact on coastal regions along the Bay of Bengal.
• Tamil Nadu's main rainy season is received during the North-East Monsoon.

Impacts

• Critical for agricultural activities in the affected regions.
• Has a cooling effect on the coastal regions.
• Can lead to the formation of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal.

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Consider the following:

1. Formation of high-pressure system over Tibetan and Siberian plateaus.
2. Formation of permanent high near Madagascar in the southern Ocean.
3. Indian Ocean Dipole.

Which of the factors given are responsible for the formation of monsoon?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Anti-defection Law

(C,B, => Pg-1,9)

Anti-defection Law

• Tenth Schedule: Introduced in 1985 to address the issue of frequent political defections.
• Aim:
  • To prevent legislators from switching parties.
  • Promote party discipline and stability in the functioning of government.
• Applies to both parliament and state assemblies.

Deciding authority

• Presiding Officer of House.
• Decision of the Presiding Officer - subject to judicial review.
• 1992 - judgment of Supreme Court.

Grounds for defection

1. Voluntarily give up membership of party.
2. If MP/MLA disobey the directives of the party leadership.
3. If any nominated member joins any party after the end of 6 months.

Exceptions

• If a party merges with another party with at least two-thirds of its members in favor of the merger, members who decide to merge or those who stay with the original party will not face disqualification.

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Which of the following is NOT a ground for disqualification of an elected member under the anti-defection law?

1. (a) Voting or abstaining from voting in the House contrary to the party whip.
2. (b) Volunteering to give up the membership of the party.
3. (c) Joining another party after being elected as an independent candidate.
4. (d) Immediately joining another party after being elected as a member of a nominated party.