Non-Constitutional Bodies: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Polity)

Explanation

Row I is not matched: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is a specialized economic intelligence and law enforcement agency under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance (not Ministry of Home Affairs). It enforces laws like the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). While the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 is also enforced by the ED, it does not work under the Internal Security Division-I of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Row II is matched: The DRI is the premier anti-smuggling agency responsible for enforcing the Customs Act, 1962, and functions under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. Row III is incorrectly matched: The Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management (DGARM) has been set up, w.e.f. 01-07-2018, to provide intelligence inputs and carry out big data analytics to assist the tax officers for better policy formulation and nabbing evaders. The DGARM functions under the Central Board of Indirect Tax and Customs (CBIC), mainly to use internal and external sources for detailed data mining to generate actionable inputs. The DGARM is an attached office of the CBIC which reports to Chairman, CBIC through Member (Investigation). This Directorate General functions for Customs, Central Excise and Goods and Services Tax. The DGARM works in close coordination with Directorate General of Systems and Data Management, Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence, Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence, Directorate General of Audit and Directorate General of Valuation. The DGARM utilizes internal and external data sources for detailed data mining and analysis to generate outputs for focused and targeted action by field formations and investigation wings of CBIC. It in conjunction with DG Systems, organize, evaluate and interpret data for the purposes of effective, efficient and targeted policy formulation and revenue administration.

Explanation

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 provides for the establishment of a body of Lokpal for the Union. Statement 1 is incorrect: The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 shall apply to public servants in and outside India. Thus, the Lokpal has jurisdiction over all public servants, whether posted in India or abroad.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Section 3 of the Lokpal Act says that the Chairperson or a Member of Lokpal shall not be a member of Parliament or a member of the Legislature of any State or Union territory. It also provides that the Lokpal shall consist of a Chairperson, who is or has been a Chief Justice of India or is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court or an eminent person.

Statement 3 is correct: As per Section 3 of the Lokpal Act, the Chairperson or a Member shall not be a person of less than forty-five years of age, on the date of assuming office as the Chairperson or Member, as the case may be.

Statement 4 is incorrect: As per Section 14 of the Lokpal Act, the jurisdiction of the Lokpal extends to any person who is or has been a Prime Minister. However, there are exceptions here. There are certain cases in which Lokpal shall not inquire into any matter involving the Prime Minister.