PREVIOUSLY ASKED IN:
WBPSC Miscellaneous Preliminary 2019
Answer
Pinaki Chandra Ghose
Explanation
Former Supreme Court Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose was appointed as the first Lokpal of India in March 2019. The Lokpal is an independent anti-corruption ombudsman agency at the national level in India. It has the jurisdiction to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries, including the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, and Group A, B, C, and D officers. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act was passed in 2013.
Key Points
- > The Lokpal institution consists of a Chairperson and a maximum of eight members.
- > At least 50% of the Lokpal members must be judicial members.
- > The state-level equivalent of the Lokpal is known as the Lokayukta.
- > Maharashtra was the first state in India to establish the Lokayukta institution in 1971.
- > The Chairperson and members of the Lokpal are appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a selection committee.
Additional Information
Important First Appointments in India
| Position | First Appointee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| First Chief Justice of India | H. J. Kania | 1950 |
| First Chief Election Commissioner | Sukumar Sen | 1950 |
| First Lokpal of India | Pinaki Chandra Ghose | 2019 |
| First Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) | Gen. Bipin Rawat | 2020 |
Memory Tips
- Lokpal: It's an anti-corruption body. Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose (P.C. Ghose) was chosen as the pioneer to lead this historic institution.