The Lokpal
India's anti-corruption ombudsman for the Union government, created by a 2013 Act after the 2011 Anna Hazare movement.
What the paper can ask
- Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act passed December 2013, assent 1 January 2014; first Lokpal appointed March 2019.
- Chairperson plus up to eight members, half judicial; at least half from SC, ST, OBC, minorities or women.
- Jurisdiction covers the PM, ministers, MPs and Group A to D officials, plus bodies funded by the Centre.
- Current chairperson: Justice A. M. Khanwilkar, since March 2024. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
Why exams ask
The first chairperson, the Act's year, the composition and the Anna Hazare link are the usual questions.
The full story
The Lokpal is an independent body that inquires into corruption complaints against Union public servants, including the Prime Minister (with some exceptions), ministers, MPs and officials. Lokpal bills were introduced repeatedly from 1968 but passed only in December 2013, after the Jan Lokpal movement led by Anna Hazare; the President assented on 1 January 2014.
Test yourself
1.Who was appointed in 2019 as the first Chairperson of the Lokpal of India?
Correct. Retired Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose was appointed on 19 March 2019 and sworn in on 23 March 2019 under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
Not quite. Retired Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose was appointed on 19 March 2019 and sworn in on 23 March 2019 under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. It goes into your error book.