Government Institutions & Commissions Module
Statutory & Regulatory Commissions
Statutory and regulatory commissions are specialized bodies established through Parliamentary enactments to uphold fundamental rights, ensure administrative integrity, and regulate economic sectors. Important statutory human rights and grievance bodies include the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC, Protection of Human Rights Act 1993), Central Information Commission (CIC, RTI Act 2005), and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC, CVC Act 2003). In economic regulation, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Competition Commission of India (CCI) prevent unfair practices. Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), functioning under the DSPE Act 1946, serves as India's premier investigative agency.
Key Concepts & Examination Highlights
- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was established on October 12, 1993, under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, with powers of a civil court.
- The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) was created on the recommendations of the Santhanam Committee (1962-64) and granted statutory status by the CVC Act, 2003.
- The Central Information Commission (CIC) was constituted under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, to adjudicate appeals regarding public information requests.
- The Competition Commission of India (CCI) was established in 2003 under the Competition Act, 2002, to prevent anti-competitive practices and promote fair market competition.
Curriculum & Reference Sources: Protection of Human Rights Act 1993, RTI Act 2005, CVC Act 2003, and Competition Act 2002.