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UPSC Prelims 2025 · Polity · Constitutional Bodies & Governance
Consider the following statements about Lokpal:
- The power of Lokpal applies to public servants of India, but not to the Indian public servants posted outside India.
- The Chairperson or a Member shall not be a Member of the Parliament or a Member of the Legislature of any State or Union Territory, and only the Chief Justice of India, whether incumbent or retired, has to be its Chairperson.
- 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.
- Lokpal cannot inquire into the allegations of corruption against a sitting Prime Minister of India.
- (a) III only
- (b) II and III
- (c) I and IV
- (d) None of the above statements is correct
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (a) III only
Only the age floor of 45 is right.
Statement by statement
1. ✗ WRONG The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 extends to public servants in and outside India.
2. ✗ WRONG — second half The first half is true, but the Chairperson can be a former CJI, a former SC judge, or an eminent person with the required expertise — not only a CJI.
3. ✓ CORRECT Minimum age 45; the term is five years or until age 70.
4. ✗ WRONG The PM is covered, with safeguards: no inquiry on international relations, external/internal security, public order, atomic energy or space; a full-bench decision with two-thirds approval; proceedings in camera.
The idea
Lokpal: Chairperson + up to 8 Members, half judicial, half from SC/ST/OBC/minorities/women. Selection committee: PM, Speaker, Leader of Opposition, CJI (or a SC judge), an eminent jurist. First Lokpal: Justice P.C. Ghose (2019).
Why the others are wrong
(b) II fails: the Chairperson need not be a CJI.
(c) Both I and IV are false: Lokpal covers officials abroad and the PM.
(d) Statement III is correct.
The trap
Statement II starts with a true clause (no MPs/MLAs), then adds a false one. Check every clause of a long statement.
🔒 Lokpal 2013: covers PM (with safeguards) and officials abroad · age 45–70 · Chair = ex-CJI / ex-SC judge / eminent person · up to 8 members.
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