UPSC Previous Year Question | Prelims GS | 2025

Consider the following statements about Lokpal: I. The power of Lokpal applies to public servants of India, but not to the Indian public servants posted outside India. II. No Member of Parliament or a Member of the Legislature of any State or Union Territory shall be its Chairperson or Member, and only the Chief Justice of India, whether incumbent or retired, has to be its Chairperson. III. Its Chairperson or 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. IV. Lokpal cannot inquire into the allegations of corruption against a sitting Prime Minister of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. III only
  2. II and III
  3. I and IV
  4. None of the above statements is correct

Answer

Correct Answer

III only

Explanation

Under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, the Chairperson or Member must not be less than 45 years of age on the date of assuming office, making Statement III correct. However, Lokpal's jurisdiction does extend to certain public servants outside India in specific contexts (I incorrect); the Chairperson need not necessarily be the Chief Justice of India—it can be a Chief Justice of India or an eminent jurist (II incorrect); and Lokpal can inquire into allegations of corruption even against a sitting Prime Minister, subject to certain safeguards/exceptions (IV incorrect). Hence only III is correct.

Topics: anti-corruption, lokpal, polity