CVC Full Form
Central Vigilance Commission
What does CVC stand for? A government term, explained.
CVC Full Form in English, letter by letter
CVC is the Central Vigilance Commission, India's statutory body that supervises vigilance and anti-corruption work in central government.
CVC Full Form in Indian Languages
Job aspirants and news readers keep meeting CVC, the Central Vigilance Commission, the body at the top of India's central anti-corruption system. Its name is given below in six Indian languages.
What the Central Vigilance Commission is
The CVC full form is Central Vigilance Commission. It is the apex vigilance body for the central government. It advises ministries and departments on preventing corruption, and it supervises the vigilance work of central organisations.
It was set up in 1964 on the recommendation of the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption. For almost forty years it worked under an executive resolution. The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 gave it statutory status after the Supreme Court's directions in the Vineet Narain case.
The commission is a multi-member body: a Central Vigilance Commissioner as chairperson and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners as members. They are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee of the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. A member serves four years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier. The Commission is headquartered in New Delhi.
What the CVC can and cannot do
The CVC is not an investigating agency. It advises the government, and it supervises the investigation of corruption cases by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Under the 2003 Act it exercises superintendence over the CBI in matters related to the Prevention of Corruption Act, but the CBI conducts the actual inquiry.
Departments consult it on vigilance cases against senior officers, such as IAS and IPS officers, and it gives advice on disciplinary action. It also tracks the working of Chief Vigilance Officers, one of whom is posted in every ministry and large public sector organisation. In certain senior appointments, vigilance clearance from the Commission is part of the process.
Its reach is limited to central government employees, public sector undertakings, public sector banks and insurers, and some other central bodies. State government employees come under state vigilance machinery, and the Lokpal deals with complaints against specified public servants including ministers.
How to file a complaint with the CVC
A complaint can be lodged through the Commission's official online complaint facility or sent by post to its New Delhi office. It should include your name and address, the specific allegation, the name and post of the officer concerned and supporting documents.
Anonymous complaints are generally not acted upon. Since 2004 the Commission has also been the designated agency to receive complaints from whistleblowers in government under the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers resolution, which protects the identity of the complainant.
The Commission does not handle service matters such as transfer, promotion or pay disputes. For grievances about services and schemes, the CPGRAMS portal of the central government is the usual route. Sending a service complaint to the CVC wastes time, because it will be forwarded or closed.
Vigilance Awareness Week
Each year the Commission observes Vigilance Awareness Week during the week that includes 31 October, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Banks, public sector companies, colleges and schools run pledges, essay competitions and quizzes on integrity and corruption.
The week usually has a theme, and in recent years the Commission has used it to encourage preventive vigilance, such as simpler procedures and more online services, which reduce the chance of bribes.
Two court rulings behind the CVC
The Commission's modern shape comes from Vineet Narain v. Union of India (1997-98), the Supreme Court's hawala-case judgment. The court directed that the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate work under the CVC's supervision in such matters, and asked for statutory status and a fixed tenure for the Commission so that it could act without political pressure.
In 2011, in a case brought by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, the court set aside the appointment of a Central Vigilance Commissioner who faced a corruption charge. It held that the selection committee must look at the integrity of the candidate, and not only at seniority.
CVC facts for exams
The usual exam points are: set up in 1964 on the Santhanam Committee's recommendation, statutory since 2003, headquartered in New Delhi, with one Central Vigilance Commissioner and up to two Vigilance Commissioners. It presents an annual report to the President, who has it laid before Parliament.
Learn the pairing: the CVC advises and supervises, and the CBI investigates. Also keep apart the CAG, which audits government accounts, and the Lokpal, which handles complaints against specified high officials.
When a corruption story names the Commission, remember that its job is to advise and supervise. That distinction, CVC advises and CBI investigates, is the detail that exams and interviews ask about.
CVC Full Form: Common Questions
What is the full form of CVC?
CVC is the Central Vigilance Commission, the apex body that advises the central government on vigilance matters and supervises the CBI's work in corruption cases.
When was the CVC established, and under which law?
It was set up in 1964 after the Santhanam Committee's recommendations, and got statutory backing through the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003.
What is the difference between CVC and CBI?
The CVC supervises and advises, and does not investigate cases itself. The CBI is the investigating agency. The CVC supervises its work in cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
How many members does the CVC have?
One Central Vigilance Commissioner as chairperson and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners. They serve four years or until age 65, whichever is earlier.
Can I file an anonymous complaint with the CVC?
Anonymous complaints are generally not pursued. The Commission expects a named complainant with an address and supporting documents. Whistleblowers can use the public interest disclosure route, which protects identity.
Who does the CVC have jurisdiction over?
Central government employees, officers of central public sector undertakings and public sector banks and insurers, and some other central bodies. State employees come under state vigilance machinery, and the Lokpal covers specified high officials.