CVC Full Form

CVC Full Form


Introduction of CVC (Central Vigilance Commission)

Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is an apex Indian governmental body created in 1964 to address governmental corruption. In 2003, the Parliament enacted a law conferring statutory status on the CVC. It has the status of an autonomous body, free of control from any executive authority, charged with monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central Government of India, advising various authorities in central Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.

Vision of CVC (Central Vigilance Commission)

To ensure a common and effective approach with the aim to eliminate corrupt and unethical practices in public administration and to bring about transparency, fair play, objectivity, accountability and responsiveness to the aspirations of the citizen from administration.

Mission of CVC (Central Vigilance Commission)

  • Preventive Vigilance: To ensure that the scope for indulging in corrupt/unethical practices is eliminated or reduced to the minimum extent possible. 
  • Punitive Vigilance: Creation of a credible deterrence against corrupt practices through prompt enforcement of anti-corruption laws, rules and regulations
  • Participative Vigilance:  Raising awareness to inculcate ethical values and reduce society's tolerance towards corruption, through outreach activities and sensitization. 

Limitations of CVC (Central Vigilance Commission)

  • CVC is only an advisory body. Central Government Departments are free to either accept or reject CVC's advice in corruption cases. 
  • CVC cannot direct CBI to initiate inquiries against any officer of the level of Joint Secretary and above on its own. Such permission has to be obtained from the department concerned.
  • CVC does not have powers to register criminal case. It deals only with vigilance or disciplinary cases.
  • CVC has supervisory powers over CBI. However, CVC does not have the power to call for any file from CBI or to direct CBI to investigate any case in a particular manner. CBI is under administrative control of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which means that the powers to appoint, transfer and suspend CBI officers lie with DoPT.
  • Appointments to CVC are indirectly under the control of the Union government, though the leader of the Opposition (in Lok Sabha) is a member of the committee to select CVC and VCs, as the candidates that are to be put up before it are decided by the Union government; the committee can only consider the candidates put up before it.

As a result, the CVC has neither resources nor powers to inquire and take action on complaints of corruption that may act as an effective deterrence against corruption.