Special Investigation Team (SIT)
Indian Polity & Governance
- PYQs7
- Articles1
Background
Understanding the mechanisms of criminal justice, government's role in ensuring justice, accountability in investigations, and responses to public demand for probes in high-profile cases.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is an ad-hoc body constituted by the government or mandated by courts to investigate specific high-profile, sensitive, or complex cases that require focused and coordinated efforts beyond the scope of regular police investigations.
Facts & tables
- Nature
- Ad-hoc body, formed for a specific case and dissolved thereafter.
- Constitution
- Can be constituted by central/state governments or mandated by the Supreme Court/High Courts.
- Composition
- Often comprises members from various investigative agencies to ensure comprehensive probe.
- Purpose
- Aims to ensure thorough, impartial, and time-bound investigation in complex matters.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Indian Polity & Governance |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Government of Uttar Pradesh | Constituted |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Institutional roles and functions
- Ad-hoc body for specific cases.
- Formed by government or courts.
- Aims for focused, impartial investigation.
- Often for high-profile or sensitive matters.
- Example of executive action in criminal justice.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2021 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2020 | Conceptual understanding, Definition-based questions |
| 2017 | Conceptual understanding, Definition-based questions |
| 2017 | Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2014 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
Timeline
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Indian Polity & Governance
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2014
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2017
Conceptual understanding, Definition-based questions
-
Prelims 2017
Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2020
Conceptual understanding, Definition-based questions
-
Prelims 2021
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2025
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
-
Ram Temple donation row: Champat Rai, Anil Mishra resign
Ad-hoc investigative body formed by government/courts for complex, sensitive cases requiring focused inquiry.
See also
Past papers
2014–2025 · 3 questions
In the news
Ram Temple donation row: Champat Rai, Anil Mishra resign
Ad-hoc investigative body formed by government/courts for complex, sensitive cases requiring focused inquiry.
Try these PYQs
In India, what is the role of the Coal Controller's Organization (CCO)?
1. CCO is the major source of Coal Statistics in Government of India.
2. It monitors progress of development of Captive Coal/Lignite blocks.
3. It hears any objection ' to the Government's notification relating to acquisition of coal-bearing areas.
4. It ensures that coal mining companies deliver the coal to end users in the prescribed time.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
The Coal Controller's Organisation (CCO) is a subordinate office of the Ministry of Coal, having its headquarters at Kolkata and field offices at Dhanbad, Ranchi, Bilaspur, Nagpur, Sambalpur, Kothagudem and Asansol. It collects and maintains coal production data of all private and public sector coal mines in the country. The information is collected every month. Statement 1 is correct. Under the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 Coal Controller has been made the statistical authority concerning coal and lignite statistics. Entrusted with the responsibility of carrying out the Annual Coal & Lignite survey and publishing of Provisional Coal Statistics and Coal Directory of India. Statement 2 is correct. It is entrusted with the task of monitoring captive mines. Work such as permission for the opening and reopening of coal mines has been entrusted to the CCO. Statement 3 is correct. Under the Coal Bearing Area (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957- the Coal Controller is the competent authority under this act to hear any objection to the Central Government's Notification relating to the acquisition of coal-bearing land and to furnish his reports to the Central Govt. Statement 4 is incorrect. Ensuring that coal mining companies deliver the coal to end users in the prescribed time is not the function of the Coal Controller's Organization (CCO).
Consider the following statements:
1. The President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business.
2. All executive actions of the Government of India shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct: According to Article 77 of the Constitution of India, the President shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of India, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business. Statement 2 is incorrect: Article 53 of the Indian Constitution deals with the Executive power of the Union. The executive power of the Union shall be vested in the President ( and not the Prime Minister) and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with the Constitution.
Who amongst the following are members of the Jury to select the recipient of 'Gandhi Peace Prize'?
I. The President of India
II. The Prime Minister of India
III. The Chief Justice of India
IV. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
❌ Statement I: Incorrect
*The President of India is NOT a member of the Jury.* ✅ Statement II: Correct
*The Prime Minister of India is the Chairperson of the Jury.* ✅ Statement III: Correct
*The Chief Justice of India (or a Supreme Court Judge nominated by the CJI) is a Jury member.* ✅ Statement IV: Correct
*The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha (or leader of largest opposition party) is a Jury member.* Correct Answer: Statements II, III, and IV are correct.
Out of the following statements, choose the one that brings out the principle underlying the Cabinet form of Government:
The Cabinet form of Government is a fundamental feature of a parliamentary system, where the executive (Council of Ministers) is collectively responsible to the legislature. This principle is enshrined in Article 75(3) of the Indian Constitution, which states that the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. Key Aspects of Collective Responsibility: - Decisions of the Cabinet are binding on all ministers and even if they personally disagree, they must publicly support them. - If Parliament passes a vote of no confidence, the entire Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, must resign. - This ensures accountability, transparency, and democratic control, preventing arbitrary rule by the executive. Hence, the correct answer is option C.
The main advantage of the parliamentary form of government is that -
The main advantage of a parliamentary form of government is that c) the executive remains responsible to the legislature. [Article 75(c)] Here's why the other options are not the main advantage: a) The executive and legislature actually work closely together in a parliamentary system, as the executive is drawn from the legislature.
b) Continuity of policy can be a benefit, but it's not the main advantage. Parliamentary systems can still be efficient in passing laws.
d) The head of government (Prime Minister) can be changed through a vote of no confidence in the legislature.
Show 2 more PYQs
A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which
Option B is the correct answer. A parliamentary system of government is one in which the executive is responsible to the legislature. This responsibility means that the executive stays in power as long as it enjoys the confidence of the house. The moment the confidence is lost, it can be removed by Parliament by passing the no-confidence motion. This is the same feature which hampers the stability of the parliamentary system. Options A and C are incorrect. Parliamentary system functions irrespective of whether all parties have representation. The government is not directly elected by the people but indirectly through their representative in Parliament. Therefore, the instrument to remove the government through public vote is not available in the parliamentary system; this is a feature found in direct democracies. Option D is incorrect. It goes against the fundamental principle of parliamentary democracy which requires an executive responsible to the legislature. Therefore the correct answer is B.
With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements:
1. N. Gopalaswamy Iyengar Committee suggested that a minister and a secretary be designated solely for pursuing the subject of administrative reform and promoting it.
2. In 1970, the Department of Personnel was constituted on the recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Commission, 1966, and this was placed under the Prime Minister’s charge.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. Sh. N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar, in his Report namely Reorganization of the Machinery of Central Government in 1950 recommended for the grouping of ministries, improvement in the capabilities of the personnel, and also in the working of the O&M Division. It nowhere mentions that a minister and a secretary be designated solely for pursuing the subject of administrative reform and promoting it. Statement 2 is correct. In 1970, based on the recommendations of the Administrative Reforms Commission, the Department of Personnel was set up in the Cabinet Secretariat. It was placed under the Prime Minister's Office.