CENTRAL VIGILANCE COMMISSION: ITS ROLE IN PROMOTING INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE IN INDIA
AUTHOR – RAVINDHAR S, STUDENT AT TAMILNADU DR. AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY
BEST CITATION – RAVINDHAR S, CENTRAL VIGILANCE COMMISSION: ITS ROLE IN PROMOTING INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE IN INDIA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (9) OF 2026, PG. 847-868, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
Abstract
Corruption continues to pose a serious threat to democratic governance, public accountability, and administrative efficiency in India. In response to this challenge, the Government of India has established various institutional mechanisms to prevent and combat corruption, among which the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) occupies a pivotal position. Established in 1964 on the recommendations of the Santhanam Committee, the CVC was initially constituted as a non-statutory body and was later accorded statutory status through the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003. As the apex vigilance institution of the country, the Commission is entrusted with the responsibility of supervising vigilance administration, monitoring corruption-related investigations, and advising central government organizations on matters concerning integrity and accountability.
This research paper examines the historical development, legal framework, organizational structure, powers, and functions of the Central Vigilance Commission. It further analyzes the Commission’s role in promoting transparency, good governance, and ethical conduct within public administration. The study also evaluates the effectiveness of the CVC in addressing corruption-related issues, protecting whistleblowers, and strengthening vigilance mechanisms across government institutions. Additionally, the paper identifies the major challenges faced by the Commission, including limitations in enforcement powers, procedural delays, and institutional constraints. The study concludes by proposing reforms aimed at enhancing the autonomy, efficiency, and effectiveness of the CVC in fulfilling its mandate and contributing to a corruption-free governance system in India.
Keywords: Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), Corruption, Vigilance Administration, Accountability, Transparency, Good Governance, Public Administration, Anti-Corruption Framework.