NITI Aayog reconstituted; Ashok Lahiri is Vice-Chairperson
25 April 2026
On 25 April 2026 the government reconstituted NITI Aayog. Economist Ashok Kumar Lahiri, a former Chief Economic Adviser and member of the 15th Finance Commission, became Vice-Chairperson in place of Suman K. Bery. Rajiv Gauba, K.V. Raju, Gobardhan Das, M. Srinivas and Abhay Karandikar were named full-time members, several of them from health, biotechnology and technology backgrounds.
Background. NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was set up on 1 January 2015 by a Union Cabinet resolution, replacing the Planning Commission of 1950. It is neither constitutional nor statutory. The Prime Minister is its Chairperson, and its Governing Council includes all Chief Ministers.
Why CLAT asks: Constitutional, statutory or executive? NITI Aayog is the textbook executive body; the Finance Commission (Article 280) is the constitutional contrast.
Sources: All India Radio News: Economist Ashok Lahiri appointed as Vice-Chairperson of NITI Aayog (25 April 2026); The Hitavada: Govt reconstitutes Niti Aayog (26 April 2026)
Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti heads the National Commission for Backward Classes
18 March 2026
Former Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti took charge as Chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes on 18 March 2026, under a warrant of appointment from the President dated 17 March, as notified in the Gazette of India. Kiran Umesh Mahalle took charge as a Member.
Background. The NCBC was set up by statute in 1993. The 102nd Amendment (2018) made it a constitutional body under Article 338B. The 105th Amendment (2021) restored the States' power to prepare their own lists of socially and educationally backward classes. Its siblings are the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes (Article 338) and Scheduled Tribes (Article 338A).
Why CLAT asks: Match the commission to its Article: 338, 338A, 338B. The 102nd and 105th Amendments are a frequent pair.
Source: Gazette of India notification, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (2026)
Praveen Vashista sworn in as Vigilance Commissioner
16 January 2026
Praveen Vashista, a 1991-batch IPS officer of the Bihar cadre who had served as Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Home Ministry, took the oath as Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission on 16 January 2026. The President appointed him under Section 4(1) of the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003.
Background. The CVC was created in 1964 by an executive resolution on the Santhanam Committee's advice and became statutory under the 2003 Act. It has a Central Vigilance Commissioner and up to two Vigilance Commissioners, each serving four years or until 65. They are appointed on the recommendation of a committee of the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Why CLAT asks: The CVC's origin (Santhanam Committee, 1964) and its statutory status from 2003 are favourite one-liners.
Source: All India Radio News: President appoints Praveen Vashista as Vigilance Commissioner (17 January 2026)
The Lokpal marks its Foundation Day
16 January 2026
The Lokpal of India observes its Foundation Day on 16 January, the date in 2014 on which the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 came into force. Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, a former Supreme Court judge, has been its Chairperson since 2024. The first Lokpal, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, was appointed in 2019.
Background. The Lokpal has a Chairperson and up to eight Members, at least half of them judicial and at least half from the SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities and women. The selection committee is the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Justice of India or a judge nominated by him, and an eminent jurist. Its jurisdiction covers the Prime Minister, with exceptions such as national security and foreign relations.
Why CLAT asks: The Lokpal's selection committee is often confused with the CVC's and the CBI Director's. Keep the three apart.
Source: Lokpal of India: official website
K.C. Venugopal continues as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee
1 May 2026
Reconstituting the financial committees for 2026-27 on 1 May 2026, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reappointed Congress MP K.C. Venugopal as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, a second year for him. The committee's term runs from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2027.
Background. The PAC dates from 1921. It has 22 members, 15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha, elected each year by proportional representation by single transferable vote. It examines the government's accounts and the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General. By convention since 1967, its chairman comes from the Opposition, and no Minister can be a member.
Why CLAT asks: The PAC's size and composition, and the opposition-chair convention, are steady questions.
Source: All India Radio News: Speaker reconstitutes four parliamentary committees for 2026-27 (2 May 2026)
The Enforcement Directorate turns 70
1 May 2026
The Directorate of Enforcement marked seventy years on 1 May 2026 with an event at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, addressed by its Director, Rahul Navin. The agency was set up on 1 May 1956 as an 'Enforcement Unit' to deal with foreign exchange violations.
Background. The ED works under the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance. It enforces the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018. In Vijay Madanlal Choudhary (2022) the Supreme Court upheld most of its PMLA powers.
Why CLAT asks: Which law each agency enforces, and under which Ministry it sits, is quick GK.
Source: MyGov (Government of India): ED, fighting financial crimes, serving the nation
The PMO moves to 'Seva Teerth'; PM RAHAT is its first decision
13 February 2026
On 13 February 2026 the Prime Minister's Office moved from South Block to Seva Teerth, a new complex that also houses the Cabinet Secretariat and the National Security Council Secretariat. The date was the 95th anniversary of New Delhi's formal inauguration as the capital in 1931. Among the first decisions taken there was the PM RAHAT scheme: cashless treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh per road-accident victim for seven days from the accident, with hospitals paid through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.
Background. The capital moved from Calcutta to Delhi after the announcement at the Delhi Durbar of 1911. New Delhi was designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker and inaugurated on 13 February 1931.
Why CLAT asks: The 'golden hour' idea behind PM RAHAT and the 1911 and 1931 capital dates are both easy marks.
Sources: All India Radio News: Government announces PM RAHAT scheme for cashless treatment of road accident victims (15 February 2026); The Hitavada: PMO shifts to Seva Teerth (14 February 2026)
