Consider the following statements: 1. Report of the Administrative Reforms Commission, headed by late Morarji Desai, recommended the establishment of Lokpal and Lokayukta institutions. 2. Lokpal is the highest institution in India to investigate corruption at higher places in Government. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Statement 1 is correct as the first Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), established in 1966 under the chairmanship of Morarji Desai, recommended the creation of Lokpal and Lokayukta institutions to address citizens' grievances [1]. These were modeled after the Scandinavian Ombudsman system [1]. Statement 2 is also correct because the Lokpal is the apex statutory body in India tasked with investigating allegations of corruption against public functionaries at the highest levels of the Central Government. Its jurisdiction is extensive, covering the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, and officials belonging to Groups A, B, C, and D of the Central Government [3]. By providing a uniform anti-corruption roadmap at the national level, it serves as the highest authority for such investigations [3]. Therefore, both statements are accurate representations of the institution's origin and mandate.

Sources

1. [1] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 66: Lokpal and Lokayuktas > LOKPAL > p. 509
2. [3] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 15: Centre State Relations > Administrative Reforms Commission > p. 158