News Excerpt:
Former Supreme Court judge A.M. Khanwilkar  has been appointed as Lokpal chairperson.

More details on the news:

• The Lokpal has been working without its regular Chief after Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose completed his term on May 27, 2022.
• Justice Pradip Kumar Mohanty, a judicial member of the Lokpal, is currently the acting chairperson.
• Former High Court judges Lingappa Narayana Swamy, Sanjay Yadav and Ritu Raj Awasthi have been appointed as judicial members of the Lokpal.

About Lokpal:

• The Lokpal is established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013 to inquire and investigate allegations of corruption against public functionaries who fall within the scope and ambit of the above Act.
• The first Lokpal chairperson was former Supreme Court Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, who had assumed office in March 2019. 
• India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Corruption. 
• The commitment of the Government to provide clean and responsive governance is reflected in passing of the legislation and creation of the body of Lokpal, to contain and punish acts of corruption.

Appointment of Lokpal:

• Apart from a chairperson, the Lokpal can have eight members, four judicial and four non-judicial.
• The chairperson and members of the Lokpal are appointed by the President of India for a term of 5 years or serve till they are 70 years old, whichever is earlier.
• The Chairperson and Members shall be appointed by the President after obtaining the recommendations of a Selection Committee consisting of—

1. 1. The Prime Minister—Chairperson;
   2. The Speaker of the House of the People—Member;
   3. The Leader of Opposition in the House of the People—Member;
   4. The Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court nominated by him—Member;
   5. One eminent jurist, as recommended by the Chairperson and Members referred to in clauses (a) to (d) above, to be nominated by the President—Member

Jurisdiction of Lokpal:

• The Lokpal has jurisdiction to inquire into allegations of corruption against anyone who is or has been Prime Minister, or a Minister in the Union government, or a Member of Parliament, as well as officials of the Union Government under Groups A, B, C and D.
• Also covered are chairpersons, members, officers and directors of any board, corporation, society, trust or autonomous body either established by an Act of Parliament or wholly or partly funded by the Union or State government.
• It also covers any society or trust or body that receives foreign contribution above ₹10 lakh (approx. US$ 14,300/- as of 2019).