Table of Contents
Enforcement Directorate (ED)- Relevance for UPSC Exam
- GS Paper 2: Indian Constitution- Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government.
Enforcement Directorate (ED)- Context
- The President of India passed an ordinance authorizing an extension of the services of the heads of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate until they complete a total tenure of five years.
- The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 was amended with respect to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director’s post.
- The chiefs of the Central agencies currently have a fixed two-year tenure, but can now be given three annual extensions.
Enforcement Directorate (ED)- Key Points
- About: Enforcement Directorate (ED) is a specialized financial investigation agency for enforcing the following two laws- Foreign Exchange Management Act,1999 (FEMA) and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).
- Enforcement Directorate (ED) Office: ED headquarter is situated in New Delhi, India. Enforcement Directorate (ED) also has many regional offices all over the country.
- Enforcement Directorate Chief: Enforcement Directorate (ED) is headed by the Director of Enforcement, who is an IRS officer (Indian Revenue Service).
- Parent Ministry: Enforcement Directorate (ED) functions under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Enforcement Directorate (ED)- Key Functions
- Enforcement Directorate (ED) is responsible for enforcing the following two laws-
- Foreign Exchange Management Act,1999 (FEMA) – A Civil Law, with officers empowered to-
- Conduct investigations into suspected contraventions of the Foreign Exchange Laws and Regulations,
- Adjudicate, contraventions, and impose penalties on those adjudged to have contravened the law.
- Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) – A Criminal Law, with the officers empowered to-
- Conduct investigations to trace assets derived out of the proceeds of crime,
- Provisionally attach/ confiscate the same, and
- Arrest and prosecute the offenders found to be involved in Money Laundering.
- Other Important Functions:
- Processing cases of fugitive/s from India under Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018. The objective of this Act is to-
- Provide for measures to deter fugitive economic offenders from evading the process of law in India by staying outside the jurisdiction of Indian Courts and
- Preserve the sanctity of the rule of law in India.
- Sponsor cases of preventive detention under Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) in regard to contraventions of FEMA.
- Render cooperation to foreign countries in matters relating to money laundering and restitution of assets under the provisions of PMLA and seek cooperation in such matters.
- Processing cases of fugitive/s from India under Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018. The objective of this Act is to-
- Foreign Exchange Management Act,1999 (FEMA) – A Civil Law, with officers empowered to-
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)- About, Composition, Appointment and Jurisdiction
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)- About, Composition, Appointment and Jurisdiction