Government extends CBI Director Praveen Sood's tenure by one year

The government of India has extended the tenure of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director, Parveen Sood, by one year. Praveen Sood's present two-year tenure was to end on 25th May 2025.

The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension of Praveen Sood's tenure in a meeting held on 7 May 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meeting, which was attended by Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah.

The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet took this decision after the appointment committee for the CBI Director failed to reach a consensus on the next CBI Director. The appointment committee meeting for the CBI Director was held at the Prime Minister’s Office on 6th May 2025 in New Delhi. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the Chief Justice of India, attended the meeting. 

Process of Appointment of CBI Director 

The Appointment of the Director of the CBI is governed by the provisions of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act 1946, as amended from time to time.

The CBI Director is appointed by a three-member committee that consists of 

• Prime Minister as the Chairman of the committee

Members 

• Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. If there is no Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, then the leader of the single largest party in the Lok Sabha will be a member of the committee.
• Chief Justice of India  

Tenure of the CBI Director 

• According to the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act 1946, the Director of the CBI shall be appointed for at least two years.
• The tenure of the CBI director can be extended by one year at a time on the recommendation of the appointment committee.
• The maximum tenure of a CBI Director shall not be more than five years.

About the Central Bureau of Investigation 

• CBI is the premier investigating agency for the government of India.
• Investigate cases of corruption against central government employees.
• It assists the LokPal and the Central Vigilance Commission in investigations related to corruption cases against central government employees.
• It is the nodal agency for Interpol in India.

Ministry: CBI is under the Union  Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Establishment: 1 April 1963.

About Praveen Sood 

• Praveen Sood is an Indian Police Officer (IPS) of the 1968 batch of Karnataka cadre.
• He is a highly decorated officer who was awarded the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2011 and the Chief Minister’s Gold Medal for Excellence in Service in 1996.
• Before being appointed Director of the CBI in May 2023, he was the Director General of Police, Karnataka.

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