What is the difference between the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)?

By Srirangam Sriram, Sriram's IAS, New Delhi.

During the period of World War II, a Special Police Establishment (SPE) was constituted in 1941 in the Department of War of the British India to inquire into allegations of bribery and corruption in the war related procurements. Later on it was formalized as an agency of the Government of India to investigate allegations of corruption in various wings of the Government of India by enacting the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946. In 1963, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was established by the Government of India with a view to investigate serious crimes related to Defence of India, corruption in high places, serious fraud, cheating and embezzlement and social crime, particularly of hoarding, black-marketing and profiteering in essential commodities, having all- India and inter-state ramifications.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) was constituted after the Mumbai terror attack in November 2008 by an Act of Parliament mainly for investigation of incidents of terrorist attacks, funding of terrorism and other terror related crime... more offences were added in 2019 with an amendment.

NIA can take up a case in any part of India and the state police is duty bound to cooperate with it whereas the CBI needs the permission of the state government to take up a case unless High Court or Supreme Court orders the investigation. States generally give `general consent’ and not case by case.

Published date : 16 Nov 2020 12:02PM