Why it is in news?

• Background checks by the Intelligence Bureau has been made mandatory for candidates shortlisted to fill posts of heads of various regulatory bodies and tribunals, according to a recent order from the government
• The selection of chairpersons and members of regulatory bodies and tribunals are done by respective selection committees or search-cum-selection committees.
• According to new norms notified by the personnel department, the respective selection committee or search-cum-selection panel shall shortlist candidates (two or three times the number of vacancies) in the first round.
• Verification of character and antecedents of the shortlisted candidates shall be made by the administrative ministry/department through Intelligence Bureau
• Based on the clearances from the IB, the selection committee shall recommend a panel of candidates, which shall be submitted for the consideration of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) by the administrative ministry after obtaining approval of the concerned minister in charge, the government said.

IB

• The Intelligence Bureau (IB) is India's internal intelligence agency. It was recast as the Central Intelligence Bureau in 1947 under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Shrouded in secrecy, the IB is used to garner intelligence from within India and also execute counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism tasks.
• The Bureau comprises employees from law enforcement agencies, mostly from the Indian Police Service (IPS) or the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) and the military.

Source

Indian Express