Difference Between CBI and NIA

CBI stands for the Central Bureau of Investigation while the acronym NIA stands for National Investigation Agency. Both the CBI and NIA are agencies of the Indian government. While CBI is a criminal investigation agency, NIA was formed with the main aim of tackling terrorism.

The National Investigation Agency was only recently formed in 2009 after the Mumbai attacks in 2008. It was after this attack that India felt the need for an agency to tackle terrorism, which led to its formation. The Central Bureau of Investigation was formed in 1963 with the motto ‘Industry, Impartiality, Integrity’.

The origin of the CBI can be traced to the Special Police Establishment. The NIA was formed as a result of the NIA Act, 2008.

The Central Bureau of Investigation and the National Investigation Agency have different functions. The CBI is mainly concerned with investigations into crimes in the country such as corruption by public servants, financial fraud, bank fraud, Import and Export violations, smuggling, sensational homicides, kidnapping, the criminal underworld and bomb blasts.

The National Investigation Agency is generally concerned with combating terrorism. However in addition to this role, the NIA also looks into crimes related to human trafficking, counterfeit currency, narcotics, hijacking, organised crime, violations of the WMD Act and the Atomic Energy Act.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has been divided into three divisions for speeding up investigations. They are the Anti Corruption Division, Economic Crimes Division and the Special Crimes Division. The National Investigation Agency is also divided into three divisions, namely the Investigation Division, Policy Research and Coordination Division and the Administrative division.

Summary

1. CBI stands for the Central Bureau of Investigation and NIA is an acronym which means National Investigation Agency.

2. The National Investigation Agency was only recently formed in 2009 after the Mumbai attacks in 2008.

3. The Central Bureau of Investigation was formed in 1963 with the motto ‘Industry, Impartiality, Integrity’.

4. The origin of CBI can be traced to the Special Police Establishment. The NIA was formed in accordance with the NIA Act, 2008.

5. The CBI is mainly concerned with investigations into crimes in the country such as corruption by public servants, financial fraud, bank fraud, Import and Export violations, smuggling, sensational homicides, kidnapping, the criminal underworld, and bomb blasts. The National Investigation Agency is mainly concerned with tackling terrorism.

6. The Central Bureau of Investigation has been divided into the Anti Corruption Division, the Economic Crimes Division and the Special Crimes Division. The National Investigation Agency is divided into the Investigation Division, the Policy Research and Coordination Division and the Administrative division.