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What is the Full form of ED?
ED stands for the Enforcement Directorate. It’s a government agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and preventing financial crimes in India. ED operates under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, within the Indian government.
Enforcement Directorate, was established in the year 1956. Its main office is located in New Delhi. Apart from that, it has branch offices in several major cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, and others. Additionally, it operates subzone offices in various cities. The team at ED comprises officers from different government services, such as Indian Revenue Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Corporate Law Service, and Indian Administrative Service.
ED Full Form – History
The Directorate of Enforcement was set up on May 1, 1956, with the purpose of enforcing laws related to foreign exchange control. Initially, it was called the ‘Enforcement Unit’ and operated under the Department of Economic Affairs. Its main job was to prevent violations of laws governing the exchange of foreign currencies.
In 1957, it was renamed the Enforcement Directorate, and they opened a branch in Madras, Tamil Nadu. The main office is in New Delhi, and they also have offices in cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Hyderabad. These offices handle issues through adjudication, and if someone disagrees with their decisions, they can appeal in specialized courts and tribunals.
Back in 1960, the Directorate’s control shifted from the Department of Economic Affairs to the Department of Revenue. They used to work under different rules called FERA’47, which were later replaced by FERA’73. For a short period from 1973 to 1977, the Directorate was managed by the Department of Personnel and administrative reforms.
The Directorate has offices in various cities and is staffed by officers from different services like Indian Revenue Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Corporate Law Service, and Indian Administrative Service. Their main job is to ensure that foreign exchange laws are followed properly.
Main objective of ED
The main purpose of the Enforcement Directorate is to oversee and enforce several important laws in India. These laws include:
- The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)
- The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA)
- The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA)
- The Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (FERA)
- Acting as a sponsoring agency under COFEPOSA.
In simpler terms, the ED’s primary goal is to enforce two significant Indian government laws: the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) of 1999 and the Money Laundering Prevention Act (PMLA) of 2002. Its main focus is on tackling money laundering in India.
Here are some of the key tasks the ED carries out:
- Investigating suspected violations of FEMA, which include activities like hawala transactions, problems with export funds, foreign exchange rule breaches, and other violations.
- Gathering, analyzing, and sharing intelligence related to FEMA violations in 1999.
- Identifying individuals or entities that break FEMA rules, which involve prohibiting the transfer, conversion, disposition, or movement of assets as outlined in Chapter III of the Money Laundering Act (Section 2(1)(d)).
- Taking strong actions against those who violate the PMLA act. This includes conducting legal proceedings and conducting surveys on individuals involved in criminal activities.
Work Operation of ED
The information we receive comes from various sources, such as government agencies and complaints. We use this information to gather and share details about violations of FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) from 1999.
We look into suspected violations of the 1999 FEMA rules, which can include illegal activities like foreign exchange scams, failure to bring in earnings from exports, not sending back money earned through international trade, and other violations of FEMA from 1999.
They also handle cases involving violations of the older FERA 1973 and FEMA 1999 rules. After we’ve looked into these cases, we collect any fines that have been imposed.
We deal with appeals and legal actions related to the previous FERA 1973 regulations. They also conduct investigations, searches, and legal proceedings against individuals suspected of money laundering under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act).
As a top financial investigation agency of the Indian government, the Enforcement Directorate operates in accordance with the Constitution and laws of India. We follow the guidance of all legal authorities and strive to maintain high professional standards and credibility.
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FAQs on ED Full Form
What is the work of ED?
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigates financial and economic crimes, like money laundering and FEMA violations, in India.
Who are ED officers?
ED officers are government officials responsible for enforcing financial laws and regulations, working to combat financial crimes.
What is the full form of ED pay?
ED pay typically refers to the salary or payment received by Enforcement Directorate officers for their work. It doesn't have a specific abbreviation.