Who was appointed as the Chairperson of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to expedite probes into black money cases?

Introduction / Context:
To address the sensitive issue of unaccounted wealth or “black money”, the Supreme Court of India directed the creation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT). This SIT was tasked with supervising investigations into black money cases and ensuring coordination among various agencies. This question tests whether you can recall the name of the person appointed as the Chairperson of this Supreme Court-appointed SIT.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The body in question is a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money.
• This SIT was created on the directions of the Supreme Court of India.
• We must identify the Chairperson (head) of this SIT.
• Options include names of prominent judges and officials: Arijit Pasayat, M. B. Shah, R. M. Lodha and Vinod Rai.

Concept / Approach:
The Supreme Court constituted the SIT on black money with retired Justice M. B. Shah as its Chairperson and another retired judge, Justice Arijit Pasayat, as the Vice-Chairperson. This composition is a key fact in current-affairs-based general knowledge related to financial transparency and legal measures against black money.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Supreme Court ordered the formation of an SIT to monitor black money investigations.Step 2: Remember that retired Justice M. B. Shah, a former judge of the Supreme Court, was appointed as the Chairperson of this SIT.Step 3: Note that Justice Arijit Pasayat was associated as the Vice-Chairperson, not the main Chairperson.Step 4: R. M. Lodha and Vinod Rai are important figures in other contexts (former Chief Justice of India and former CAG respectively), but not as SIT Chair in this case.Step 5: Therefore, select M. B. Shah as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Current affairs notes on black money measures and Supreme Court interventions frequently mention the duo M. B. Shah (Chairperson) and Arijit Pasayat (Vice-Chairperson). This repeated pairing helps confirm their roles. Meanwhile, R. M. Lodha is known for his tenure as Chief Justice of India, and Vinod Rai is widely recognised as the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) who highlighted large financial irregularities in audits, not as SIT Chair.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Arijit Pasayat: He was the Vice-Chairperson of the SIT, not the Chairperson.
• R. M. Lodha: Former Chief Justice of India, but not the head of this particular SIT.
• Vinod Rai: Former Comptroller and Auditor General; involved in public financial oversight, but not directly in this SIT leadership role.

Common Pitfalls:
The main confusion arises between M. B. Shah and Arijit Pasayat because both were senior retired judges and both served on the SIT. Candidates who only vaguely remember both names often choose the wrong one. To avoid this, remember the hierarchy clearly: M. B. Shah – Chairperson; Arijit Pasayat – Vice-Chairperson.

Final Answer:
The Chairperson of the Supreme Court-appointed SIT on black money was Justice M. B. Shah.