The office of Lokpal at the Union level and Lokayukta in the states of India is broadly based on the model of which foreign institution for public grievance redressal?

Introduction / Context:
Corruption and maladministration are persistent challenges in governance. Many countries have evolved independent institutions to investigate complaints against public officials. India created the office of Lokpal at the Union level and Lokayukta in the states, inspired by foreign models. This question asks which specific foreign institution these bodies are broadly based on. Understanding this link helps students see how Indian institutions fit into global trends of administrative accountability and anti corruption mechanisms.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The subject is constitutional and administrative reforms in India.
• The offices considered are Lokpal and Lokayukta, which investigate complaints against high level public functionaries.
• Four foreign institutional models are given as options.
• The task is to identify the model that served as the main inspiration.

Concept / Approach:
The word ombudsman comes from Scandinavian countries, particularly Sweden, where an independent officer of Parliament was created to investigate complaints from citizens about public authorities. This model of an impartial, independent grievance redressal authority that can enquire into administrative actions without being part of the regular executive guided many later systems around the world. Indian reformers and committees repeatedly referred to this ombudsman idea while proposing Lokpal and Lokayukta. Therefore the correct approach is to recognise the Scandinavian ombudsman as the primary source. The other listed institutions belong to different legal traditions and play different roles.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Recall the basic function of Lokpal and Lokayukta, which is to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration against public servants. Step 2: Associate this function with the ombudsman idea that originated in Sweden and later spread across Scandinavia and other parts of Europe. Step 3: Note that the parliamentary commissioner in the United Kingdom is also a kind of ombudsman, but the original inspiration repeatedly cited in Indian debates is the Scandinavian ombudsman model. Step 4: Recognise that the procurator general of Russia and the council of state in France serve very different legal and advisory roles rather than acting as citizen grievance officers. Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is Ombudsman in Scandinavia.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard polity textbooks and reports of committees like the Administrative Reforms Commission explicitly describe Lokpal as the Indian version of the ombudsman. They often mention that the concept was borrowed from Scandinavian countries, especially Sweden, which pioneered this institution in the early nineteenth century. A quick cross check with such material confirms that although the British parliamentary commissioner is similar, the original model that inspired many countries, including India, is the Scandinavian ombudsman. This confirms that option Ombudsman in Scandinavia is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Parliamentary Commissioner of the United Kingdom: This office is indeed an ombudsman type institution, but Indian discussions typically trace the root idea to the Scandinavian ombudsman rather than this later variant. Procurator General of Russia: This is mainly a prosecuting authority and does not match the citizen complaint handling role that Lokpal plays. Council of State in France: This body provides legal advice to the government and functions as the highest administrative court, which is structurally different from an ombudsman. None of these options capture the original inspiration as precisely as the Scandinavian ombudsman.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent confusion comes from the British parliamentary commissioner, since many Indian institutions were influenced by British practice. Candidates may also misinterpret the term council of state as resembling an upper house or advisory body and wrongly connect it with grievance redressal. Another pitfall is to ignore the word broadly in the question and overthink the exact legal form. The safe strategy is to remember that when Indian anti corruption ombudsman proposals are discussed, the Scandinavian ombudsman is named as the classic model, which should guide the answer.

Final Answer:
The offices of Lokpal and Lokayukta in India are broadly based on the model of the Ombudsman in Scandinavia.