Vinod Rai, a 1972 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, took oath on Monday as the country's new Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Rai, who replaced V N Kaul, was administered the oath of office by President Pratibha Patil at a brief function at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram were among the dignitaries present at the ceremony.
The defence ministry's new procurement policy is causing delays.
Sitharaman also directed public sector bank heads to clear long pending vigilance cases against their officials for alleged malpractices.
The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not to release funds until the state associations file an affidavit implementing recommendations of Justice (Retd.) RM Lodha-led- panel. Issuing the direction, the apex court said the state associations cannot get any money from the national cricket body till the time they follow the Lodha committee's recommendations.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Friday criticised the previous National Democratic Alliance government for undervaluation of a number of public sector units, including Balco and VSNL, where equity was divested.\n\n
CAG said that Reliance Infocomm and Tata Tele Services Ltd have caused a loss of Rs 184 crore to 3 state-run insurance firms between 2002-05 on risk cover for mobile handsets and default payments.
Reliance Industries has written to the government that it has no objection to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India auditing its gas field costs and said it is operating the field in compliance with rules.
With the Comptroller and Auditor General slamming the government for buying the second-hand Admiral Gorshkov at the price of a new aircraft carrier, Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta on Thursday defended the price being paid by India for the warship.
West Bengal lost Rs 546.68 crore (Rs 5.46 billion) in 2007-08 for not having its own fiscal responsibility law, which mandates fiscal discipline, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
Reliance Industries on Wednesday assailed reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General and expert P Gopalakrishnan, which have alleged the company got undue benefits pertaining to Krishna-Godavari basin gas and its pricing.
State-run power firm NTPC overstated its profits by Rs 938 crore (R 9.38 billion) in 2007-08, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India said in a report, but categorically stated that chances of Satyam like frauds in PSUs are very remote.
The CAG, who blamed what he called a lack of accountability in bureaucracy for delays in action on audit reports, said officials who sit over them should be punished.
For the first time in its history, the department of the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) has conducted a cleanliness audit for the Indian Railways.
Handing out a reprimand to the Navy for the lapse, the CAG said this was 'seriously limiting their operations capabilities.'
'If you look at assets truly working for us, you should look at Aakash and Great Learning.'
Seeking the government's assurance to the House that it would not henceforth enter into "such dubious deals" with the United States, Basudeb Acharia of the Communist Party of India-Marxist asked why the government bought the 1971 vintage vessel for $50 million when the US Navy had decided in 2003 that it was not suitable for modernisation and should be decommissioned in 2006.
According to the recent report, IAF's Air Officer Commander at one of the stations was approached by the Reliance Infocomm for installation of a booster antenna within the station complex in May 2004 and the permission was granted by the concerned authorities. The company was asked to pay Rs 5,000 as rent and allied charges to the government, which was subsequently reduced to Rs 1,000 in September 2005.
The recent draft report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) which pointed to misuse and non-utilisation of funds for the National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG) scheme doesn't mean the programme is a write-off. The audit will act as a deterrent and spur state governments to work more efficiently, Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has said.
With the photo-identity card issue in the capital kicking up a major controversy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that if there are any practical problems, these will be resolved. "I do not want to go into the motives. If there are any practical problems, we will resolve them," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function where the new Comptroller and Auditor General of India was sworn-in at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
His appointment will be effective from the date he assumes charge of his office, an official statement said on Monday. An Indian Administrative Service officer of Kerala cadre, 1972 batch, Rai will take over from V N Kaul.
The scarcity of resources is particularly evident in the case of Rajasthan compared to many other states.
Congress on Friday sought the dismissal of Divestment Minister Arun Shourie from the Cabinet for his statement terming as "idiotic" the Comptroller and Auditor General's
The company's accounts were audited by CAG as its shareholders include public sector banks.
Comptroller and Auditor General has pulled up the finance ministry for flaws in double taxation avoidance agreements
Unable to face competition of a liberalised environment, as many as 88 public sector undertakings have eroded
Audit scrutiny of expenditure on foodgrains (Rs 37.4 crore) and cash dole (Rs 44.59 crore) revealed delay in distribution, doubtful purchase of material, doubtful distribution of foodgrain and non-submission of detailed contingent bills.
In a response to the August 3 order, the Centre, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, said till the time either the legislature or the poll panel steps in, the top court must lay down "dos and don'ts" for political parties in the 'larger national interest.'
Edtech firm Think and Learn Private Ltd, owner of Byju's, on Thursday said neither the company's founder and CEO Byju Raveendran nor any other board member will attend the extraordinary general meeting called by some select investors. Shareholders at Byju's are set to vote on Friday on a resolution brought by some investors to oust founder CEO Byju Raveendran and his family members over alleged "mismanagement and failures". Byju's has called the EGM "procedurally invalid" and contractually in contravention of the company's article of association and shareholder's agreement.
The government carries out a review of the defence procurement process every two years to make changes gained from experience and to incorporate new contract clauses for probity.
The Bhartiya Janata Party on Saturday disputed the expenditure amount for the 'India Shining' media campaign.
The Comptroller and Auditor General on Friday pulled up the previous NDA government for diversion of funds and incurring unauthorised expenditure of Rs 63.23 crore (Rs 632.3 billion) for the 'India Shining' media campaign.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India, in a report tabled before the state assembly in Jammu, pointed out serious lapses in the procedures adopted by state-run health centres.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari objected to Roy's elevation, arguing that the MLA, who had crossed over to the ruling Trinamool Congress last month after winning the polls on a BJP ticket, cannot be considered a legislator of the saffron camp.