Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul><li>New deal saved 2.86% for the Indian exchequer, says India's federal auditor.</li><li>Latest report tabled in the Parliament will help Modi in fighting corruption charges from the opposition.</li><li>Opposition had hoped to corner the Modi government over the controversial defence deal.</li></ul> The Narendra Modi government struck a better deal than the Congress, that's the verdict from the <keyword id="6379775" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Comptroller-and-Auditor-General-of-India">Comptroller and Auditor General of India</keyword> (CAG), the country's federal auditor, which tabled its report on the controversial 2015 deal to buy 36 Rafale jets from French company Dassault, according to news reports. "Compared to the 126 aircraft deal, India managed to save 17.08% money for the India-specific enhancements in the 36 Rafale contract," news agency ANI said, adding that,"the delivery schedule of the first 18 Rafale aircraft is better than the one proposed in the 126 aircraft deal, by five months." However, the full price of the jets have been redacted in the report based on the insistence of the Defence Ministry citing the Indo-French agreement of 2008 and the provisions of inter-government agreement, another news agency IANS reported. In April 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that India will buy 36 French-manufactured Rafale fighter jets off-the-shelf. This was a departure from the original plan, under the previous regime, under which India would buy 18 off-the-shelf jets and another 108 would be assembled by the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited or HAL in Bengaluru. Modi , however, intervened and decided to buy 36 "ready-to-fly" fighters instead of trying to acquire technology from Dassault and make it in India. "A Defence Ministry team in March 2015 recommended the scrapping of the 126 Rafale deal saying that Dassault Aviation was not the lowest bidder and EADS (European Aeronautic Defence &amp; Space Company) was not fully compliant with the tender requirements," the CAG report said according to ANI. The opposition parties had cornered the incumbent Modi government alleging that the ₹590 billion deal was more expensive and it included kickbacks. It was also said that the deal was made to help Anil Ambani, whose Reliance Naval and Engineering was reportedly brought in to support Dassault. Both entities have denied this. Modi also faced a direct <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1093733762104524800/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1093733762104524800&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hindustantimes.com%2Findia-news%2Fdefence-ministry-note-proves-pm-bypassed-negotiations-with-france-on-rafale-deal-rahul%2Fstory-EUd4UAbFWTQ9lX6XODsLkM.html" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">charge</a> after news reports revealed that the Prime Minister's Office had intervened in the deal negotiations and in fact, dismissed the apprehensions of its own Defence Ministry. The latest report from CAG will be a big blessing for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will be seeking re-election in the upcoming summer. However, the opposition was already prepared. Prior to the release of the report, the Congress party had pre-emptively dismissed the findings of the report, explaining that Rajiv Mehrishi, the current Comptroller and Auditor General of India, took part in the deal’s negotiations.

CAG report on Rafale deal is a blessing for Modi government

<ul><li>The <keyword id="6355455" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-railways">Indian Railways</keyword> has decided to ditch the old ‘high maintenance’ heavy woollen blankets and make way for new ones that can be washed twice a month.</li><li> A <keyword id="6359828" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="comptroller-and-auditor-general">Comptroller and Auditor General</keyword> (CAG) report released last year revealed that some blankets were washed at an interval of 6-26 months. </li><li>On a typical day, the railways use around 3,90,000 blankets for passengers travelling in AC classes. </li></ul> If the idea of a train journey through the waxing and waning topography of rural India fills you with a sense of nostalgia, if you are yearning for that hot matka of chai at a railway station on a chilly winter morning, if you think that people who spend thousands of rupees to take a 2-hour flight are plain stupid, perhaps the fact that railways blankets are washed once in two months will make you pause, rewind and opt for an alternate mode of transport. However, now the Indian Railways has decided to ditch the old ‘high maintenance’ heavy woollen blankets and make way for new ones that can be washed twice a month! This move may have something to do with a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report released last year that revealed that some blankets were washed at an interval of 6-26 months, amongst numerous other <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/now-cag-criticises-indian-railways-over-dirty-linen-blankets-and-pillows/story-g9UMcL4c4qll5PwYrpbwbJ.html">issues</a> the report flagged. Not only that, used blankets will be sanitised ‘regularly’ before being passed on to the next user. (Currently, a blanket is sanitised once in <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/budget-2016/rail-budget-2016/You-smelt-it-right-Railways-washes-blankets-every-two-months/articleshow/51162191.cms">15 days</a>.) And finally, the service life of a blanket, which is the amount of time a blanket will be used, has been reduced to two years, as opposed to four. The woollen blankets they have now cost around Rs. 400 per piece. However, needless to say, this ‘upgraded’ mix of woollen and nylon is expected to cost almost double. But that’s a price the railways may be willing to pay, considering the number of complaints they get from travellers raising a stink about dirty, smelly blankets. The directive from the railways to all zones says that ideally, these new blankets are to be washed twice a month, subject to available capacity and logistics arrangements. But should this prove to be a tall order, the blankets need to be washed <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/blankets-for-ac-travellers-to-be-washed-twice-a-month/articleshow/64745089.cms?utm_source=Colombia&amp;utm_medium=OrganicNative&amp;utm_campaign=CTN&amp;utm_content=19">‘minimum once in a month.’</a> On a typical day, the railways use around 3,90,000 blankets for passengers travelling in AC classes. And while those lucky enough to travel in the first class receive a changed blanket cover after every use, those travelling in AC second and third class don’t. Those whose weren’t aware of these facts and numbers may take solace in the fact that the Indian Railways is aiming to provide a fresh set of train linen and blanket for ‘each journey’. In fact, there are already 50 mechanised laundries and the railways plan to add ten more shortly.

Blankets provided on trains by Indian Railways will soon be fresher and cleaner

<ul><li>The funds were then disbursed in January 2016 to the Delhi government, but were not utilised by the six implementation bodies.</li><li>The total number of household toilets the civic bodies had expected to construct was 11,117, which is woefully short of the Government of India’s target based on a 2011 census of 1,27,005. </li><li>South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi Cantonment Board and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board did not see the need to construct any public toilets. </li></ul>A <a href="http://www.cag.gov.in/sites/default/files/audit_report_files/Chapter_3_Compliance_Audit_of_Report_No_3_of_2018_-_Social%2C_General_and_Economic_Sectors_%28Non-PSU%29_Government_of_Delhi.pdf">report tabled by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)</a> at the <keyword id="6356117" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-Assembly">Delhi Assembly</keyword> had some astonishing revelations. Of the ₹403.1 million allocated for the construction of toilets, not one rupee has been spent. The money has been lying ‘idle’ in the non-interest generating current accounts of the government. The Modi government’s flagship mission was launched on October 2nd, 2014. The funds were then disbursed in January 2016 to the Delhi government, but were not utilised by the six implementation bodies -- South Delhi Municipal Corporation (South DMC), <keyword id="6356596" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="north-delhi-municipal-corporation">North Delhi Municipal Corporation</keyword> (North DMC), East Delhi Municipal Corporation (East DMC), Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB). According to the report, the <keyword id="6354944" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="aam-aadmi-party">Aam Aadmi Party</keyword> government had initially promised to construct 200,000 toilet blocks in slums/JJ clusters and unauthorised colonies in its manifesto but failed to deliver on the promise. In fact, the few toilets that were constructed were done from the <keyword id="75926" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="municipal-board">Municipal Board</keyword>’s own funds. The audit pointed to a lack of planning, the skewing of some guidelines and the failure of an adequate monitoring and evaluation mechanism as reasons for the government’s inability to follow through on its commitment. The key findings were as follows:- <ul><li>The implementation bodies underestimated the number of toilets they needed to construct. The three types of toilets that come under this scheme include - household toilets, community toilets and public toilets. According to the audit, the total number of household toilets the civic bodies had expected to construct (September 2015) was 11,117, which is woefully short of the Government of India’s target based on a 2011 census of 1,27,005. </li><li>Out of the six civic bodies, only the East Delhi Municipal Corporation saw the need to construct household toilets in its area. And there too, only 11,117 toilets were projected to be constructed by East DMC whereas the government had projected a need for 56,734 toilets.</li><li>The South Delhi Municipal Corporation and Delhi Cantonment Board didn’t see the need to construct any community toilets but the government had projected a requirement of 718 and 408 community toilets respectively.</li><li>South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi Cantonment Board and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board did not see the need to construct any public toilets. However, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation and East Delhi Municipal Corporation found the necessity of constructing only 205 and 120 public toilets as against 4,116 and 1,972 respectively projected by the central government.</li><li>The South Delhi Municipal Corporation cited space constraints as a reason for not projecting any requirement for construction of community toilets and public toilets.</li><li>“South and North DMCs did not consider unauthorized colonies for projecting requirement of Individual Household Toilets stating that they do not have jurisdiction over them thereby leaving unauthorized colonies out of Mission coverage with regard to Household Toilets.”</li><li>The audit also pointed out that the Delhi government only spent ₹20.3 million on public awareness programme against ₹51.7 million released for this purpose. The audit said, ”this was indicative of inadequate efforts on the part of these implementing agencies to educate the households to avail the benefit of household toilets.”</li><li>The audit noted that the finances were irresponsible managed. There were delays in releasing funds to the implementing agencies, which was exacerbated by the fact that some funds were allocated incorrectly. Furthermore, the implementation agencies did not make use of whatever funds they did receive.</li><li>The report added that the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), which is responsible for making slums and JJ clusters open defecation free, did not receive the state’s share from the government which accounted for 60% of the amount required. The DUSIB later refunded the entire amount of ₹68.6 million it had received from the centre under the Mission.</li><li>Finally, the audit noted that the oversight and monitoring mechanism set up to ensure the implementation of the Mission was ineffective. “The State level High Power Committee (HPC) headed by the Chief Secretary is responsible for approval of plan and projects, sanction of allocation of resources, and monitoring of outcome of the Mission. The audit noted that the HPC met four times since inception of the scheme; discussed the identification of beneficiaries; sought an action plan for scheme implementation, ordered the timely release of funds received from the GoI as well as the State share to the implementing agencies; and requested timely submission of utilisation certificate. Many of these issues were discussed repeatedly in every meeting without much progress thereon.”</li></ul>

The Delhi government has failed to make even one toilet under the Swachh Bharat Mission

The newly minted 170 <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Indian+Administrative+Service+%28IAS%29+" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Indian Administrative Service (IAS)</a> officers of 2013 batch are literally being kept on their toes as they have been asked to come up with new and innovative ideas to simplify government processes before they meet <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=PM+Narendra+Modi" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">PM Narendra Modi</a>. 
 These officers, who are on deputation to the Centre before they head for their first state postings as part of an idea mooted by the <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">prime minister</keyword>, have time till November 30 to come up with ideas on simplifying at least two processes of the government. 
 
They are scheduled to face Modi at a feedback session at the end of a rigorous three-month stint at the Centre. 
 
Before their session with Modi, each of the officers have to prepare a 'Paper on Innovation' or 'Process re-engineering to improve functioning of the government', along with identifying at least two processes for simplification and compiling the guidelines or norms pertaining to their desk. 
 
A typical day, which begins with yoga for two hours from 6:30 am, is chock-a-block with meetings with senior officers and involves grappling with files related to the Centre's flagship programmes. 
The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Department+of+Personnel+and+Training+%28DoPT%29+" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)</a> has issued at least 99 orders over the past one month on how they should go about their work, including a detailed 13-week work calendar to follow. But they can fall back on three senior secretaries who have been appointed as chief mentors. 
 
The time spent with the central government will help the officers "acquire a national perspective and a deeper appreciation of harmonization of diversities in national policies", according to a concept paper on the exercise being undertaken for the first time. 
 The chief mentors include home secretary <keyword id="1928895" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rajiv-Mehrishi">Rajiv Mehrishi</keyword>, <keyword id="193102" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="defence-secretary">defence secretary</keyword> Mohan Kumar and <keyword id="2665691" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Niti-Aayog">NITI Aayog</keyword> chief executive Sindhushree Khullar. 
 
The 52 ministries and departments where the young IAS officers have been posted as assistant secretaries have been divided into four clusters — social, economic, infrastructure and regulatory. 
 
Further, these clusters have been assigned to Jugal Mohapatra (secretary, rural development), AC Duggal (secretary, finance services), Amitabh Kant (secretary, DoPT) and Sanjay Kothari (secretary, DoPT) respectively, who have been tasked with meeting every 15 days to take stock of the performance of the assistant secretaries. 
 
On August 26, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=cabinet+secretary+" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">cabinet secretary</a> PK Sinha held a special meeting and assigned the job to these senior secretaries. Sinha also directed the ministries to allot desks pertaining to the <keyword id="6360789" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Modi-Government">Modi government</keyword>'s flagship programmes to the new officers or programmes which have a bearing on states in terms of implementation. This will give the officers an opportunity to look at the projects from the point of view of both Centre and the ground level, Sinha said at the meeting. 
 The DoPT is keeping a close watch on the number of files initiated and disposed of at the desk of each <keyword id="222361" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="assistant-secretary">assistant secretary</keyword>, who has to attend meetings within and outside the ministry with other officers as well. The trainees have been asked to meet every officer in their ministry. 
 
As per the 13-week work calendar, the assistant secretaries have to meet officers and secretaries across the board in the first two weeks, identify a specific project in the third week on which they will do extensive and intensive work, and work on action on frontlines for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on October 2. 
 
Between the fourth and the eight weeks, they will have to come to grips with the intricacies of implementation of schemes and projects, and "wear the thinking caps — question and challenge existing processes and policies" in the ninth and tenth weeks. 
 The 11th and 12th weeks will be time to "bring it all together" with a presentation to the secretary on two processes that can be simplified or modified and bring files handed by the officer to the logical end. The assistant secretaries have already had meetings with principal secretary to the PM, Cabinet secretary, foreign secretary, home secretary, <keyword id="51689" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Railway-Board">Railway Board</keyword> chairman, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Comptroller+and+Auditor+General" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Comptroller and Auditor General</a>, central information commissioner, central vigilance commissioner, chief election commissioner and NITI Aayog V-C. 
 
They have attended two recent conferences held by the PM this month and submitted weekly notes on their activities since their stint began on September 1. Besides, the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management has sent 23 case studies on noting and drafting which have been distributed among the assistant secretaries. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Modi to ‘Fresher’ babus: On your toes, get set go!

India has lost more than 40, 000 tonnes of <keyword id="44568" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Foodgrains">foodgrains</keyword> in <keyword id="107125" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Food-Corporation">Food Corporation</keyword> of India (FCI) godowns across the country during the last two years, an <keyword id="6356198" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="RTI">RTI</keyword> application filed by <keyword id="6356641" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="times-of-india">Times of India</keyword> has revealed. Though the losses are attributed to natural calamities like cyclone and floods, experts say it is also an indication of poor storage facilities, pilferage and transit loss. 

	The reply from FCI shows that the damaged quantity rose three-fold in five years — from 6,346 tonnes in 2010-11 to 18,847.22 tonnes in 2014-15. While 3,338.01 tonnes were damaged in 2011-12 and 3,148.44 tonnes were damaged in 2012-13, as many as 24,695.45 tonnes suffered damage in 2013-14.
 

	The FCI is responsible for distribution of foodgrains throughout the country for public distribution system and maintain satisfactory level of operational and buffer stocks of foodgrains to ensure National Food Security. 
 

	A total of more than 56,000 tonnes of foodgrains, including 27,000 tonnes of rice and 26,000 tonnes of wheat, were damaged since 2010, TOI reported citing the reply by FCI.
 

	However, it claimed that no damage could be directly attributed to lack of adequate storage and handling facilities but did not give the financial loss suffered. FCI chairman and managing director C Viswanath could not be reached for comment.
 In 2014-15, Odisha topped the list with 7,108 tonnes, mainly due to the havoc wrought by cyclone Phailin in the coastal regions, followed by Jammu &amp; Kashmir (6,120 tonnes), where inundation caused by the unprecedented floods of September 2014 was the culprit. They were followed by <keyword id="37102" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword> with 2,262 tonnes and Karnataka (747 tonnes). In 2013-14, <keyword id="6357783" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="West-Bengal">West Bengal</keyword> topped the list with 12,539 tonnes followed by Bihar (3,909.408 tonnes). Meanwhile, a recent <keyword id="6355833" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="united-nations">United Nations</keyword> annual hunger report has estimated that India had the highest number of hungry people in the world at 194 million. As on June 1, there were 568.34 lakh tonnes of foodgrains with the FCI's central pool. Former Union minister of state for food K V Thomas told TOI that the percentage of foodgrains damaged had reduced from 2.5% of the total procurement in 2010 to 0.07% of the total procurement in 2013. "The <keyword id="26374" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="UPA-government">UPA government</keyword> had taken several initiatives to bring this down. We renovated most of the existing godowns and also increased the storage capacity. The procurement rate of foodgrains was also higher compared to the current year." Consumer activists say the situation is alarming. R Desikan, founder-trustee of <keyword id="1384000" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Consumers-Association-of-India">Consumers Association of India</keyword>, said the Consumer Protection Act is not applicable to godowns as one can lodge a complaint only after the item is sold. "FCI officials should take stringent action against those responsible for loss of foodgrains in godowns. <keyword id="109212" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Food-Safety">Food safety</keyword> officials should also conduct regular inspections and ensure the stored grain is safe as <keyword id="6355166" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="India-Meteorological-Department">India Meteorological Department</keyword> (IMD) has already projected a drought year in the country," he said. In 2013, <keyword id="6359828" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="comptroller-and-auditor-general">Comptroller and Auditor General</keyword> of India (CAG)'s report tabled before Parliament exposed the storage gap of FCI godowns. 
	(Image: Indiatimes)

Blame it on poor storage facility! Over 40,000 tonnes of grains damaged in last 2 years

The <keyword id="6359828" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="comptroller-and-auditor-general">Comptroller and Auditor General</keyword> (CAG) has suggested cancelling the broadband spectrum allocated to Infotel Broadband Services, now a Reliance Industries company, for allegedly rigging the auction and breaching the rules. 
 CAG, in a report sent to the <keyword id="62528" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Department-of-Telecom">Department of Telecom</keyword> (DoT), said, “The DoT failed to recognise the tell-tale sign of rigging of the auction right from beginning of the auction” in which a small Internet Service Provider - Infotel Broadband Services Pvt Ltd (IBSPL) emerged the winner of the nationwide broadband spectrum by paying 5,000 times of its net worth. 
 <keyword id="6484187" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="RIL">RIL</keyword>, which acquired IBSPL within hours of it winning the spectrum and later renamed it <keyword id="6354504" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Reliance-Jio">Reliance Jio</keyword>, said, “There is no final CAG report that we are aware of. That said, we outrightly reject any suggestion whereby spectrum was acquired in any manner other than through a transparent bidding process duly supervised by the Government of India.” 
 
The draft report says IBSPL submitted a modest amount of Rs 252.50 crore as deposit “through the covert and overt assistance of third party/private bank”, bid for Rs 12,847.77 crore (5,000 times of its net worth) for countrywide spectrum and then sold the company on the day of completion of the auction. This “indicated IBSPL’s collusion and sharing of the confidential information with a third party in violation of the auction conditions/rules.” 
 
An RIL spokesperson said the auction for the broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum was a competitive one which resulted in the final bid price of more than six times the reserve price for the spectrum. “This was despite no visible evidence of any eco-system for the BWA spectrum at the time of auction. Any allegations of so-called collusion are bizarre,” the spokesperson said.

CAG Suggests
Scrapping Reliance Jio’s Spectrum License

CAG is hiring more than 10,000 accountants and auditors around the country

The Comptroller and <keyword id="2088691" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Auditor-General-of-India">Auditor General of India</keyword> (<keyword id="6356851" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="CAG">CAG</keyword>) plans to audit the impact of note ban and the affect it has had on government tax revenues, said <keyword id="1925426" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="CAG-Shashi-Kant-Sharma">CAG Shashi Kant Sharma</keyword>, according to <keyword id="6367495" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="PTI">PTI</keyword>. 
 In an interview to PTI, he said the auditor is gearing up to audit tax revenues under the new Goods and <keyword id="645517" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="services-tax">Services Tax</keyword> (GST) regime and has started capacity building and reorienting its audit methodology and procedures. 
 Among the special audits, CAG has already completed audit of agricultural crop insurance scheme and flood control and flood forecasting and is now engaged in several important audits like Right to Education, National Rural Health Mission, defence pensions and <keyword id="2259162" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ganga-rejuvenation">Ganga Rejuvenation</keyword>, he said. "These reports should be ready by the end of the current year." 
 <keyword id="445" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sharma">Sharma</keyword> asserted that CAG has audit jurisdiction over any body or authority which has any relation to government revenues and expenditure and resistance by some like city development bodies, DISCOMs and metro corporations will wither away. 
 
"We plan to audit certain issues related to fiscal impact of demonetisation, largely its impact on tax revenues," he said. 
 
The government had withdrawn old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes from circulation on November 8 last year, and announced a new tax amnesty scheme for those holding unaccounted junked currency. 
 
CAG audit may look into expenditure on printing of notes, RBI dividend payout and banking transaction data. 
 The auditor has also conveyed to the government its stand on the recent move of the <keyword id="6355040" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="GST-Council">GST Council</keyword> to delete section 65 of the preliminary draft that authorised CAG to audit GST. 
 
"Our mandate covers GST just like the earlier taxation regimes were covered. We have already started work on restructuring of our revenue audit arrangements to methis likely challenge when GST is introduced. 
 
"This exercise would include issues of capacity building, data access and analysis, reorientation of audit methodology and procedures and developing end-to-end IT solutions," he said. 
 
Sharma said executive, legislature, judiciary and audit have clearly demarcated roles and responsibilities. 
 
"The framers of our Constitution were fully aware of the concept of checks and balances and hence you find the mention of Judiciary and CAG in the fifth part of the Constitution along with legislature and executive," he said. "The CAG's DPC Act of 1971 provides the details of the mandate and scope of audit available to us." 
 
Stating that there are no lacunae in CAG's empowerment but with advent of time, the governance models have undergone changes. 
 The September 2014 judgement of the <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> in the telecom case "reinforced an important principle that wherever public resources are being used by private companies for revenue generation, CAG will have a duty to examine as to whether the government is getting due share of such revenue," he said. 
 
"So, I can say that the bodies and authorities which have any relation to government revenues and expenditure are under the audit jurisdiction of CAG," he said. 
 
City development bodies, electricity distribution companies and metro corporations "resist" CAG audit on the ground of being autonomous or on the ground of getting no support of the government although they perform the functions which were earlier being performed by the government departments, he said. 
 
"I believe the situation will settle down with passage of time and such resistance will wither away," he added.

Demonetization – profit or
loss? Let CAG deconstruct it

The Comptroller and Auditor General (<keyword id="19900713" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CAG" source="keywords">CAG</keyword>) has asked the <keyword id="19900485" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Ministry" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Finance Ministry" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Finance Ministry">Finance Ministry</keyword> to identify <keyword id="22837132" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="high-risk-taxpayers" source="keywords">high risk taxpayers</keyword> in the <keyword id="20981418" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="GST-composition-scheme" source="keywords">GST composition scheme</keyword> on a periodical basis and verify from other sources, including third parties, their declared <keyword id="22837745" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="value-of-sales" source="keywords">value of sales</keyword> to check <keyword id="20121097" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tax-evasion" source="keywords">tax evasion</keyword>. Based on an analysis of 8.66 lakh composition taxpayers under the central jurisdiction between 2019-20 to 2021-22 fiscals, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) found that a significant number of <keyword id="19951327" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gst" source="keywords">GST</keyword> taxpayers have a high risk of crossing the <keyword id="22837744" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="turnover-threshold" source="keywords">turnover threshold</keyword> for composition levy scheme (CLS). These high risk taxpayers were identified by audit from the data contained in GST returns viz. GSTR-4A, GSTR-7 along with third party data sources such as IT returns, 'Vahan' database etc. The GST composition scheme is available to taxpayers whose aggregate turnover, in the preceding financial year, has not exceeded Rs 1.5 crore. For taxpayers in special category states, this limit is Rs 75 lakh. The CAG said two major risk areas in respect of CLS taxpayers are under-declaration of the 'value of outward supply' by the taxpayers to continue in the scheme; and non-fulfillment of eligibility conditions for availing CLS. The audit also observed that there were certain CLS taxpayers who were continuing in the Scheme despite not fulfilling the eligibility criteria prescribed in the Act and the Rules, and a substantial number of CLS taxpayers were not discharging their obligatory responsibilities of filing returns and payment of tax under reverse charge. "The Ministry should identify high risk taxpayers in the CLS on a periodical basis using a risk-based approach and verify their declared value of outward supply from other sources including third parties to minimize the possibility of misuse by ineligible persons," the CAG said in a report tabled in Parliament recently. The official auditor also suggested that the Finance Ministry may develop a system of identifying ineligible taxpayers and take action to exclude them from the CLS in order to prevent misuse of the intended benefits of the scheme.

Finance Ministry should identify high risk taxpayers in GST composition scheme: CAG

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia's sole aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, has been out of action for years for repairs.</li><li>Russia's navy and its Soviet predecessor both struggled to keep their aircraft carriers operational.</li></ul>In July, Russian state media <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-sole-aircraft-carrier-may-re-enter-service-by-2024-end-tass-2023-07-04/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Russia's sole aircraft carrier, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-navy-struggles-with-kuznetsov-aircraft-carrier-kirov-battlecruisers-2023-5" target="_top">Admiral Kuznetsov</a>, could return to active service by the end of 2024.Kuznetsov has been undergoing repairs since 2017, and its return to duty has been delayed repeatedly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-aircraft-carrier-admiral-kuznetsov-delayed-again-2022-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">by mishaps and malfunctions</a>.The carrier has done only one combat deployment in its nearly 30-year career, and its return would be a milestone, but even if the Kuznetsov passes its planned sea trials, equipping the ship with a fully functioning air wing will probably remain a significant task for Russia.Despite <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/soviet-union-aircraft-carriers-are-still-influencing-other-navies-2020-12" target="_top">operating aircraft-carrying ships</a> for more than a half-century, Russia has struggled to build effective fixed-wing jets for those ships to carry into action.<h2>Yakovlev Yak-38</h2><div type="image" title="Russian Soviet navy Yak-38 aircraft carrier" height="1211" width="2000" msid="105245820" hostid="261"></div>The dawn of the jet age after World War II <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/history-of-us-navy-aircraft-carriers-supercarriers-to-ford-class-2020-10" target="_top">ushered in advances in carrier aviation</a> as well.The Soviets had seen the advantages in the vertical/short-takeoff-and-landing design, or V/STOL, used by Britain's <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/hawker-siddeley-xv-6a-kestrel-fga-mk-1/nasm_A19740943000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hawker Siddeley Kestrel</a> — the precursor to the now-renown Harrier "jump jet" — in the 1960s and opted to use that design for their first carrier jets.The result, the <a href="https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.php?aircraft_id=189" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yak-38</a>, was introduced in 1976 — three years before the British navy's <a href="https://www.militarytoday.com/aircraft/bae_sea_harrier.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sea Harrier</a> entered service — as the Soviet Union's first fixed-wing aircraft for its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/soviet-union-aircraft-carriers-are-still-influencing-other-navies-2020-12" target="_top">first true aircraft carriers, the Kiev-class</a>.The Yak-38 had two lift jets behind the cockpit and a single vectored-thrust turbofan engine with two adjustable nozzles that could be pointed downward for vertical flight. Its stub wings, which could be folded to save space, had four hardpoints, enabling the jet to carry about 2,000 pounds of ordnance.A total of 231 Yak-38s were eventually built. Despite its novelty, however, the jet was mostly a failure.<div type="image" title="Russian Soviet navy Yak-38 aircraft carrier" height="1574" width="2000" msid="105245821" hostid="261"></div>It was prone to mechanical issues, especially in hot and humid environments. By the end of Kiev's first cruise in 1976, for instance, only one of its six Yak-38s was still operational. The jet also had trouble with its automatic ejection system, which was activated by accident on multiple occasions and wrecked the jets.The Yak-38 had many other shortcomings. Its range, payload, and speed were less than that of rival militaries' aircraft. Even the updated Yak-36M, with a longer range and double the payload, was underpowered compared with NATO carrier aircraft.The inefficiency of the Yak-38's lift engines meant the jet rarely took off vertically, as it consumed too much fuel and limited the jet's already small payload. The Yak-38 didn't have its own radar, meaning its pilot was reliant on visual sightings or on other Soviet forces for guidance. The jet could carry Kh-23 anti-ship missiles, but since it was a single-seater, the pilot would have to fly the jet and guide the missile at the same time.The Yak-38 only saw combat in landlocked Afghanistan. At least four Yak-38s operated alongside other Soviet jets from a base in the country's southwest in 1980. While it conducted several airstrikes during its monthlong deployment, the jet still struggled with the heat and dust, and its performance was not particularly noteworthy.Soviet leaders decided against further upgrades and retired the Yak-38 shortly after the Soviet collapse in 1991.<h2>Su-33</h2><div type="image" title="Russia Su-33 fighter takeoff Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier" height="1288" width="2000" msid="105245822" hostid="261"></div>Even as the first Kiev-class carriers and Yak-38s began to enter service in the mid-1970s, the Soviets were planning their replacements. By that time, the Soviet military's thinking about the value of sea control and naval air dominance had changed, and its commanders saw that V/STOL jets and the Yak-38, in particular, had limited utility for either.The Soviets sought a larger carrier and a jet capable of conventional takeoffs and landings — like those of the major NATO powers — to provide greater range and payload and more reliability in dogfights. The result was the <a href="https://www.militarytoday.com/navy/kuznetsov_class.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kuznetsov-class carrier</a> and the <a href="https://www.militarytoday.com/aircraft/su_33.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Su-33</a>.The Su-33 was effectively a naval variant of the <a href="https://www.militarytoday.com/aircraft/sukhoi_su27_flanker.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Su-27</a> air-superiority fighter with several differences, including a reinforced undercarriage and landing gear for carrier landings, forward canards to reduce takeoff distance, a larger wing area for extra lift, foldable wings, and more powerful engines.<div type="image" title="Russia Su-33 fighter landing on Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier" height="1280" width="2000" msid="105245824" hostid="261"></div>The new jet had a top speed of more than 1,400 mph and a range of more than 2,000 miles, along with a 30mm cannon and 12 hardpoints that could carry 14,000 pounds of ordnance.Despite the jet's improvements over the Yak-38, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-plans-for-su33-as-carrier-based-fighter-fell-apart-2021-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">it was also of limited effectiveness</a>. Because the jet was exceptionally large, the Kuznetsov, which was smaller than US carriers, couldn't carry many of them. The jet's size also made it difficult to move around on the carrier. The Su-33 was also meant to be capable of ground-attack missions, but its takeoff weight, and thus the weaponry it could carry, were limited by Kuznetsov's ski-jump ramp.The Su-33 didn't enter service until after the Cold War, and only about 22 were built. Three have been lost in crashes, and only 17 are believed to still be in service today.<h2>MiG-29K</h2><div type="image" title="MiG 29K aircraft INS Vikramaditya indian navy aircraft carrier" height="586" width="1000" msid="105245825" hostid="261"></div>While the Sukhoi design firm was working on the Su-33 in the 1980s, the Mikoyan Design Bureau was working on its own carrier aircraft, the MiG-29K, a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/combat-jets-russia-and-ukraine-are-using-in-ukraine-war-2022-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">naval variant of the MiG-29</a>.Work on the MiG-29K was halted in 1991 when the Russian navy selected the Su-33 for its carriers, but the project was revived in 2004 for the Indian navy, which was <a href="https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/all-reasons-why-india-hates-aircraft-carrier-it-bought-russia-92076" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acquiring</a> the Kiev-class carrier Admiral Gorhskov from Russia and wanted the jet for the carrier's air wing.With a top speed of about 1,300 mph and the ability to carry 9,900 pounds of ordnance, the MiG-29K was better suited for ground strikes than the Su-33. India also chose the MiG-29K because its air force already operated the MiG-29 and was familiar with the airframe.<div type="image" title="Indian navy MiG-29 fighter jet aircraft carrier INS Vikrant" height="1331" width="2000" msid="105245826" hostid="261"></div>New Delhi placed two orders, in 2004 and 2010, for 45 aircraft and related equipment for $2.2 billion. Its first MiG-29Ks were delivered in 2009, and the first squadron became operational in 2013. The MiG-29K also underperformed, however.A 2016 <a href="https://cag.gov.in/webroot/uploads/download_audit_report/2016/Union_Defence_Services_Navy_and_Coast_Guard_Report_No_17_of_2016.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from India's Comptroller and Auditor General said that between 2009 and 2015, the MiG-29Ks that had been delivered were only available for service between 15.93% and 47.14% of the time. In addition to issues with the jet's airframe and avionics, the report said 62% of the engines delivered by Russia had been withdrawn from service or were rejected because of defects and deficiencies.At least five of the Indian navy's MiG-29Ks were lost in <a href="https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/indian-navy-reports-crash-of-fifth-mig-29k-in-four-years#:~:text=Of%20the%20five%20MiG%2D29K,during%20the%20last%2010%20years.&amp;text=in%2Dfour%2Dyears-,An%20Indian%20Navy%20Mikoyan%2DGurevich%20MiG%2D29K%20crashed%20in%20the,Arabian%20Sea%20on%2012%20October." target="_blank" rel="noopener">crashes</a> between 2018 and 2022 — a far higher rate than for the Indian air force's MiG-29s. The problems were compounded by the fact that India was wholly reliant on Russia for major support issues, as Moscow refused to transfer jet-engine technology or allow India to build its own MiG-29Ks.The Indian navy <a href="https://www.defense-aerospace.com/india-says-mig-29-serviceability-issues-now-solved-admiral/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in 2018 that all serviceability issues had been resolved. It even <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2020/07/24/india-gets-desperate-for-mountain-fighters-sends-navy-migs-north/?sh=746a6d3878b9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deployed</a> some MiG-29Ks to the Sino-Indian border at the height of tensions between the countries in 2020. But Delhi appears ready to move on to other jets.<div type="image" title="Russia aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov" height="1288" width="2000" msid="105245827" hostid="261"></div>Despite designing the country's first domestically built <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/first-jet-landing-on-vikrant-reflect-indian-aircraft-carrier-ambitions-2023-2" target="_top">aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant</a>, around the Russian-made jet, India has opted to retire all its MiG-29Ks by 2035 rather than extend their service lives or buy more. India's navy says it instead <a href="https://www.firstpost.com/india/indian-navy-to-replace-mig-29k-fleet-after-2035-due-to-quality-concerns-12439122.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plans</a> to buy <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-communicates-to-france-decision-to-procure-26-rafale-marine-jets/article67468034.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">26</a> French-built Rafale-M jets, which will require redesigning Vikrant's aircraft elevator, and eventually use a <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/twin-engine-carrier-based-fighter-for-navy-could-be-inducted-by-2031-32/article66124792.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">domestically developed</a> carrier-based jet.After the MiG-29K program was restarted for India, Russia's navy ordered 25 of the jets in 2009 to be used aboard Kuznetsov. The fighter made its combat debut in 2016, flying from the carrier during a deployment to Syria.Neither the jet nor the ship emerged unscathed. In one incident, a MiG-29K broke the carrier's arresting cable during landing. As the crew cleared debris from the deck, another MiG-29K circling overhead crashed into the sea after its engines unexpectedly shut off.Russia had planned to replace its Su-33s with MiG-29Ks but later decided that the MiGs would supplement its Su-33 fleet instead. Since Kuznetsov began its refit in early 2017, however, no jet has flown from the ship.

Aircraft carriers aren't the Russian navy's only problem. It has also struggled for decades to build jets for them.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is an authority instituted vide Article 148 of the Constitution of India. The prime responsibility of this authority is to audit the receipts and expenditures of the state governments and the union government in India including those of the entities and corporations financed by the government. The reports generated by the CAG are crucially important for the Public Accounts Committees (PACs) and Committees on Public Undertakings (COPUs), which are part of the state and central governments. Here are a few FAQs that will clarify many things about CAG? <ol><li>What is full name of CAG? The expansion of CAG reads as ‘The Comptroller and Auditor General of India’. </li><li>Who is the present CAG president? The incumbent CAG is Rajiv Mehrishi, IAS who assumed his office on 25 September 2017. Born on August 8, 1955 Rahiv Mehrishi is a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer belonging to the 1978 batch of the Rajasthan cadre. Rajiv is the 13th Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&amp;AG) and also the Vice - Chairman of United Nations Panel of External Auditors.</li><li>Who was the first CAG in India? V. Narahari Rao, a former civil servant was the first CAG who remained in his office from 1948 to 1954. In recognition of his significant contributions to the civil service in India, the government of India awarded him the highest civilian award namely Padma Bhushan in the year 1954.</li><li>Who can appoint CAG? The President of India appoints the CAG (The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India) based on the recommendations made by the Prime Minister. On his appointment to the office, the CAG needs to take the oath or affirmation in front of the President of India. </li><li>How can the CAG be removed from his office? The CAG can be removed from his office only if both the houses of parliament pass a resolution to do so on grounds of misbehavior or incapacity. The tenure of the CAG is 6 years or till the age of 65, whichever happens earlier while he serves from his position. </li><li>What is the power of CAG? Ranked 9th in the country in terms of his powers, the CAG enjoys the status that is similar to that of a judge of the Supreme Court of India.Vide article 148 of the Constitution of India, the CAG enjoys an independent office in the country. The CAG is also the head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department. He too has the most important duty to protect the interests of the public exchequer. The Indian Audit and Accounts Service provides the support necessary for the CAG to carry out his functions. </li><li>What are the important functions of CAG? Auditing the state and central government accounts and finding the performance of the consolidated fund of the state and the union government's irrespective of whether they happened inside or outside IndiaAuditing all the revenues into the consolidated funds of the state and central governments and all the transactions connected to the public accounts and the contingency funds of the union and state governments.</li></ol>

CAG Audit - What is prime responsibility of CAG in audit

Mumbai, Mar 4 () Power sector PSUs in Maharashtraincurred an overall net loss of Rs 3328.13 crorein 2017-18,according to a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)reporttabled in the state legislature on Wednesday.During 2017-18, out of the eight working state PSUs,one earned profit of Rs 814.51 crore, five incurred loss of Rs4142.64 croreand the remaining two posted marginal profit/loss, said the CAG report on public sector undertakings.The profit-making PSU was Maharashtra StateElectricity Transmission Company(Rs 814.51 crore), where asmajor losses were incurred byMaharashtra State electricityDistribution Company (Rs 3176.49 crore) and Maharashtra StatePower Generation Company (Rs 929.71 crore), the report said.Overall, power sector PSUs incurred a combined netloss of Rs 3328.13 crore(Rs 4142.64 crore minus Rs 814.51crore) in the financial year under review, it said.The CAG noted that the balance of investment of thestate government in the share capital of the power sectorPSUsincreased to Rs 88,086.99 crorein 2017-18 from Rs 0.45crore in 1999-2000.The present value of state government investments inthese entities up to March 31, 2018, worked out to be Rs1,18,570.22 crore, the auditor said.The report said Maharashtra State ElectricityDistribution Company made an excess payment of Rs 1.94 crorefor purchase of power from a bagasse-based co-generationproject due to incorrect application of energy tariff. MRRSY RSY

Maha power PSUs post overall Rs 3,328 cr net loss in FY18: CAG

<ul><li>India is going to fulfill the <keyword id="879547" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainable-development-goals">sustainable development goals</keyword> before 2030. </li><li>The government claims to have reduced maternal and infant mortality rates, and under-five mortality rate, said the minister without giving any figures. </li><li>However, some of Javedkar’s claims conflict with one of a report released by the Indian government earlier this year. </li><li>In July 2019, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India released a report highlighting the gaps in achieving the key objectives of the 2030 Agenda. </li></ul> Environment minister <keyword id="119642" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prakash-Javadekar">Prakash Javadekar</keyword> today said that India will achieve its health-related sustainability goals well in advance. “We are happy to announce that the goals set for 2030 will be achieved much earlier,” <a href="https://twitter.com/PIB_India">said the minister.</a> The goal is to keep maternal mortality rate to less than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births. As per the target, under- 5 mortality should go down to 25 deaths per 1000 live births, <a href="https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-survival/child-survival-sdgs/">according to the UN. And infant mortality rate should go down to zero by 2030. </a> A release by Press Information Bureau also said that mortality of infants, mothers and children under-five is declining. “At the current rate of decline, India should able to reach its <keyword id="620876" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="SDG">SDG</keyword> target (MMR-70, U5MR-25) much before the due year i.e. 2030,”<a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1587494"> said the release. </a> These claims come two months after Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) raised doubts that India may fall short in health-related sustainable goals. This is primarily due to inadequate spending on primary healthcare infrastructure. It also cited lack of data to track the progress of SDG as one of the reasons. <a href="http://www.censusindia.gov.in/vital_statistics/SRS_Bulletins/MMR%20Bulletin-2014-16.pdf">According to the Census</a> in 2017, as many as 130 women died per 100,000 live births. Infant mortality and under-five mortality rate was at 33 and 39 deaths per 1,000 live births. As per CAG, spending on healthcare itself is lower than what is budgeted for. It pointed out a massive gap in proposed budget and allocated budget into sprucing up India’s healthcare. The National Health Mission was allocation 13.6% less in 2018-19 than the proposed budget,<a href="https://www.indiaspend.com/india-unlikely-to-meet-health-related-sustainable-development-goals-says-govt-auditor/"> reported India spend. </a> The states are not spending enough either. As per National Health Policy 2017’s recommendations, states should spend 8% of their budgets by 2020. As many as seven states spent anywhere between 3.29% and 5.32% between 2012-2017. Overall, India spends a mere <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-spends-just-1-2-of-its-gdp-on-healthcare-but-a-policy-can-change-that/articleshow/64665303.cms">1.2% of its GDP on healthcare.</a> It ranks lower than Singapore, which itself is known for its low spending on public health.

You Searched For "comptroller and auditor general" and got 13 results

CAG report on Rafale deal is a blessing for Modi government

Sriram

Dilsher

Blankets provided on trains by Indian Railways will soon be fresher and cleaner

Kavita Majumdar

The Delhi government has failed to make even one toilet under the Swachh Bharat Mission

Kavita Majumdar

Modi to ‘Fresher’ babus: On your toes, get set go!

BI India Bureau

Blame it on poor storage facility! Over 40,000 tonnes of grains damaged in last 2 years

BI India Bureau

CAG Suggests Scrapping Reliance Jio’s Spectrum License

BI India Bureau

CAG is hiring more than 10,000 accountants and auditors around the country

BI India Bureau

Demonetization – profit or loss? Let CAG deconstruct it

BI India Bureau

Finance Ministry should identify high risk taxpayers in GST composition scheme: CAG

PTI

Aircraft carriers aren't the Russian navy's only problem. It has also struggled for decades to build jets for them.

Benjamin Brimelow

CAG Audit - What is prime responsibility of CAG in audit

BI India Bureau

Maha power PSUs post overall Rs 3,328 cr net loss in FY18: CAG

PTI

Indian minister is happy that they reduced mother and child mortality but CAG reports say something else

Preeti Soni

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides