The CAG's report on Bofors in 1989 had major political consequences. Its explosive 2010 report on the allocation of 2G spectrum led to the filing of criminal charges against politicians, bureaucrats, and businessmen. Other reports may have had a less dramatic political impact but they have been equally useful
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Aware of the limitations of its mandate, the CAG has asked the United Progressive Alliance government to make three broad amendments in the 1971 Audit Act.
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The first amendment is intended to ensure that government departments reply to audit enquiries in 30 days rather than in the open-ended manner as now
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.“As an important watchdog in our democracy, it falls upon this institution (the CAG) to sift the wheat from the chaff, to distinguish between wrongdoing and genuine errors, to appreciate the context and circumstances of decision making,” Dr Singh said at the inauguration of celebrations to mark 150 years of the CAG here
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Dr Singh reaffirmed the Government's commitment to strengthen the institution of CAG as part of the broader efforts to improve transparency and accountability in the work of the Government. Lolz :):)
Secondly, the CAG wants the statute to stipulate a clear timeframe for the tabling of completed audit reports on the floor of the relevant legislature. The Act, as it stands today, gives the Central and State governments wide latitude in this regard and it is hardly surprising that this freedom has been abused to delay making public the audit reports that contain embarrassing observations
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The third set of proposed amendments is aimed at bringing the CAG's legal mandate up to speed with the changes that have taken place in the way public money is spent. Since the 1971 Act was passed, the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution have been adopted, adding a layer of decentralised governance — and hence expenditure management — to the institutions of the state
.
Aware of the limitations of its mandate, the CAG has asked the United Progressive Alliance government to make three broad amendments in the 1971 Audit Act.
.
.
The first amendment is intended to ensure that government departments reply to audit enquiries in 30 days rather than in the open-ended manner as now
.
.“As an important watchdog in our democracy, it falls upon this institution (the CAG) to sift the wheat from the chaff, to distinguish between wrongdoing and genuine errors, to appreciate the context and circumstances of decision making,” Dr Singh said at the inauguration of celebrations to mark 150 years of the CAG here
.
.
Dr Singh reaffirmed the Government's commitment to strengthen the institution of CAG as part of the broader efforts to improve transparency and accountability in the work of the Government. Lolz :):)
Secondly, the CAG wants the statute to stipulate a clear timeframe for the tabling of completed audit reports on the floor of the relevant legislature. The Act, as it stands today, gives the Central and State governments wide latitude in this regard and it is hardly surprising that this freedom has been abused to delay making public the audit reports that contain embarrassing observations
.
.
The third set of proposed amendments is aimed at bringing the CAG's legal mandate up to speed with the changes that have taken place in the way public money is spent. Since the 1971 Act was passed, the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution have been adopted, adding a layer of decentralised governance — and hence expenditure management — to the institutions of the state
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