-The Times of India   The Centre has been critical of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for taking out a series of adverse findings on government policies, but the contribution of the apex auditor seems to have been recognized by the United Nations which has appointed CAG Vinod Rai as chairman of its panel of external auditor. Rai as chairman will oversee the audit of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), besides...

A Parliamentary Committee is set to reject the National Identification Authority of India Bill 2010, inflicting a severe blow to Unique Identification Authority of India chairman Nandan Nilekani and raising doubts about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's pet project. Former IT czar Nilekani, who holds cabinet minister rank as UIDAI chief, had been keen on the enactment of the Bill so that a statutory National Identification Authority could be established. The Bill,...

-Express News Service   The parliamentary panel studying the Lokpal bill has recommended “appropriate representation” for the weaker sections in the search committee.   The standing committee on law and justice has, however, maintained that the choice of the ombudsman “has to achieve the selection of the best and the brightest at the entry point”. The committee, which adopted its final report this evening, has suggested that the search panel must include “certain sections of...

-The Hindu   Move to give more teeth in combating corruption In a move envisaged to give more teeth in combating corruption, the Bihar Assembly on Wednesday passed the Bihar Lokayukta Bill, 2011 by voice vote. State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mr. Vijendra Prasad Yadav tabled the Bill which was subsequently taken up for voting by the Speaker Mr. Uday Narayan Chaudhary, following deliberations by legislators from the ruling and Opposition parties. “We have drawn up...

-Express News Service Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice Abhishek Manu Singhvi has sought a four-day extension for submitting the panel’s report on the Lokpal Bill. Sources disclosed that Rajya Sabha chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari has asked Singhvi to meet him tomorrow to explain the reasons for the delay. Singhvi, who needs a nod from Ansari because the administrative control of the committee is vested in him, told The Indian...