Between the technical rigour and finality of CAG audit and people's airing of grievances, a new audit system that subscribes to, and strengthens, open government may be waiting to be born. The new system is envisaged as one where the CAG’s formal audit includes the relatively new concept of community-led social audit . The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) presents an opportunity to do this. Traditionally, auditing is a...

The government will shortly set up an anti-corruption mechanism in the backdrop of scandals in which the Opposition has targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. As legislative measures will be required to introduce certain provisions, it can even pilot an ordinance. Sources said the Prime Minister was giving “serious thought” to this mechanism with a blueprint having already been prepared, incorporating the suggestions given by Congress president Sonia Gandhi at the party...

Following up on his unprecedented offer, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today wrote to the Public Accounts Committee probing the 2G spectrum allocation scam, expressing his readiness to appear before it. On a day when Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai, whose report projecting a presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer in 2G spectrum allocation created a storm, appeared before the PAC, Singh made the offer in...

Comptroller and Auditor-General of India Vinod Rai on Monday appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to give his views on the 2G spectrum allocation scam. Appearing before the 22-member committee, led by Murli Manohar Joshi, for about five hours, Mr. Rai is understood to have given details of how the CAG reached the figure of “presumptive loss” incurred by the exchequer due to irregularities in grant of licences and 2G...

Report of presumed loss in radio waves allocation created a storm in Parliament JPC will delay the inquiry and politicise the matter, feels government Manmohan Singh has offered to appear before PAC if required Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) of India Vinod Rai will appear before Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday in connection with the 2G telecom controversy. The PAC has been examining the CAG's report of a presumed loss of Rs.1.76-lakh crore...