-The Indian Express Sharp differences have emerged between the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) over the scope of an Audit into the production sharing contract between the company and the government for RIL’s off-shore gas fields. RIL had set two conditions: the Audit should maintain the confidentiality arrangement between it and the government; and the scope of the Audit should be restricted to accounting procedures of the...

-The Economic Times The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), in its performance Audit of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), highlighted deficiencies such as less effective regulatory control on medical x-ray units and lack of inspection of few types of radiation sources that have greater hazard potential, among others. These need urgent correction. CAG should not have offered advise on the possible structure and constitution of a regulatory body when...

-The Hindu Social activist Medha Patkar has accused the UPA government of reeling under corporate pressure for its decision to shift Jaipal Reddy from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry. Ms. Patkar alleged the decision was taken to provide undue benefits to the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd. “Mr. Reddy has been removed because he questioned the irrational demand by RIL on escalating the prices of natural gas. A few years ago, the...

-Outlook An in-depth operational safety review of two atomic power plants at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan by an expert team from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) began today in the first such exercise in India after the Fukushima nuclear accident. A 12-member Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) of the IAEA will review the programme and activities essential to plant operation based on the global nuclear watchdog's safety standards and proven good practices. A Nuclear...

-Outlook Former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi has proposed mandatory annual Audit of funds and donations received by political parties. "We want all political funding should be transparent and checked. There should be annual compulsory Audits by an independent Auditor to be picked up from a panel suggested by the Election Commission," Quraishi told PTI. He said the report of such Audit should be put in the public domain. "Everybody will be able...