-DNA Funds meant for health and nutrition of children are being spent on procuring fax machines, photocopiers, gas stoves and cookers. Adding salt to injury is that all these gadgets are lying idle and rusting, due to lack of electricity, telephone lines and for want of gas connections. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) which audited the performance of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme worth Rs. 15,460 crore annuallyhas found shortfall...

-Ciol.com A 1975-batch AP cadre, IAS Rentala Chandrasekhar, who is set to retire as telecom secretary on March 31, 2013, is emerging as one of the top contenders for the post of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The incumbent, Vinod Rai, will quit office on May 31, as he would complete 65 years of age. A CAG's term length is six years or up to 65 years of age (whichever is earlier). According...

-The Times of India Surrender will become more lucrative for Maoists across the country from April 1. The finance ministry has approved the home ministry's proposal to increase its share of financial contribution for each surrendered ultra by 25 times for senior Maoists and 15 times for foot soldiers. A senior ultra (politburo member or state/zonal/district committee commander) will get Rs 2.5 lakh, while a junior cadre will get Rs 1.5 lakh...

-The Hindu “The purpose of a Budget – and the job of a Finance Minister,” P. Chidambaram declared in his speech, “is to create the economic space and find the resources to achieve the socio economic objectives.” Now that the presentation of and the spate of initial responses to the budget are behind us, it may be appropriate to ask how far the Minister went in accomplishing his self-defined task. Mr. Chidambaram...

-The Business Standard The Union Budget shows the charitable instincts of the government continuing to overwhelm it - though some would call it part inefficiency and part helplessness. The exemptions given to citizens on the tax they ought to pay have been exceeding the Plan expenditure, and even the total fiscal deficit as it did in 2012-13. This has prompted criticism from the Left parties and activists, who view it as evidence...