Livemint Recent deaths in Gambia, Uzbekistan and the US, allegedly caused by toxic drugs made in India, has the Centre reportedly planning to centralize drug regulation. How effective will this measure be? The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) is the apex regulatory body. Each state has its own regulator. The state regulators look after licencing and audit manufacturing facilities while CDSCO is responsible for approving new drugs, imports of devices, clinical...

-The Hindu In four States, auditors’ wages delayed as funds from Centre are yet to arrive The Union Rural Development Ministry (MoRD) has told States that failure to carry out social audit of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) will invite action, including withholding of funds. However, it is the Centre that bears the administrative cost of these Social Audit Units, and inordinate delay in the release of funds...

-The Telegraph The state’s expert advisers assert that the earlier lower counts were not deliberate but the outcome of a lack of clear definition of Covid-19 deaths Bangalore: A paradoxical rise in Kerala’s Covid-19 mortality rate despite a shrinking epidemic ahead of omicron’s emergence reflects diligent death Auditing under political pressure, public demand and good record-keeping lacking in other states, health experts have said. The Auditing efforts had till Monday added over 16,900...

When a massive sum of public money is spent on a programme like Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (MGNREGA)--a demand-driven programme, there is likelihood of financial misappropriations and mismanagement. Thankfully there are checks and balances in the rural employment guarantee legislation to counter such malpractices. It is worth noting that the total allocation under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (MGNREGA) for 2020-21 was Rs. 1,11,500.00 crore (R.E.), up...

-The Telegraph The government has not institutionalized SAUs which are at times intimidated when it comes to accessing data on various programmes The Auditing agility of government programmes seems to have gained strength. After the recent floods in Assam, the state planned to carry out a social audit of relief measures to look into corruption and bribery. This is the first time that any government is trying to reinforce a social audit...