Admittedly, telecom is a great opportunity but the reality is that India is still 160th out of 208 countries in terms of mobile phone penetration, according to the International Telecommunication Union (2021) with even Vietnam and Bangladesh boasting more SIM cards than people. Globally too, there are more SIM cards than people.
Highlighting the critical role of grassroots participation in achieving the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat', he said, “We must recognize that citizens are the principal stakeholders in the development process."
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) detected flagrant violation of environmental laws in Sundargarh district, which is one of the most industrialised regions in Odisha.
The CAG's compliance audit report, 2022, which was presented in the assembly on Wednesday, highlighted several irregularities in six departments, including the Revenue & Disaster Management, Rural Development, Scheduled Tribe & Scheduled Caste Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare, Co-operation, etc.
The CAG also asked the ministry to verify from other sources, including third parties, their declared value of sales to check tax evasion.
As per the CAG report, the surplus of the state has consistently declined from Rs 1,137 crore in 2015-16 To Rs 314 crore in 2017-18 despite heavy devolution from the Government of India.
CAG report reveals that 77 per cent vehicles plying without pollution certificates.
The problem lies in the proverbial three-monkey statues in which one monkey is blind, the second is dumb, and the third is deaf. India's public offices and the bureaucracy or the so-called steel frame function like the three monkeys
The CAG is not a bloodhound. He is always referred to as a constitutional watchdog. There is of course an inherent systemic issue when a committed bureaucrat is appointed as CAG. He might then tend to become an extra loyal lapdog
Earlier in the day, amid ruckus by the Opposition, the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on the 2015 Rafale jet deal was tabled in the Parliament.
