Polity

DMPQ-. Give a brief description of Paul Appleby’s criticism of CAG’s Auditing responsibility.

Paul H Appleby, in his two reports on Indian Administration, was very critical of the role of CAG and attacked the significance of his work5. He also suggested that the CAG should be relieved of the responsibility of audit. In other words, he recommended the abolition of the office of CAG. His points of criticism of Indian audit are as follows: The function of the CAG in India, is in a large measure, an inheritance from the colonial rule. The CAG is today a primary cause of widespread and paralysing unwillingness to decide and to act. Auditing has a repressive ... Read more

DMPQ-Discuss the CAG’s relationship with public corporations.

The role of CAG in the auditing of public corporations is limited. Broadly speaking, his relationship with the public corporations falls into the following three categories: Some corporations are audited totally and directly by the CAG, for example, Damodar Valley Corporation, Oil and Natural Gas Commission, Air India, Indian Airlines Corporation, and others. Some other corporations are audited by private professional auditors who are appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the CAG. If necessary, the CAG can conduct supplementary audit. The examples are, Central Warehousing Corporation, Industrial Finance Corporation, and others. Some other corporations are totally subjected to ... Read more

DMPQ-Describe the role and objectives of Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities.

. In pursuance of the provision of Article 350-B of the Constitution, the office of the Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities was created in 1957. He is designated as the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities. The Commissioner takes up all the matters pertaining to the grievances arising out of the non- implementation of the Constitutional and Nationally Agreed Scheme of Safeguards provided to linguistic minorities that come to its notice or are brought to its knowledge by the linguistic minority individuals, groups, associations or organisations at the highest political and administrative levels of the state governments and UT administrations and recommends ... Read more

DMPQ-. Discuss the constitutional evolution of national commission for ST’s. Also mention the functions of the commission.

. The National Commission for SCs and STs came into being consequent upon passing of the 65th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1990. The Commission was established under Article 338 of the Constitution with the objective of monitoring all the safeguards provided for the SCs and STs under the Constitution or other law. Geographically and culturally, the STs are different from the SCs and their problems are also different from those of SCs. In 1999, a new Ministry of Tribal Affairs was created to provide a sharp focus to the welfare and development of the STs. It was felt necessary that ... Read more

DMPQ-Discuss the constitutional evolution of national commission for SC’s.

. Originally, Article 338 of the Constitution provided for the appointment of a Special Officer for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to investigate all matters relating to the constitutional safeguards for the SCs and STs and to report to the President on their working3. He was designated as the Commissioner for SCs and STs and assigned the said duty. In 1978, the Government (through a Resolution) set up a non-statutory multi-member Commission for SCs and STs; the Office of Commissioner for SCs and STs also continued to exist. In 1987, the Government (through another Resolution) modified the functions ... Read more

DMPQ- . How did extra constitutional institutes like planning commission has effected the significance of finance commission.

. The Constitution of India envisages the Finance commission as the balancing wheel of fiscal federalism in India. However, its role in the Centre–state fiscal relations has been undermined by the emergence of the Planning Commission, a non-constitutional and a non-statutory body. Dr P V Rajamannar, the Chairman of the Fourth Finance commission, highlighted the overlapping of functions and responsibilities between the Finance Commission and the Planning Commission in federal fiscal transfers in the following way. It is the setting up of the Planning Commission that has in practice restricted the scope and functions of the Finance Commission. I say ... Read more

DMPQ- Explain the role of joint state public service commission.

The Constitution makes a provision for the establishment of a Joint State Public Service Commission (JSPSC) for two or more states. While the UPSC and the SPSC are created directly by the Constitution, a JSPSC can be created by an act of Parliament on the request of the state legislatures concerned. Thus, a JSPSC is a statutory and not a constitutional body. The two states of Punjab and Haryana had a JSPSC for a short period, after the creation of Haryana out of Punjab in 1966. The chairman and members of a JSPSC are appointed by the president. They hold ... Read more

DMPQ- Explain the role of state public service commission’s role in the recruitment process.

. The Constitution visualizes the SPSC to be the ‘watchdog of merit system’ in the state. It is concerned with the recruitment to the state services and advises the government, when consulted, on promotion and disciplinary matters. It is not concerned with the classification of services, pay and service conditions, cadre management, training and so on. These matters are handled by the Department of Personnel or the General Administration Department. Therefore, the SPSC is only a central recruiting agency in the state while the Department of Personnel or the General Administration Department is the central personnel agency in the state. ... Read more

DMPQ- Point out the constitutional provisions inducted to ensure the independent working of state public service commission.

. As in the case of UPSC, the Constitution has made the following provisions to safeguard and ensure the independent and impartial functioning of a SPSC: The chairman or a member of a SPSC can be removed from office by the president only in the manner and on the grounds mentioned in the Constitution. Therefore, they enjoy the security of tenure. The conditions of service of the chairman or a member, though determined by the governor, cannot be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment. The entire expense including the salaries, allowances and pensions of the chairman and members of ... Read more

DMPQ- . Throw light on the recommendations given by Kakodkar committee for railway safety.

. The Committee recommends a total financial investment of Rs 1,00,000 crore over a five  year period. Its key recommendations are: The Committee notes that the ‘present environment on Indian Railways reveals a  grim picture of inadequate performance’ largely due to poor infrastructure and  resources, and lack of empowerment at the functional level. The financial state of Indian Railways is ‘at the brink of collapse’ unless some concrete measures are taken.  Passenger fares have not been increased in the last  decade and the infrastructure is severely strained. All safety margins have been  This has led to a neglect of infrastructure ... Read more