Teen sued as an adult

Paper 2 – Constitution

Why Should You Know?

Recently, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) directed that the juvenile accused of killing a seven-year-old classmate in Gurugram will be tried as an adult

In detail –

What was the matter?

• In September 2017, a 16-year-old boy killed his classmate, aged seven, at a private school in Haryana’s Gurugram.
• The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) had then ruled to prosecute the accused as an adult. The family of the accused had challenged the board’s decision in the district court.
• The district court had upheld the board’s decision on May 21, 2018. Subsequently, the accused moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court, stating that the board should reconsider its decision.
• The family of the deceased had filed an application in the Supreme Court against the high court verdict. On July 13, the Supreme Court upheld the high court’s decision.
• Thus, the accused juvenile will now be tried as an adult.
• The Juvenile Justice Board will provide a copy of the order to all parties in a day or two. The accused will now be produced before the district and sessions judge’s court on October 31.

Legal provision

• The first law in the context of child crime in the country came in 1850, when the Apprenticeship Act wrote that convicts in the age group of 10-18 years would be given vocational training.
• In 1897, the Refractory Schools Act came into this regard. During the British government’s time, children between the ages of 10 and 18 were kept in adult prisons in 1920.
• The Child Rights Act came in 1960 and the Juvenile Justice Act came in 1986. In this, the age of the teenager was fixed at 16 years.
• In 1992, the International Children’s Agreement was ratified by the Government of India. Under this agreement, fulfilling its obligation, the Juvenile Justice Act 2000 came. Under this law, the juvenile was 18 years old.
• This  was followed by the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act (JJ Act) by the Central Government in the year 2015  .
• According to the Juvenile Justice  Act,  in cases of serious offences, a board will decide on any child, who is above 16 years of age, this board is called juvenile justice board.
• The same Board shall conduct a preliminary inquiry into the physical and mental abilities of the child in the context of committing such offences and the abilities to understand the consequences of such offences and the circumstances in which the offence has taken place.
• It is worth mentioning that  the assessment of the child is required to be done within three months from the date of first production before the constitution of the Juvenile Justice Board.
• The Juvenile Justice Board can take the opinion of psychiatrists and order that such a child be tried as an adult.
• Only the board can give directions to run the juvenile’s case in a normal court. If convicted by the age of 21, he could be sent to an adult prison.

Source – IE

Anti-smog gun

Paper 3 – Environmental,Pollution

Why Should You Know?

In the coming winter this year, more anti-smog guns  are being deployed in Delhi than previous years, let’s know about it.

In detail –

• Last year, anti-smog guns were deployed by the Delhi government only at  large construction sites of 20,000 sqm or more, but now they  have been made mandatory by the government at small construction sites of 5,000 sqm or more.
• Significantly,  the  number of anti-smog guns varies according to the size of the site,  with a maximum of four required at sites of 20,000 sqm or more.
• The Public Works Department is also producing more vehicle-borne anti-smog guns this year than last year.
• The vehicles that are being used to mount anti-smog guns  are either CNG or BS-VI engines.

What is an anti-smog gun?

• This technology was used by China to eliminate air pollution in Beijing.  Anti-smog guns are used in cities other than Beijing in China to prevent dust particles.
• The smog gun attached to the tank of thousands of liters of water makes a very fine shower of water  in the air, due to which the toxic carbon and dust particles that increase the pollution  in the air fall down with moisture.
• This anti-smog gun is designed to create a very fine fog, causing it to produce very fine water droplets (less than 10 microns).
• These fine water droplets are spread through showers with the help of high-speed fans over a large area and this absorbs small dust particles present in the air.
• This anti-smog gun is specially designed to reduce air pollution by spraying it in the atmosphere so that all dust and pollution particle levels are high in PM10/PM10. Reduce to level 2.5.
• According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines on anti-smog guns,  the distance to throw water ranges  from 30 metres  to 100  metres, depending on the device. Anti-smog guns can also  be rotated. Also, treated wastewater should not be used in anti-smog guns.

Source – IE

Asia’s largest Compressed Bio-gas Plant

Paper 3 – Energy Resources

Why Should You Know?

Recently, Union Minister Shri Hardeep S. Puri inaugurated Asia’s largest compressed biogas plant at Sangrur.

In detail –

• The plant has been commissioned by Verbio AG, one of Germany’s leading bio-energy companies, with an FDI investment of Rs 220 crore (approx).
• The inauguration   of the plant is a step towards achieving the goals of the Sustainable Alternative to Low Cost Transportation (SATAT) Scheme,  which was launched by the Government of India in October, 2018 to set up an ecosystem for production of Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) from various waste/biomass sources across the country.
• The objective of the scheme is to empower and liberate the rural economy by helping farmers, increasing India’s domestic energy production and self-reliance and reducing air pollution and leading India towards a clean energy project in the world. In addition to this plant, 38 CBG/kg under SATAT initiative. Bio-gas plants have been commissioned.
• The CBG plant at Sangrur is spread over an area of 20 acres (approx). The current production of the plant is about 6 TPD CBG but soon the plant will process 300 tonnes per day of paddy straw with a maximum capacity to produce 33 TPD CBG using 8 digesters of 10,000 cubic metres.

Significance

• The Sangrur CBG plant  will have many benefits for the rural economy, the plant will consume 100,000 tonnes of paddy straw which will be procured from 6-8 satellite sites within a 10-km radius of the plant, which will give additional income to the farmers.
• About 600-650 tonnes of FOM (fermented organic manure) will be produced per day which can be used for organic farming. The CBG plant will also provide direct employment to 390 people and indirect employment to 585 people.
• The plant will not only generate additional income for the farmers of Sangrur but will also provide a much-needed alternative to stubble burning. The Sangrur CBG plant will reduce stubble burning in 40,000 – 45,000 acres of farmland leading to a decline in 150,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually which will not only help the citizens of Sangrur in Punjab breathe clean air but also achieve the target of net zero emissions by 2070 india’s COP of total estimated carbon dioxide emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030 from now on will also contribute towards the objectives.

What is compressed bio gas?

• Waste/bio-mass sources such as agricultural residues, cattle dung, sugarcane press soil, municipal solid waste, sewage treatment plant waste, etc. produce bio-gas through the process of anaerobic decomposition.
• The compressed form of this bio-gas is called compressed biogas or CBG.
• Bio-gas is purified and compressed as compressed bio-gas (CBG)  to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2),  water vapor, which has more than 90% methane (CH4) content.
• CBG has the same calorific value and other properties as CNG and can therefore be used as a green renewable automotive fuel. It can thus replace CNG in automotive, industrial and commercial sectors given the abundance of biomass availability within the country.
• The point to note here is that while CNG is a by-product of petroleum, CBG can be produced from any biomass.  This  thus makes CBG a commercially viable option as it can be used to directly convert CNG into transport fuels.

Sources – IE

Governor Vs State Ministers

Paper 2 – Constitution

Why Should You Know?

Recently, the Governor of Kerala threatened to dismiss the ministers who “lowered the dignity” of his office, let’s know the  role of the Governor in the parliamentary system.

In detail –

• The Kerala government and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan have been at loggerheads over several issues. Be it the issue of appointments in the state-run Kerala University or the recent governor’s threat to sack ministers.
• For now,  he has threatened to sack ministers who have “lowered the dignity” of his office.
• Khan has issued a statement about this from his Twitter handle. The chief minister and the council of ministers have every right to advise the governor, the statement said. But statements by different ministers that lower the dignity of the governor’s post. They also have the right to take action against them.

Role of Governor in parliamentary system-

• Articles 153-161 of the Constitution describe the position, role, powers and conditions of office of the Governor.
• The governor’s position is similar to that of the president in the Union. He is the head of the executive power of the state, and, except in a few cases, acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers, which, according to the parliamentary system, is responsible to the state legislature.
• The Governor is appointed by the President (on the advice of the Central Government) and, therefore, acts as an important link between the Central and State Governments. The term was envisaged as being apolitical;  However, the role of governors has been a contentious issue in Centre-state relations for a decade.
• The governor enjoys certain powers such as approving or withholding a bill passed by the state legislature or determining the time required for a party to prove majority — or which party should be called first to do so, usually after a hung assembly — which successive central governments have weaponised against political opposition.

Can the Governor dismiss a Minister?

• Article 164(1) says that “ministers shall hold office until the pleasure of the Governor”.
• The Governor of Kerala was referring to this provision. The Governor does not need to take anyone’s advice while appointing the Chief Minister, he can appoint a Minister only on the recommendation of the Chief Minister.
• The governor does not have the power to choose anyone to be made a minister.
• So if a minister really lowers the dignity of the governor or his office, as alleged by Khan’s office, the Raj Bhavan can ask the chief minister to inquire.
• If it is found that the minister has defamed or insulted the governor, he can ask the chief minister to remove the minister.

What does the Governor’s ” pleasure ” mean?

• The principle of pleasure is a common law. The origin of this theory is from England.  In England, a servant of the Crown holds office during the Crown’s offerings and can be dismissed from the Service of the Crown at any time. The term of office of a civil servant can be terminated at any time without any reason.
• Even if a public servant is removed before the expiry of the job period, he cannot demand the remaining salary from the Monarch or the Crown. This is called the “doctrine of Pleasure”
• This British principle has also been adopted in the Indian Constitution, according to which the ministers of the state  hold office till the pleasure of the Governor.
• It is the general rule that operates except what is expressly provided for by the Constitution. But it is worth noting here that this means that this principle is  subject to constitutional limitations.
• That is, the Governor does not have the right to dismiss the Chief Minister or ministers on his own  . “As long as the government enjoys a majority in the House, the governor can get his Pleasure.
• The governor can withdraw his pleasure only if the government loses majority but refuses to step down.
• Without the advice of the chief minister, the governor can neither appoint nor dismiss a minister. That is the constitutional position.

The government’s efforts so far to resolve this conflict

• The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution, appointed by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 2000, recommended significant changes in the selection of governors. The commission suggested that “the governor of a state should be appointed by the President after consultation with the chief minister of that state.”
• “Normally a five-year term should be followed and the removal or transfer of the governor should follow the same kind of procedure as for appointment, after consultation with the chief minister of the state concerned. “
• The Sarkaria Commission, set up in 1983  to look into Centre-state relations, proposed that the Vice President of India and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha should consult the Prime Minister in the selection of Governors.
• The Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi Committee  on Centre-State Relations, set up in 2007, in its report submitted in March 2010  proposed that a committee comprising the prime minister, home minister, deputy chairman, chairman and the chief minister concerned should select the governor.
• The Punchhi committee recommended removing the “Doctrine of Pleasure” from the Constitution, but supported the governor’s right to sanction prosecution of ministers against the advice of the state government. It also argued for a provision for the governor to be impeached by the state legislature.

Source – IE

India-UK Joint Working Group of Defence Industries

Paper 2 –  International Relations

Why Should You Know?

Defence industry organisations of India and the UK have set up a new Joint Working Group to make mutual cooperation more effective.

In detail –

• The first meeting of the working group was also held on October 18  during the ongoing 12th Defence Exhibition  in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• The formation of this grouping is part of an initiative to enhance the defence and strategic partnership between the two countries.
• The UK recently issued its first free general export licence (OGEL) in the Asia-Pacific region to India. This will reduce the time taken for supply during the purchase of military equipment.
• The UK industry is already integrating Indian defence suppliers into its global supply chain.
• Simultaneously, the Royal Air Force (RAF)  exchanged content expertise with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and also conducted joint-flight exercises with the Indian Air Force during the recent visit of Eurofighter Typhoon, Voyager  and A-400 in New Delhi.

India-UK relations

• Institutional Dialogue: India and the UK have a number of bilateral dialogue mechanisms covering   a wide range of areas including politics, trade, education, science and technology and defence. 
• Trade: The UK is one of India’s major trading partners and was ranked 18th in india’s list of top 25 trading partners during 2014-15. India exports products such as textiles, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, and leather to the UK. During the last three years (2015-2018), total trade between the UK and India registered a growth of 27 per cent.
• Investment: The UK is the third largest inflow investor in India after Mauritius and Singapore.  India continues to be one of the largest source markets for foreign direct investment projects in the United Kingdom.  The United Kingdom attracts more Indian investment than the rest of the EU.
• Education: Education is an important issue in the bilateral relations between India and britain.  Relations have grown significantly in the last 10 years through the introduction of bilateral mechanisms such as  the India-United Kingdom Education Forum, The India-United Kingdom Education and Research Initiative,  the Joint Working Group on Education,  the Newton-Bhabha Fund and scholarship schemes
• Indian students: The UK has traditionally been a preferred destination for international students.  Management, Computer, Engineering, Media Studies, Art and Design are the favorite courses of Indian students. More than 21,000 Indian students are currently studying in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the UK.
• Cultural Relations:  The cultural linkages between India and the United Kingdom  are deep and extensive.  Which has  arisen from the shared history between the two countries.  Indian culture is gradually joining the mainstream and Indian cuisine, cinema, languages, religion, art etc. are being included.
• Indian Community: The Indian community in  the UK is one of the largest ethnic minority communities in the country. According to the 2011 census, the UK has a population of about 1.5 million people of Indian origin which is about 1.8 per cent of the total population of the UK. The Indian community contributes 6 per cent to the UK’s GDP.

Sources – TH

Nihonshu-an alcoholic beverage

Paper 3 – कृषि

Why Should You Know?

Recently, the Embassy of Japan,  New Delhi has filed an application seeking geographical indication (GI) tag  for drinks for Nihonshu/Japanese sake.

 In detail –

• This is the first time a Japanese product has applied for a tag in the Geographical Indication Registry here.
• According to the description given in the filing, in Japan, Nihonshu is considered a special and valuable drink made from fermented rice.
• People traditionally drink nihonshu on special occasions like festivals, weddings or funerals, but it is also consumed on a daily basis.
• Thus, it is an integral part of lifestyle and culture in Japan. The sake market (almost all are nihonshu) is the second largest wine (such as beer) market in Japan.

How it is made

• Three main raw materials – rice, koji-kin (a type of fungal spore) and water are required to make nihonshu.
• The production of nihonshu follows an alcoholic fermentation method called parallel multiple fermentation and involves the treatment of raw materials, such as making koji, making starter culture, mash making, pressing, heat sterilization and bottling.
• The  rice and koji used in  it should be japanese-grown  .

Background

• In the filing, the Embassy of Japan also mentions that in the past, Japan’s economy  was based on rice,  which was used as half-money before the establishment of the monetary economy in the Meiji period (1869-1912). As a result, nihonshu production was completely under the control of the government.
• As the production of nihonshu became more industrialized in  the Edo period (1603–1868), those who had special licenses began to hire many farmers in the agricultural season.
• They gradually gained a reputation as craftsmen,  resulting in the establishment of the hierarchical Toii system (Toii is the person responsible for the sake brewing), compared to an apprenticeship or guild system that Toii has full authority to produce nihonshu in breweries  and leads all workers.
• In addition, Toii plays an important role in training young trainees by providing them with their technique and experience. Through this system, the technology of making nihonshu is being disseminated till date.

What is a GI tag?

• GI tags are known as Geographical indication.
• These tags are provided to items found or prepared in a particular geographical situation.
• According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), geographical indication tags are a type of label in which a product is given a special geographical identity. A product whose characteristics or reputation mainly depends on natural and human factors.
• If we talk about India, then  in 1999,  ‘Geographical Indications of Goods’ was implemented under the Registration and Protection Act. On this basis, the legal right of a specific object found in any region of India is given to that state.
• The GI tag is given by the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade (DIPIT)  under the Ministry of Commerce  in India. In India, this tag is given to a particular crop, natural and manufactured products.

What products are given?

• The first is the products related to farming. This means that the things that arise in a particular area get this tag. Such as Tejpat of Uttarakhand, Basmati rice, Darjeeling tea, Jardalu mango of Bhagalpur.
• Gi tag is also given in the field of handicrafts. Such as Banaras saree, Chanderi saree, Chaddar of Maharashtra Solapur, Mysore silk of Karnataka. Kanjeevaram Silk of Tamil Nadu.
• Apart from this, food items are also given this tag. Such as Tirupati laddoo in Andhra Pradesh, Bikaneri Bhujia in Rajasthan, Haleem in Hyderabad in Telangana, Rasogolla in West Bengal, Kadaknath murga in Madhya Pradesh etc.

Sources – TH

National Tourist Police Scheme

Paper 3 – Internal Security

Why Should You Know?

Ministry of Tourism in coordination with Ministry of Home Affairs and Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) October 19, Director Generals/Directors General of Police Department of all States/UTs will be required to implement a uniform Tourist Police Scheme in New Delhi on 2022. is organizing the National Conference of Inspector Generals (DGs/IGs).

In detail –

• The police personnel deployed around the tourist places will not  only protect the tourists but will also take care of their needs.
• On this issue, a  conference on National Police Plan is being organized in Delhi on October 19, 2022, which will be attended by the Lok Sabha Speaker, Tourism Minister and many other ministers.
• The conference is being organised  in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Home Affairs and Bureau of Police Research and Development.
• lok Sabha Chairman Shri Om Birla to this assembly In  chief guest Invited as। along with them Rajasthan, Kerala, State Tourism Secretaries of the States of Goa and Meghalaya DGs/IGs and MHAs of all States/UTs, mot, Other senior officials of BPR&D will also be present.
• All States/UTs Director Generals/Directors General of Police Department of Union Territories/ The agenda of this National Conference of Inspector Generals is the implementation of a uniform tourist police scheme at all India level to provide safe ecosystem in and around tourist destinations to domestic and foreign people, as safety and security is the first and foremost priority of any tourist.
• The conference will also deliberate on developing tourist specific policing with appropriate roles, responsibility and training aspects.
• During the conference, Prepared by BPR&D ‘Tourist Police Plan’ The report of the MHA will be deliberated upon and the findings and recommendations of the BPR&D report will be discussed by the MHA., The MoT will be shared with the representatives of the State Governments/UT Administrations.
• States/UTs at the conference. Developing a dedicated team of police personnel by the UTs will also be discussed to  work towards taking care of, protecting and protecting the needs of foreign and domestic tourists.

Objective

• The objective of the National Tourist Police Planning Conference is to meet the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Home Affairs, Bureau of Police Research and Development and State Governments/UTs. The UT administrations have to be brought on one platform so that they can work together in close coordination with the state/UT police department and sensitise them about the specific needs of foreign and domestic tourists for effective implementation of uniform tourist police scheme at all India level.
• This will change India’s safety and security perception globally and help make India an essential travel destination across the globe.

 About Bureau of Police Research and Development

• The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) was established on August 28, 1970 to further the objective of the Government of India for modernisation of police forces.
• The Bureau of Police Research and Development was established to serve three major objectives:
• To take direct and active interest in issues.
• Promoting quick and systematic studies of police problems.
• Applying science and technology in the methods and techniques used by the police.
• It has evolved into a multidisciplinary, consultative organization. It currently has 4 departments – Research, Development, Training and Reform Administration.
• It functions under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs

Sources – PIB

New Covid variant Omicron BF.7

Paper 2 – Health

Why Should You Know?

Recently, the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre has detected the Covid variants of this new Omicron variants — BF.7 and BA.5.1.7.

In detail –

• The Omicron sub-variants — BA.5.1.7 and BF.7 — are now making their way to other parts and posing new threats after China emerged from a region in Mongolia. BF.7 is known as the ‘omicron spawn’, which was first detected in China and has now reached the UNITED States, THE UK, Australia and Belgium.
• Health experts have suggested extra caution as a lot of parties and people mingle during the festival of Diwali. Social distancing and use of masks are the primary defence against the deadly virus.
• According to two studies, scientists have said that BF.7 can avoid antibodies from earlier diseases or vaccinations compared to many other omicron sub-variants.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has also warned about the new variant. Experts say that BF.7 and BA.5 are a major sub-lineage or descendant of omicrons. These are called immune escape variants, which means they can also infect people who were vaccinated or who were infected last time.
• The UK Health Protection Agency (UKHSA) has also described BF.7 as the most worrisome variant and has shown an infectivity enhancement rate compared to the BA.5 variant.
• Experts said that, as with most new variants of the variant, this new variant seems more infectious than the Omicron and other Omicron sub-variants that appeared earlier. However, the severity of the disease caused by the new variant is yet to be ascertained.

Is the new Omicron variant deadly?

• Experts have expressed concern over the rate of spread of the new variant, which early indications suggested the vaccine could make its way beyond the layer of immunity.
• Like all other types,  the symptoms of Omicron BF.7 are similar, but experts believe that the pain in the body caused by it is much more painful.

Sources – Down to earth

Grievance Redressal Index 2022

Paper 2 – Governance

Why Should You Know?

Unique Identification Authority of India tops ‘Grievance Redressal Index’ for second consecutive month

In detail –

• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has once again been ranked at the top of all Group ‘A’ ministries,  departments and autonomous bodies for redressal of public grievances in the ranking report for the month of September 2022 published by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
• It is noteworthy  that this  is the second consecutive month when UIDAI has secured the first place in this ranking.
• UIDAI has performed brilliantly in addressing public grievances received through a centralised public grievance redressal and monitoring system and is  constantly striving to improve the experience of people having ‘Aadhaar’.

Robust grievance redressal mechanism

• The Unique Identification Authority of India has a robust grievance redressal mechanism, including uidai’s headquarters, its regional offices, technology centres and connected partner contact centres. A harmonised system is enabling UIDAI to resolve around 92% of CRM complaints within a week.
• UIDAI is making ease of living easier for people. It is committed to further strengthen its grievance redressal mechanism.
• UIDAI is gradually providing state-of-the-art open-source customer relationship management solutions. The new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution has been designed with advanced features to enhance UIDAI service delivery among the people.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Solutions

• The new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution has the potential to provide support by multi-channels such as phone calls, emails, chatbots, web portals, social media,  correspondence and walk-ins through which complaints can be registered, tracked and resolved effectively.
• The work of taking phone and IVRS services in 12 languages to pan-India level has been completed. It provides people with a completely new user experience with unique features on IVRS. These include Aadhaar enrolment/enrolment. Update status check, tracking of Aadhaar PVC card status and enrolment centre venue etc. information are included.
• Further commissioning of other channels under the new CRM solution is in progress. UIDAI is committed to serving the countrymen and has been a key facilitator for ease of living and ease of business activities.

About Unique Identification Authority of  India

• The  Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a  statutory authority set up by the Government of India on 12th July, 2016 under the  Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted   Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidiaries, Facilities and Services) Act, 2016 (‘Aadhaar Act  2016’).
• Prior to its establishment as a statutory authority,  the Unique Identification Authority of India was functioning as the attached office of the Planning Commission (presently NITI Aayog).
• UIDAI was set up with the objective of issuing Unique Identification Number (UID) called ‘Aadhaar’ to all residents of India to (a) eliminate dual and fake identities by UID and (2) verify and authenticate it easily and at an affordable cost.
•  As on March 31, 21,  a total of 128.99 crore Aadhaar numbers have been issued by the authority to residents of India  .
•  Under the Aadhaar Act, 2016, The Unique Identification Authority of India is responsible for developing a policy, procedure and system for aadhaar enrolment and authentication including  management and operation of all stages of aadhaar life cycle,  issuance and authentication of Aadhaar number to individuals and ensuring security of identity information and authentication records.

Sources – PIB

Controller General of Accounts (CGA)

Paper 2 – Constitution

Why Should You Know?

Recently, Ms. Bharati Das took charge as the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).

In detail –

• Ms. Bharati Das is the 27th Controller General of Accounts (CGA) in the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• Ms Bharati Das, who is a 1988 batch Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) officer, has been appointed as the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance by the Government of India, and her appointment is effective from October 18, 2021.
• Earlier,  Ms. Das appointed Principal Chief Controller of Accounts (Principal CCA), Central Board of Direct Taxes;  Principal CCA, Ministry of External Affairs;  Principal CCA, Ministry of Home Affairs and CCA, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare;  Director, Ministry of Civil Aviation;  and Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

What is controller general of accounts (CGA)?

• The Controller General of Accounts in the Department  of Expenditure,  Ministry of Finance is the Principal Accounts Advisor to the Government of India and is responsible for setting up and maintenance of a technically sound management accounting system.
• The Office of  the Controller General of   Accounts prepares monthly and annual analyses of expenditure, revenue, loans and various fiscal indicators for the Central Government.
• The Annual Appropriation Accounts (Civil) and Central Finance Accounts under Article 150 of the Constitution are presented to Parliament on the advice of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
• Along with these documents, an MIS report titled ‘Accounts at a Glance’ is prepared and circulated to the Hon’ble Members of Parliament.
• In addition, it also formulates policies relating to general principles, nature and procedure of accounting for the Central and State Governments.
• Conducts procedures in payment, income and accounting matters in central civil ministries/departments.
• It works to prepare,  consolidate and present monthly and annual accounts of the Central Government through a robust Financial Information System for effective implementation of fiscal policies of the Government.
• It also provides coordination and assistance in introduction of management accounting systems in Ministries/Departments so that government resources are optimally utilized through efficient cash management and effective financial management information system.
• It, through its internal audit units in the concerned Ministries/Departments,  is responsible for maintaining the requisite technical standards of accounting in departmentalized accounting offices and monitoring the financial performance and effectiveness of various programmes, schemes and activities of civil ministries.
• It also maintains mutual coordination with the Central Bank for disbursement of Government expenditure and collection of Government income as well as for matching the cash balance of the Central Government.
• The Office of the Controller General of Accounts through its web based Audit Monitoring Mechanism (APMS) is also responsible for monitoring and coordinating the progress of submission of remedial/preventive action notes on the recommendations contained in the Reports of the Public Accounts Committee and the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Sources – PIB