National

Delhi Speaker Calls for Quick Implementation of APMS for Monitoring CAG Reports

Published

1 year ago

March 25, 2025

Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta has reached out to Chief Secretary Dharmendra, stressing the critical need to implement the web-based Audit Para Monitoring System (APMS) for monitoring outstanding Action Taken Notes (ATNs) linked to Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports.

Gupta highlighted the necessity for administrative departments in the national capital to promptly submit their ATNs, sharing a list of pending ATNs from the Auditor General (Delhi) for reference.

In his letter to the Chief Secretary dated Monday, Gupta noted that on March 21, Accountant General (Audit) Roli Shukla Magle informed him about the status of the pending CAG reports and ATNs.

He requested that actions in this regard be reported by April 7, allowing the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to review and take appropriate action.

Expressing his concerns over delays, the Speaker pointed out that neither the PAC nor the Committee on Government Undertakings (COGU) had reviewed any sections of the CAG reports or submitted relevant reports to the Assembly.

Gupta was particularly surprised that administrative departments had not submitted ATNs for issues raised in CAG reports, despite the requirement to do so within three months of the reports being presented in the House, irrespective of whether PAC or COGU reviewed them.

During a statement to the House on March 21, Gupta disclosed that the AG, Delhi had provided specifics about various pending CAG report paragraphs concerning the Delhi government.

He emphasized the gravity of the issue, noting that for the past decade, neither the PAC nor COGU had submitted any reports, and administrative departments had neglected their responsibilities to submit ATNs.

Gupta reiterated that CAG officials conduct thorough audits and that only significant irregularities are included in the final reports. He warned that the departments’ failure to submit ATNs undermines the audit process, making it ineffective.

The Speaker also mentioned that the Government of India’s Expenditure Department has set up a monitoring cell to ensure compliance.

The APMS, which was developed by NIC, is a web-based system designed to track pending ATNs. In January 2025, the AG of Delhi had urged the Delhi Finance Department to adopt APMS for improved oversight.

Gupta asserted that the adoption of APMS would streamline paperwork and facilitate real-time tracking of ATN submissions. He instructed the Finance Department to provide a status report by the first week of April 2025.

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National

Delhi Techie Found Dead During Honeymoon Trip

Published

1 day ago

June 17, 2026

Namma Kudla

National: A 27-year-old IT professional from Delhi was found dead at a homestay in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. The woman, P Radha Gayatri, had gone on a honeymoon trip with her husband.

According to police, the couple checked into a homestay on June 14. Her husband said they had consumed alcohol and went to sleep late at night.

The next morning, he found Gayatri unconscious on the floor. Police said she was lying in a pool of urine, and blood was coming from her nose. She was declared dead at the scene.

The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. Police are investigating the case and waiting for the autopsy report to determine the cause of death.

National

Pakistan Ranked World’s Most Polluted Country in 2025

Published

5 days ago

June 13, 2026

Namma Kudla

Islamabad: Pakistan has been ranked as the most polluted country in the world in 2025, according to a new report released by Swiss air quality monitoring company IQ Air.

The report found that Pakistan’s average PM2.5 pollution level was 13 times higher than the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). PM2.5 refers to tiny harmful particles in the air that can enter the lungs and cause serious health problems.

IQ Air said that only 13 countries and territories met the WHO air quality guideline of less than 5 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air in 2025. This was an improvement from seven countries in 2024.

The report also revealed that 130 out of 143 monitored countries and territories failed to meet the WHO standard.

Bangladesh was ranked as the second most polluted country, while Tajikistan secured the third position. Chad, which was the most polluted country in 2024, ranked fourth in 2025.

Experts said that Chad’s lower ranking may be linked to missing pollution data. In March 2025, the United States ended a global air quality monitoring program due to budget cuts. The program had collected pollution data from US embassies and consulates around the world.

Christi Chester Schroeder, the lead author of the report, said that the loss of data makes it difficult to know the true pollution levels in some countries.

Because of data shortages, Burundi, Turkmenistan and Togo were not included in the 2025 report.

The report also identified Loni in India as the world’s most polluted city. The city recorded an average PM2.5 level of 112.5 micrograms per cubic meter. Hotan in China ranked second with 109.6 micrograms.

According to the report, the 25 most polluted cities in the world were all located in India, Pakistan and China.

Only 14 percent of cities worldwide met the WHO air quality standard in 2025. This was lower than the 17 percent recorded in the previous year.

The report noted that large wildfires in Canada increased air pollution levels across the United States and even affected parts of Europe.

Countries that met the WHO air quality guideline in 2025 included Australia, Iceland, Estonia and Panama.

Meanwhile, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia reported significant improvements in air quality. Experts said wetter and windier La Niña weather conditions helped reduce pollution levels in these countries.

Mongolia also recorded a 31 percent drop in average PM2.5 levels during the year.

Overall, 75 countries reported lower pollution levels in 2025, while 54 countries experienced an increase in air pollution, according to the IQ Air report

National

Indian Air Force AN-32 Transport Aircraft Crashes

Published

5 days ago

June 13, 2026

Namma Kudla

Dispur: An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at the Air Force Station in Jorhat, Assam, on Saturday. The aircraft caught fire after the crash.

According to reports, the AN-32 aircraft went down within the premises of the air base. A fire broke out immediately after the accident.

Rescue and firefighting teams rushed to the spot and launched an operation to control the flames. The fire was brought under control after their prompt response.

The exact cause of the crash is not known yet. Authorities are investigating the incident.

So far, there have been no reports of any deaths or injuries. The Indian Air Force has confirmed the accident and said that more details will be shared after a complete assessment of the situation.

Further information is awaited.