Committee to Prepare a a roadmap for enhancing domestic production of oil and gas In March 2013, the Petroleum Ministry

appointed a committee headed by economist Vijay Kelkar to prepare a roadmap for enhancing domestic production of oil and gas so as to substantially reduce the nation's import dependency by 2030. India currently produces around 33 million tonne crude, which is about 20 percent of domestic requirement also produces about 114 million standard cubic meters of natural gas. Thus the country imports 80 per cent of its oil needs and about half of its natural gas requirement. The Committee has been asked to submit its report to the government within six months. The panel has been asked to suggests "steps to be taken for enhancing domestic oil and gas production from the unconventional energy sources and institutional mechanism (required) for appraisal of Indian sedimentary basins to the extent of 75 per cent by 2015 and 100 per cent by 2025. Committee to Prepare a blue print for the proposed India's first Women's Public Sector Bank The Ministry of Finance has constituted a Committee in March 2013 under the Chairmanship of Shri M.B.N. Rao, Ex-CMD, Canara Bank to prepare a blue print for the proposed India's first Women's Public Sector Bank, as suggested by the Finance Minister Shri P Chidambaram in the Budget 2013-14 speech. The said Committee is to submit its report by 30 April 2013. The necessary approvals including banking licence etc, will be obtained by October, 2013 and the Bank is expected to start functioning from November 2013. Committee on GAAR headed by Dr. Parthasarathi Shome The Government constituted an Expert Committee headed by Dr. Parthasarathi Shome on General Anti Avoidance Rules on July 13, 2012. The Committee submitted its draft report on 30 Aug 2012. The Government had earlier on August 6, 2012 also requested the Expert Committee to examine the applicability of the amendment on taxation of non-resident transfer of assets where the underlying asset is in India, in the context of Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) operating in India purely for portfolio investment. It was later decided to expand the scope of the Terms of Reference of the Committee to include all non-resident tax payers instead of only FIIs. Committee for framing National Corporate Governance Policy headed by Adi Godrej The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has constituted a Committee in April 2012 under the Chairmanship of Shri. Adi Godrej for framing a National Corporate Governance Policy to suggest a comprehensive policy frame work to enable corporate governance of highest quality in all classes of companies without impinging on their internal autonomy to order their affairs in their best judgment. The Committee is expected to make its recommendations within six months from the date of its first meeting after wide consultations with all stakeholders in the corporate sector, academics and members of the public. Committee to review long term safety needs of railways headed by Anil Kakodkar The Indian Railways set up a high level committee in Sep 2011 headed by former Atomic Energy Commission chief Anil Kakodkar, to review its long-term safety needs. Mr. E. Sreedharan, chairman of Delhi Metro, N. Vedachalam of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Sanjay Dhande, director of IIT-Kanpur, and G.P. Srivastava of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre have also been made members of the high-level panel.

Committee of Governors

The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil has constituted a Committee of Governors under the chairmanship of Shri Shivraj Patil, Governor of Punjab & Rajasthan to study and recommend measures for enhancing productivity, profitability, sustainability and competitiveness of the agriculture sector in India with special reference to rainfed area farming. Other members of Committee are Shri K. Sankaranarayanan, Governor of Maharashtra & Goa, Shri N.N. Vohra, Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary, Governor of Meghalaya, Shri H.R. Bhardwaj, Governor of Karnataka, Shri Devanand Konwar, Governor of Bihar, Smt. Margaret Alva, Governor of Uttarakhand, Shri Nikhil Kumar, Governor of Nagaland, Shri J.B. Patnaik, Governor of Assam, Shri Shekhar Dutt, Governor of Chhattisgarh, Shri K. Rosaiah, Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Vakkom Purushothaman, Governor of Mizoram and Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Bhopinder Singh, Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.(Nov 2011) Commission to probe Goa's mining scam A nine-member commission led by retired Supreme Court judge MB Shah has been appointed to probe Goa's mining scam with a special eye on illegal extraction of iron ore amid the sharp increase in demand before the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The commission will submit its report in 45 days.(Sep 2011) Committee to enquire into all the aspects of the issues relating to prevalence of Doping One member committee headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal, retired Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab & Haryana, appointed on 07.07.2011 to enquire into all the aspects of the issues relating to prevalence of Doping. Committee on Customer Service in Banks Headed by M. Damodaran, former Chairman, SEBI, the committee was constituted in May 2010, the committee submitted its final report in Aug 2011. Committee to review Indian Ports Act 1908 and Major Ports Act, 1963. constituted in 1997. Headed by Shri C. Babu Rajeev the then Chairman, Cochin Port Trust. The Committee submitted its Report along with the recommendations to the Ministry in November, 1999. Subsequent review of the recommendations has resulted in framing of the new Draft Indian Ports Bill, 2011. Committee to review the role, functioning and structure of the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) and to recommend steps to streamline and strengthen financial intelligence gathering and its dissemination for effective coordination amongst the Intelligence Organisations of the Government. Headed by Shri S. S. Khan, Retired Member, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). It submitted its report in Jul 2011.

Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission to rewrite and harmonise financial sector legislations, rules and regulations announced on 24 Mar 2011. To submit its report within 24 months. Headed by Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes

Committee to examine ways to strengthen laws to curb the generation of black money in the country, its illegal transfer abroad and its recovery will be headed by Headed by Chairman, Justice (Retd.) B. N. Srikrishna Review of Ownership and Governance of Market Infrastructure Institutions Headed by former RBI Governor - Bimal Jalan High Level Committee on Estimation of Savings and Investments Headed by Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister - Dr. C. Rangarajan Committee on Open and Competitive Mechanism for Allocation, Pricing and Unilization of Natural Resources A high level committee headed by Shri Ashok Chawla to to suggest a roadmap for efficient and transparent distribution of scarce natural resources like land, water, minerals (including petroleum products like oil and gas) and radio frequency (spectrum). Committee to look into irregularities in Commonwealth Games related contracts Headed by Shri VK Shunglu, former Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Committee on Comprehensive Review of National Small Savings Fund Headed by Smt Shyamala Gopinath, Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Committee to review the draft National Sports (Development) Bill, 2011 Headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee on Credit Related Issues under Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana Headed by Prof. R. Radhakrishna - Submitted its report in 2009 and recommended setting up National Rural Livelihoods Mission Committee to look into the demand for a separate state for Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh Headed by former Chief Justice B.N. Srikrishna constituted in February 2010 - Submitted its report in January 2011. Mukul Midgal Committee It was set up to investigate about the revenue lost which caused by the Commonwealth Games Scam. (Rs. 600 Cr) V.K Singlu Committee- It was set up to investigate Commonwealth Games Scam. Sivraj V. Patil Committee This committee was set up to investigate about the dspute during the allocation of 2G spectrum. Total revenue lost for this purpose of central govt is Rs. 176000 Cr according to CAG Report and Rs. 22,000 Cr only according to JPC which headed by P.C. Chako.

Shah Commission This Commission is set up to investigate about he mining dispute in state of Goa, Karnataka and Odisha
I& B Ministry constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee to Promote India as Film Destination

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee for Promotion and Facilitation of Film Production in India. The Committee shall act as single window for filmmakers seeking permission from different agencies in the Government of India for filming of feature films, short films and TV programmes. The constitution of the committee is expected to mainstream a proactive mechanism and coordination process of granting permissions through a single window provision. Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will be the chairman of the committee. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting will be its Member secretary. Joint Secretary level officer of any other Ministry may be co-opted as Member depending on the case under consideration. The Committee shall also co-opt the empowered officer of the State Government on a case to case basis and as per the recommendation of the State Governments. The Mandate of the Committee is as following: The Committee shall facilitate granting of permission for both foreign as well as domestic producers from relevant authorities of Central and State governments. The Committee shall meet regularly to monitor the progress of facilitation process and from time to time, issue directions to the concerned authorities to fast track clearances. The Secretariat of the Committee will be provided by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The Secretariat will also be responsible for all the documentation and paperwork on behalf of the Committee and will liaise with different Ministries/States/ local authorities on behalf of the Committee. Expert committee under Sam Pitroda Constituted to review Working of Prasar Bharti The Information and Broadcasting Ministry on 29 January 2013 constituted a seven-member expert committee to review the institutional framework of Prasar Bharti. The committee will be headed by the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure, Sam Pitroda. The committee will have Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar as its convener. The committee will review the relationship of Prasar Bharti with the government, its continuing role as a public broadcaster and measures needed to ensure its technical upgradation. It will also suggest ways of using the new media to deliver digital content both in broadcast mode (DTH) and in a demand based mode like YouTube. The committee comprises members; retired IAS officer Asha Swaroop, who had earlier served as secretary in the I&B Ministry, Professor M P Gupta of IIT Delhi, B K Gairola (Mission Director e-Governance), Jitendra Shankar Mathur, additional secretary and nominated member on the Prasar Bharati Board and Shekhar Kapur (a member of the National Innovation Council). Ministry of Corporate Affairs announced setting up of Committee for Corporate Governance Ministry of Corporate Affairs in March 2012 set up a committee under the leadership of Adi Godrej, chairman Godrej Group to bring out a formal policy document that will initiate enlisting of diverse elements of corporate governance under a single national corporate governance policy.

The committee that comprised members from industry chambers and corporate houses is to submit its report in six. The first meeting of the committee is scheduled to be held on 5 April 2012. The members of the committee include Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CMD of Biocon Ltd; former ONGC chairman RS Sharma; former ICAI chairman G Ramaswamy; CMD L&T Finance Holdings YM Deosthalee; S Balasubramanian, ex-chairman company law board; former SAIL chairman SK Roongta; Zia Mody of AZB and partners, and representatives from the institute of company secretaries and cost and works accountants. The committees report is to synthesise the disparate elements in diverse guidelines and draw on innovative best international practices and practices of specific companies. Also, the committee is entrusted with the responsibility to anticipate emerging demands on corporate governance in enterprises of various classes and scales of operations. Currently, listed companies are expected to follow corporate governance norms under Clause 49 of the listing agreement of market regulator, SEBI. The ministry has a voluntary guidelines for corporate governance released in 2009. However, the ministry had mentioned that in cases where corporates are unable to adopt the guidelines, they should inform their shareholders about the reasons for not adopting these guidelines either fully or partially. President Pratibha Patil constituted a Committee to increase the Productivity of Agriculture Sector headed bt Shivraj Patil. President Pratibha Devisingh Patil constituted a 12-member committee to study and recommend measures for increasing productivity, profitability and sustainability of the agriculture sector in India. The committee will work under the Chairmanship of Governor of Punjab and Rajasthan, Shivraj Patil. The committee will deliberate on the need for formulating requisite policy initiatives and legislative measures and prospects for investment in the agriculture and allied sectors among others. The Committee will also discuss on measures for transfer of innovations and cutting- edge technologies to the farm and allied sectors. SEBI Investor Protection & Education Fund to be headed by KV Kamath Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on 23 November 2011 constituted advisory committee for SEBI Investor Protection and Education Fund. The committee consist of eight member. The committee is to be headed by Infosys chiarman KV Kamath. The eight-member committee under the ICICI Bank chairman comprises five external members and three SEBI officers. The eight-member panel also consists of Abraham Koshy, professor at IIM Ahmedabad; Jayashree Vyas, MD, Shri Mahila SEWA Sahkari Bank and Ramesh Narayan, communications consultant, among others. SEBIs ED Ananta Barua and chief general managers GP Garg and VS Sundaresan will represent the regulator. The committee will recommend investor education and protection activities that may be undertaken directly by the board, or through any other agency, for utilisation of the SEBI Investor Protection and Education Fund for the purposes stated in the SEBI regulations, 2009. The committee will look at investor education and protection activities that SEBI could undertake directly or through any other agency.

According to the norms for SEBI IPEF, the fund can be also be used to aid investor associations, recognised by the regulator as well as undertake legal proceedings in the interest of investors in securities that are listed or proposed to be listed. It can also be used for awareness programmes and educational activities. Expert Group set up under B. K. Chaturvedi for Revamp of Power Sector To push through power reforms and unlock the power sector, the UPA-II Government set up an expert group to suggest restructuring of power utilities of seven major States, including Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. The plan for reforms follows a recent government report that revealed that the accumulated losses of the power utilities across the country ran into Rs.1.50-lakh crore and annual losses were around Rs.55.000 crore. The government is to initiate a major reform in the shape of open access allowing consumers of above 1 MW to choose their preferred electricity supplier. Task of the Expert Group The expert group headed by Planning Commission member (Energy) B. K. Chaturvedi is expected to submit its report by March 2012. The group was entrusted with the responsibility to make an assessment of the cumulative losses of distribution utilities of seven major States, including Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. It was asked to suggest a strategy for capital restructuring of these power discoms (distribution companies), including commitment by other stakeholders like State governments. It will also have to suggest a road map and monitoring mechanism for implementing the above. SC appointed 2 committees to supervise Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Issue The Supreme Court on 21 July 2011 appointed two committees to supervise the discovery and protection of the huge wealth recently uncovered in the vaults of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple at Thiruvananthapuram. One of the committees, a five-member panel would be headed by C.V. Ananda Bose, Director-General of the National Museum. The other members in the panel include M.V. Nair, one nominee from the Archaeological Survey of India, one member from the Reserve Bank of India and the Executive Officer of the temple. The committee would examine whether there was need to open kallara (secret vault) B to evaluate articles in kallaras A, C, D, E and F, organise an inventory of all valuables and take videography and photography. The five member panel will also examine. It would examine what articles which could be used for regular use in the temple, examine articles that could be kept for public view, draw a long-term plan for maintenance of the valuables and prepare a security scheme. The three-member panel, headed by Justice M.N. Krishnan, retired High Court judge, is to coordinate with the five-member committee in its working. The erstwhile Prince of Travancore, Marthanda Varma, and a government representative of the rank of Secretary are the other members of this panel. Both committees are to cooperate with each other. The apex court also directed the Kerala government to provide adequate security on the temple premises to protect the assets. It wanted the panel to sort the assets into three categories those with heritage value, those which can be used for regular worship in the temple and those having no monetary value. Supreme Court asked the media not to speculate on the worth of the precious assets discovered by a former team appointed by the court.

The court made several other incidental directions to protect the assets and retain the sanctity of the findings. No unauthorised person will be allowed to be present at the site of unearthing of the assets and the entire process would be videographed and photographed. The Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is still officially the responsibility of the erstwhile royal house of Travancore. The Supreme Courts order was passed on an application filed by Marthanda Varma and other royal family members, challenging a Kerala HC ruling of 31 January which had ordered the takeover of the assets and management of the shrine by the state. Committee headed by DGFT Anup K Pujari set up to examine Deemed Export Scheme The deemed export scheme available to suppliers of products to specified projects is under review by the government in the backdrop of the commerce ministry setting up a committee. The committee headed by Director General for Foreign Trade Anup K Pujari set up on 2 May 2011 will review the very existence of the deemed export scheme whose scope has considerably widened over the years. The committee also includes representatives from the finance ministry, Reserve Bank of India, Planning Commission and the revenue department. Deemed exports refer to transactions in which goods supplied do not leave the country, and payment for such supplies is received either in Indian rupees or foreign exchange. Supply of goods to export-oriented units, software technology parks or to projects financed by multilateral agencies and to power projects and refineries are treated as deemed exports at present. The benefits include those available under export promotion schemes. The six-member panel headed by Director General for Foreign Trade Anup K Pujari was asked to revisit deemed exports issue and examine whether it properly reflected government priorities. In addition, the committee was asked to rework the scheme in a way that it is not open to multiple interpretations. The review of the deemed export scheme comes when the government is trying to check leakages so that a scheme is not open to misuse. The finance ministry has been pushing for several years now for lowering the concessions and tightening the provisions to check misuse. Various export promotion schemes are estimated to have resulted in the government foregoing revenue of the order of Rs 54,000 crore, though the share of the deemed exports scheme was low. Mani Shankar Aiyar Committee on Zonal Cultural Centres formed to Revamp ZCCs submitted Report Committee on Zonal Cultural Centres headed by Mani Shankar Aiyar presented its Report to the Union Culture Minister Kumari Selja on 11 April 2011. The recommendations will be processed by Ministry of Culture and appropriate steps will be taken to revamp the functioning of the ZCCs to further enhance their outreach. Seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with their headquarters at Patiala, Udaipur, Nagpur, Thanjavur, Allahabad, Kolkata and Dimapur were set up by the Indian government back in 1985-86 to preserve, promote and disseminate the plurality of Indias culture and traditional arts of all the States. The Central Advisory Board on Culture, in a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister in his capacity as the then Culture Minister had suggested a review of the functioning of the ZCCs over the last 25 years. To review the functioning and performance of the seven ZCCs, the Ministry of Culture, vide its Resolution dated 12 August 2010 had constituted a Committee on ZCCs. The committee included Mani Shankar Aiyar

(Chairman), Dr. Sitakant Mahapatra and Amol Palekar. The Committee was serviced by a mini-secretariat which was specially created to assist the Committee. Rita Sinha, retired Secretary to Government of India was invited to work as Consultant to the Committee. The Committee was initially formed for a tenure of 4 months. However to enable the Committee to complete its task, its term was extended for a further period of 4 months, ending on 11 April 2011. The committee was formed to serve the following objectives: The committee had to examine the action taken on the recommendations made by Prof. U. R. Ananthamurthy Committee that was constituted in 1994. It had to ascertain whether the ZCCs have fulfilled the objectives for which they were set up and reasons for the shortcomings. The committee had also to examine whether all/some of the ZCCs need to be wound up and/or merged with some other existing body/bodies. Suggest structural or functional changes required and other new or relevant directions which could be given to the ZCCs to improve their functioning. The committee was also expected to suggest whether any expansion of the ZCCs network is called for. The Committee held consultations and several meetings during its tenure. It held discussions with several eminent cultural personalities apart from the present and past Directors of the ZCCs. The Committee members also undertook visits of the ZCCs to understand for themselves the actual position on the ground. Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee formed to Fine-tune Draft National Sports Development Bill The Union Sports Ministry on 6 April 2011 formed a committee, headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal, retired Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana to fine-tune the draft National Sports Development Bill. The committee will also include badminton legend Prakash Padukone and former sprinter Ashwini Nachappa, who is also the Vice-President of Cleansports India. The panel will also have on board Jhanja Tripathi, Secretary and Executive Director, Railway Sports Promotion Board, who was formerly with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and a representative of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to be nominated by the IOA president and the Joint Secretary (Sports) of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The committee would look into all suggestions and comments from sports governance and legal angles on the draft National Sports Development Bill. The committee will also give specific comments on role delineation among the Government, the IOA, the federations and the SAI and provide comments on sports arbitration mechanism, among other things. The panel has been asked to submit its report within two weeks from its formation. V Mohini Giri Committee submitted Draft of National Policy on Senior Citizens A five-member high-powered committee, led by Dr V Mohini Giri on 14 February 2011 submitted final draft of National Policy on Senior Citizens 2011 to the Indian Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The committee recommended that recipients of national honours like Padma awards or gallantry awards in the armed forces or national recognition for arts and culture must be given lifelong healthcare facilities for free on the lines of Central Government Health Services. The draft was also sent to the Union Ministry of Health which is working to put in place a National Programme for Healthcare of Elderly. The National Policy on Senior Citizens 2011calls for the setting up of a department of senior citizens and also a National Council for Senior Citizens. According to the policy employment in income generating

activities after superannuation will be encouraged. States will be responsible for setting up homes with assisted living facilities for abandoned senior citizens in every district. The policy says old-age pension scheme for those living below the poverty line would be expanded to cover all senior citizens. Rates of monthly pension will be increased to Rs 1000 per person and revised at intervals to prevent its deflation. Covering the oldest under the National Old Age Assistance which would provide additional grants in case of disability and loss of adult children was also suggested. B K Chaturvedi Committee to look into Antrix-Devas Deal on S-band Spectrum The Indian Government on 10 February 2011 appointed a two member committee to review the controversial deal which ISRO's commercial arm Antrix had struck with Devas for lease of scarce S-band spectrum. The two-member Committee is headed by B K Chaturvedi, Member, Planning Commission and will also include Professor Roddam Narasimha, Member, Space Commission,. The committee was asked to review the technical, commercial, procedural and financial aspects of the agreement between Antrix and Devas Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. The panel is also expected to review the appropriateness of procedures and approval processes followed by Antrix, ISRO and Department of Space as well as suggest improvements and changes. The Committee has been asked to submit its recommendations to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh within one month from its constitution.
Ashok Chawla Committee on Natural Resource Allocation

The Union cabinet secretariat on 8 February 2011 set up a high powered committee headed by former finance secretary Ashok Chawla to suggest a roadmap for efficient and transparent distribution of scarce natural resources such as telecom spectrum. The committee includes key secretaries as members along with representatives from industry chambers. The committee is expected to make generic recommendations on the overall mechanism of allocating resources and take a sectoral view. Also it is required to review the pricing and policy issues to find models that do not compromise on public welfare for profit maximisation. The committee has roped in the Centre for Policy Research to help it formulate an action plan. In the process of suggesting mechanism for resource allocation, the panel is expected to study auction mechanism for spectrum for third generation (3G) mobile telephony and broadband services. The government had raised large sum of money by auctioning spectrum for third generation (3G) mobile telephony and broadband services in 2010. V K Shunglu Committee Blamed Prasar Bharti for Incurring Losses to Exchequer V K Shunglu Committee Blamed Prasar Bharti for Incurring Losses to ExchequerThe V K Shunglu committee appointed by the government in October 2010 to investigate financial irregularities in the award of broadcasting rights of Commonwealth Games submitted its first report to the Government on 29 January 2011. The committee included former DoPT secretary Shantanu Consul as a member. The committee observed that the Indian exchequer was robbed of at least 135 crore due to the awarding of the contract for production and coverage of the Commonwealth Games to UK-based firm SiS Live. The committee mentioned that a clear nexus existed among SiS Live, New Delhi-based Zoom Communications and members of the Prasar Bharti management. The committee blamed former CEO B S Lalli for deliberately ignoring the I&B ministrys concerns and siding with private broadcast firm SIS Live ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

As per the report significant changes were made in the contract relating to liquidation damages and subcontracting without I&B ministrys approval. The changes agreed to by Prasar Bharati included changes in terms of payments, performance guarantee, liquidated damages and duties and liabilities of Prasar Bharati and SIS Live as well as sub-contracting. These changes were against the interests of Prasar Bharati and diluted the liabilities and obligations of SIS Live. The report emphasised that an advance payment to SIS Live was hiked from 30% to 60% days before the Games despite the ministrys reservations. The public broadcaster also ignored the ministrys advice to conduct price comparisons and verification of services and was willing to pay exorbitant rates for production and coverage of the Games. P.V.K. Mohan Committee Submitted Report to the Shipping Ministry Capt. P.V.K. Mohan Committee, constituted by the Shipping Ministry in December 2010 submitted its report in January 2011. The committee in the report recommended banning the entry of over 25-year-old ships in Indian ports. The report included 18 suggestions relevant for all major ports including Mumbai and Jawaharlal Nehru ports and the balance policy initiatives to be taken by the ministry. The recommendations as included in the report are as follows: The committee recommended constitution of an independent casualty investigation agency to report directly to the Shipping Ministry as well as setting up a suitable authority on the line of the UK's SOSREP (Secretary of State Representative). The authority would be given overriding powers to ensure proper coordination among various agencies at the time of casualty. The committee suggested restructuring the decision-making hierarchy in various ports to tackle emergency such as collision. It also mentioned that the scope of the Navigational Safety Committee in Ports to mandatorily cover all major ports must be extended. The committee opined that the authorities of the Mumbai Port Trust and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust must upgrade the MoU signed by them more than 20 years ago. The committee is in favour of a separate VTS (vessel traffic system) authority to be formed under the Mumbai Port Trust to provide pilot service along the entire stretch of the channel. The manning, training and qualification of operators and supervisors of VTS should be upgraded. Also the committee report suggested that the VTS system must be modernised to have features such as guard-range, and the navigational safety in these two ports must be audited by an external oversight body. The pilots should be picked up from a common pool and work under a unified command. The committee proposed widening of the channel and pilot boarding areas should be expedited. Navigational aids such as fairway and navigation buoys and transit lights should be installed without delay. The committee also opined that the Certificate of Competence of the Masters and the Documents of Compliance issued to Technical Managers of the ships involved in the collision should be suspended. The commiittee report recommended that all ports should include voluntary review of navigational safety by the Navigational Safety Committee. Review of contingency planning in crisis management plan and installation of Tier-I pollution control equipment were also suggested. Capt. P.V.K. Mohan Committee also comprised K. Raghuramaiah, former Chairman of Paradip Port Trust and Capt. Y. Sharma, Head, International Maritime Training Centre. The commiittee was set up to examine the inquiry report on the collision between two ships, MSC Chitra and Khalijia III, near Mumbai port on 7 August 2010. Justice Srikrishna Committee Submitted Report on Telangana Issue Justice Srikrishna Committee submitted its report to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on 30 December 2010. A five member, Srikrishna committe on Telangana was constituted with Justice B N Srikrishna also

known as Justice Srikrishna as the chairman of the committee on 3 February 2010. The committee also constituted- Vinod Duggal (former Union Home Secretary), Ravindar Kaur (professor at IIT Delhi), Abusaleh Sharif (Ph.D is a Senior Research Fellow at the New Delhi Office of International Food Policy Research Institute) and Dr Ranbir Singh (Vice-Chancellor - National Law University). Justice Sri Krishna committee was formed to look into the demand for separate telangana state issue in Andhra Predesh. The Home Ministry will take decision in this respect after the details of the report is presented on 6 January 2011. The Committee was expected to submit its report based on its observation on the demand for the bifurcation of state of Andhra Pradesh and formation of Telangana. The agitations for and against the division of Andhra Pradesh began in December 2009 and stretched into the first half of 2010. The agitation paralysed the state administration and left the main political parties in shambles. Folowing the submission of the report heavy security was deployed in Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Medak and Nizamabad districts in Telangana, and Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam city in Coastal Andhra. Telangana Joint Action Committees comprising students and local political leaders have threatened to start indefinite hunger strikes and launch agitations across the region if the Centre delays a decision. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti on the other hand demanded that irrespective of the reports contents the Centre must table a Bill in Parliament to create a separate state. Shivraj V. Patil Committee to Look into 2G Scam The Ministry of Telecommunications (DoT) of the Indian government on 9 December 2010 formed a onemember committee comprising retired Supreme Court Judge, Shivraj V. Patil. The committee was formed to examine the processes and procedures followed by DoT in the grant of licences and allocation of spectrum during both the National Democratic Alliance and United Progressive Alliance regimes. The appropriateness of the procedures adopted by the DoT in the issuance of licences and spectrum allocation during 2001-2009 will be examined and analysed. The committee is expected to examine internal departmental procedures and determine whether the procedures adopted for allocating licences and spectrum were right, fair and reasonable. The committee is equipped with the authority to call for any record or summon officials for any clarification or questioning. With the help of the inquiry the ministry will be able to know the entire gamut of procedures adopted since 2001 in the allocation of licences and spectrum, including the controversial 122 licences granted in 2008. CAG had already submitted a report on 2G scam. A parliamentary panel is also currently examining the scam. There has been persistant demand for a JPC probe into the scam. Committee to look into Amendment to Copyright Act HRD Minister Kapil Sibal on 14 Feb 2010 set up a ten-member committee comprising film actor Aamir Khan, producer Mukesh Bhatt, lyricist Javed Akhtar, script writer Anjum, director Vishal Bharadwaj among others. The committee was expected to examine the grounds of opposition from certain sections of film fraternity over the proposed amendment to Copyright Act Dr Bimal Jalan Committee to review stock Exchange Ownership & Governance Structure SEBI on 8 Feb 2010 constituted a six-member committee, under the chairmanship of Dr Bimal Jalan, former RBI Governor to stock exchanges' ownership and governance structure. The SEBI board at its meeting on 22 Dec 2009 had approved the constitution of such a committee. The committee would review the structure of the stock exchanges as their role as self-regulatory bodies and functions as profit entities are sometimes conflicting in nature. The other members of the committee are: Dr K.P. Krishnan, Joint Secretary, Ministry

of Finance; Mr K. Chaukar, Managing Director, Tata Industries, Mr Uday Kotak, Managing Director, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Prof G. Sethu, Officer on Special Duty, National Institute of Securities Markets, and Dr K.M. Abraham, Whole Time Member, SEBI. National Transport Development Policy Committee headed by Rakesh Mohan In Indian Government in Feb 2010 decided to set up a national transport development policy committee to create a policy environment that will encourage competitive pricing and coordination between alternative modes of transport. Dr Rakesh Mohan, former Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs and Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India will chair the committee. The committee after assessing the transport requirement for the next two decades in the context of economic, demographic and technological trends will recommend a comprehensive and sustainable policy for meeting the transport requirement. CCSR(Committee on Central State Relationship) Headed by Madan Mohan Punchhi Submitted Reports A government-appointed panel that was asked to review the balance of power between the central and state governments submitted its report to Home Minister P. Chidambaram on 19 April 2010. The UPA government constituted the Centre-State Relations (CCSR) in April 2007 under the leadership of Justice (retd) Madan Mohan Punchhi. The panel was asked to and submitted recommendations on subjects like the sharing of funds between the central and state governments, the role of the central government during caste and communal conflicts, and the planning and implementation of big projects such as the interlinking of rivers. Defense Technology commission Set Up The Indian government on 13 May 2010 decided to set up a new defense technology commission with the Defence Minister, A.K. Antony as its Chairman to boost the defense research in the country. This is an initiative to ensure effective participation of the private sector in Defense technology. The Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was asked by the government to work on second generation of Arjun tanks and Akash surface-to-air missiles. Committee Formed to Review TRP System A Committee headed by Dr. Amit Mitra, Secretary General FICCI was constituted on 12 May 2010 by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. The committee is expected to review existing Television Rating Point (TRP) system in India and suggest measures to bring in place an effective mechanism for a transparent TRP system. TRPs in India impact the programming content of TV channels. Deficiencies in the present system of generation of Television Rating Points therefore can adversely affect the content. National Innovation Council (NIC) to be Set Up The Indian government in August 2010 decided to set up the National Innovation Council (NIC) to be headed by Sam Pitroda who currently is the PMs advisor on public information infrastructure and innovations. The NIC shoulders the responsibility to prepare a road map for the Decade of Innovation 2010-2020. The council is expected to evolve an Indian model of innovation that would focus on inclusive growth and create an appropriate ecosystem conducive to fostering inclusive innovation

COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES IN RECENT PAST & PRESENT Raghuram G. Rajan Financial Sector Reforms

Rangarajan Committee Financial Inclusion Pranab Mukherje About pay scales of defence personnel Madhava Menon Reforming the criminal justice system Justice Malimath Committee Reforms in justice system J.J. Irani Companies Bill 2008 Nanavati-Mehta Godhra Train, a pre-planned conspiracy by Muslims. U.C. Banerjee Commission Godra rail fire Srikrishna Commission Bombay riots Liberhan Commision Babri Masjid Demolition; Liberhan Report tabled in parliament. Jas Raj Committee Gujjars demand for inclusion in the ST category Sam Pitroda Head of National Knowledge Commission with Ashok Ganguly, P. Balaram, Jayati Ghosh, Deepak Nayyar, Nandan Nilekani and Sujatha Ramdorai as its members Sachar Committee Social, economic and educational status of Muslims. It has made a strong case for boosting the communitys share in jobs and educational institutions. M A Fatmi Committee Education related recommendations of Sachar Committee Mehra Penal For Creating Sub-Quotas within SC Quota R.K. Raghavan Committee Issue of ragging Lyngdoh Committee Reforms in student union elections M. S. Valliathan Committee To look into functioning of AIIMS Ranganath Mishra Commission National commission for Religious and Linguistic minorities Arjun Sen Gupta Commision National Commission for enterprises in unorganized sector Mashelkar Committee Patent Law Report P. Rama Rao committee To review and revamp DRDO V K Shunglu Commission To Study relief to Narmada displaced. C Rangarajan Task Force Special task force on Development of Jammu & Kashmir Jeevan Reddy Committee Comprehensive law on insurance. Iqbal Ahmed Saradgi Definition of office of profit

KT Thomas Damage to Public properties & making leaders of protesting groups liable for any such damage Fali S nariman Committee Recommend measures for media coverage of bandhs Renke Commission Concessions to de-notified tribes across the country B.K.Chaturvedi Committee To study and suggest for oil and natural gas sectors M.M. Punchi Centre States Relations S.K. Das 9-member task force appointed by Ministry of Water Resources to assess the damage caused by cyclone Aila to the embankments in the Suderbans. Aila worse hit Sunderbans National park. It displaced 5000 people & submerged 10 tiger camps in Sundarbans. Ram Pradhan Committee On 26/11 attach of terrorists; appointed by the Maharashtra government. The committee held the management of Taj & Oberoi hotels responsible for over-looking the security advice given to them much ahead of the attacks. Rajendra Pachauri Committee on Climate Change; appointed by Maharashtra government Pachauri was chairman of Inter governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) since 2002. He has also been director general TERI, a research & policy organization, and chancellor of TERI University. Pachauri represented the IPCC at the Nobel Peace Prize- shared between AI Gore & the IPCC in 2007. S.C.Mohapatra Commission Investigating Orissas Kandhmal riots Amit Mitra Committee 16-member expert panel to prepare a Vision 2020 document for the Railways; Railways vision 2020 & White Paper aims at massive addition to its route network, segregation of passenger and freight services into separate double-line corridors, raising the speeds of passenger trains from the current 130 kmph to 160-200 kmph on some routes, zero accidents and equipment failures. The vision 2020 also envisages the implementation of atleast four high-speed rail projects to provide bullet train services at 250-350 kmph. B.K. Chaturvedi Panel PM Manmohan Singh constituted the committee to resolve the Inter-ministerial issues to speed up national highways development project taken up by the road Transport and Highways Ministry. The 3-member committee headed by Planning Commission Member B.K.Chaturvedi, while the Finance Secretary A.K. Chawla and theRoad Tranport and Highways Secretary Brahma Dutt are its members. The committee will consider measures to hasten award of projects, financing road projects as well as restructuring of highway projects based on traffic requirements. N.C. Sexena Committee Says that 50% of Indians are below the poverty line if one takes into account the criterion of calorie intake. The committee was formed by Rural development ministry. The committee in its draft report has recommended that all such people should be extended the benefits of governments social sector schemes, including public distribution system. U.K. Sinha 16-member working group to recommend changes in the existing policies on FII inflows and participatory notes (PNs) Rakesh Mohan Committee On Financial Sector Assessment (CFSA) set up by the Government of India and the Reserve Bank in 2006. The report holds that Indias financial sector is generally sound, resilient and fairly liquid. But there are some concerns which include corporate governance in the co-operative sector,

funding constraints of Non-Banking Finance Companies and the lack of up-to-date data to gauge household indebtedness. Chandrashekar Panel Ex-serviceman Pension Issue The panel was set up after over 10,000 ex-servicemen returned their medals to protest against disparity in pensions. The new pension scheme is implemented from July month. J.S. Verma Commission Assasination of Rajiv Gandhi (1991) Jagmohan Reddy Commission Ahmedabad Riots (1969) Venugopal Commission Kanya Kumari Riots (1982) Nanavati Commission Anti-Sikh riots S.D. Tendulkar Committee Constituted to estimate poverty; said that, about 38% of the countrys population is poor. This figure is 10% higher than the present poverty estimate of 28.5%. The committee, based on new methodology, has taken into consideration indicators for health, education, sanitation, nutrition and income, as per the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) survey of 2004-05, to reach at new poverty estimation for India. Bhaskar Gose Committee By Union Culture Ministry to review and restructure its schemes, recommended the decentralizing administration of cultural programs. Natchiappan committee Parliamentary standing committee on law and justice; suggested setting up a special corporate bench in Supreme Court to decide corporate disputes. Yash Pal Committee Appointed by PM on Universities B.N. Srikrishna Appointed by Supreme Court to probe the Madras High Court violence. 1. 1. Palekar Tribunal:-Journalists Pay reforms 2. U.C. Banerjee Commission:- Enquiry into Godhra carnage (railways) 3. Sarkaria Commission: Centre-State relations 4. Srikrishna Commission: 1992 Bombay riots 5. Thakkar Commission: Indira Gandhi assassination case 6. Phukan Commission & Saharya Committee: Tehelka tapes 7. Malimath Commission: Criminal Justice 8. Upendra Commission: Inquiry on rape and murder Thangjam Manorama Devi 9. Malhotra Committee: Insurance Reforms 10. Janaki Ram Committee: Security scam

11. Ajay Vikram Singh Committee: Faster promotions in army 12. Rajinder Sachar Committee {1}: Companies and MRPT Act 13. Rajindar Sachar Committee {2}: Report on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslims of India 14. Jyoti Basu Committee: Report on Octroi abolition 15 Balwant Rai Mehta Committee:Recommendations on decentralization system 16. Sawant Committee: Enquiry on corruption, charges against ministers & Anna Hazare 17. Chelliah Committee: Eradicating black money 18. Kothari Commission: Educational reforms 19. Wanchoo Committee: Tax enquiry 20. Bhanu Pratap Singh Committee: Agriculture 21. Aggarwal Committee: Nepotism in granting petrol pump, LPG connections 22. Rangarajan Committee: Reforms in private sector 23. Naresh Chandra Committee: Corporate governance 24. Chakravarti Committee: Banking sector reforms 25. Rekhi Committee: Structure of indirect taxation 26. G.V.Ramakrishna Committee: Disinvestment in PSU shares 27. Kelkar Committee: First committee on backward castes 28. P.C.Hotha Committee: Restructuring of civil services 29. Justice B.N.Kirpal Committee: 1st chairman National Forest Commission 30. Godbole Committee :Enron Power Project 31. J.C.Kumarappa Committee: Congress agrarian Reforms Committee 32. Swaminathan Committee: Population policy 33. Rangarajan Committee: Statistics 34. Wardha Committee: Inquiry on murder of Graham Staines 35. N.N. Vohra Committee: Criminalization of politics 36. Kelkar Committee {2}: Direct-Indirect Taxes

37. Alagh Committee: Civil Service Examinations 38. Abid Hussain Committee: Recommendations on Small scale industries 39. Narasimham Committee: Banking sector reforms 40. Chelliah Committee:Tax reforms 41. Mashelkar Committee: National Auto Fuel Policy 42. Boothalingam Committee : Recommendations on integrated wages, income and price policy 43. Omkar Goswami Committee: Industrial sickness 44. Yashpal Committee: Review of School Education system 45. Ram Nandan Prasad Committee: Constitution of creamy layers among Backward Castes 46. Kelkar Committee{3} :Enquiry on Kargil defense deals. 47. M.M. Punchhi Commission: Centre-State Relations [note- this committee has been set up recently- after the sad demise of Justice (Retd.) Sarkaria] 48. Thorat Committee: Caste-based discrimination against students in AIIMS 49. R.K.Raghavan Committee: Ragging in colleges 51. James Lyngdoh Committee- Student politics and student-body elections in colleges. 52. E.M.S. Nachiappan Committee: Reforms in the higher judiciary 53. Soli Sorabjee Committee: Police Reforms [it was constituted after the Judgement of the Supreme Court in Parkash Singh vs Union of India (2006)] 54. Ganguli Committee: Review of health facility planning and healthcare engineering and management 55. Percy Mistry Committee: Making Mumbai an IFC (International Financial Centre) 56. K.T. Thomas Committee- to look into ways of enhancing the effectives of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 57. Fali S. Nariman Committee- Accountability and damages with regard to destruction of public property 58. Satwant Reddy Committee- review of laws relating to registration of pharmaceutical drugs and clinical trials 59. Raghuram C. Rajan Committee- financial sector reforms 60. Shah Commission (1966)- reorganisation of States 61. Tarkunde Committee- composition of the Election Commission and other electoral reforms

62. Dinesh Goswami Committee- electoral reforms 63. G.V.K. Rao Committee (1985) - set up by the planning commission in 1985, to look into the Administrative Arrangement for Rural Development and poverty Alleviation Programmes. 64. Butler Committee: Relation between Indian states & paramount power (the Queen of Britain) 65. Hurtog Committee: Growth of British India education-its effects 66. Muddiman Committee: Working of Diarchy as in Montague Chelmsford reforms U.C.Benerjee Commission: Enquiry into Godhra carnage (railways) Nanavati-Shah commission: Posy Godhra riots Palekar Tribunal: Journalist pays reforms Hunter Commission: Jallianwalabagh massacre Nanavati Commission: 1984 Sikh riots Librehan Commission: Babri Masjid demolition case Sarkaria Commission: Centre-State relations Sri Krishna Commission: 1992 Bombay riots Thakkar Commission: Indira Gandhi assassination case Phukhan Commission & Saharya Committee: Tehelka tapes Malimath Commission: Criminal Justice Upendra Commission: Inquiry on rape and murder Thangjem Manorama Devi Hunter Commission: Jallianwala Bagh Massacre G.C.Garg Commission: Train accident near Khanna, Punjab Mandal Commission: Reservation of seats for Backward castes Kothari Commission: Educational reforms Butler Committee: Relation between Indian states & paramount power Hurtog Committee: Growth of British India education-its effects Muddiman Committee: Working of Diarchy as in Montague Chelmsford reforms Malhotra Committee: Insurance Reforms

Janaki Ram Committee: Security scam Ajay Vikram Singh Committee: Faster promotions in army Rajinder Sachar Committee 1: Companies and MRPT Act Rajindar Sachar Committee 2: Report on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslims of India Jyoti Basu Committee: Report on Octroi abolition Balwant Rai Mehta Committee:Recommendations on decentralization system Sawant Committee: Enquiry on corruption, charges against ministers & Anna Hazare Chelliah Committee: Eradicating black money Wanchoo Committee: Tax enquiry Bhanu Pratap Singh Committee: Agriculture Agarwal Committee : Nepotism in granting petrol pump, LPG connections Rangarajan Committee: Reforms in private sector Naresh Chandra Committee: Corporate governance Chakravarti Committee: Banking sector reforms Rekhi Committee: Structure of indirect taxation G.V.Ramakrishna Committee: Disinvestment in PSU shares Kelkar Committee: First committee on backward castes P.C.Hotha Committee: Restructuring of civil services Justice B.N.Kirpal Committee: 1st chairman National Forest Commission Godbole Committee :Enron Power Project J.C.Kumarappa Committee: Congress agrarian Reforms Committee Swaminathan Committee: Population policy Rangaraju Committee: Statistics Wardha Committee: Inquiry on murder of Graham Staines Vohra Committee: Criminalization of politics

Kelkar Committee2: Direct-Indirect Taxes Alagh Committee: Civil Service Examinations Abid Hussain Committee: Recommendations on Small scale industries Narasimham Committee: Banking sector reforms Chelliah Committee :Tax reforms Mashelkar Committee: National Auto Fuel Policy Boothalingam Committee : Recommendations on integrated wages, income and price policy Omkar Goswami Committee: Industrial sickness Yashpal Committee: Review of School Education system Ram Nandan Prasad Committee: Constitution of creamy layers among Backward Castes Kelkar Committee(3) :Enquiry on Kargil defense deals

1. Which Committee recently did comprehensive review of the National Small Savings funds operated by post-office ? Shyamala Gopinath Committee 2. Which is the final authority to approve Five year plans of India ? National Development Council 3. The Planning Commission recently constituted a committee to help define appropriate strategies for the twelfth five year plan of India. The committee was headed by K. Srinath Reddy 4. Which committee worked on analyzing Poverty census in India ? S. Tendulkar Committee 5. Microfinance Institutes in India (MFI) were worked out by which Committee ? Y H Malegam Committee 6. Which Committee submitted two reports in 1990s about reform of Banking Sector in India ? Narasimham Committee

7. Khan Commission submitted its report about which financial aspect and the recommendations of the commission were incorporated in the Mind term policy review of 2005-06. Financial Inclusion 8. Which committee recently submitted its report about recommendations for modernization of Indian Railways ? SAM Pitroda Committee 9. RBI was set up in 1935 after recommendations from which high powered Commission ? Hilton Young Commission 10. Which Committee set up by BIS (Bank for International Settlements) has defined the set of rules followed by central banks across the world ? Basel Committee 11. Which Committee was formed by government in 1999 about Co-operative banking in India ? Jagdish Kapoor Committee 12. Which committee recently submitted its report to Finance minister suggesting ways of complete overhaul of government accounting norms ? C R Sundaramurti Committee 13. Which committee was recently formed to recommend ways to enhance efficiency of Indian agrculture sector with special focus on Rain-fed area farming ? Shivraj Patil Committee 14. A committee was recently formed to bring out a formal document for enlisting of diverse Corporate Governance policies under a single national policy. The committee was headed by Adi Godrej 15. Which committee recently submitted its report about integration of thousands of employees of recently merged two state owned carriers - Air India and Indian Airlines. Dharmadhikari Committee