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2G OR NOT 2G

2G or Second Generation Spectrum Scam or the ‘mother of all scams’as Christened by the media, has washed out all the other scams so far inthe history of Indian politics.

With the opposition crying for a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee)probe into the biggest scam ever, media has had a tough time coveringall the allegations and forced adjournments in the Parliament this wintersession.

The Government, on the other hand, has been asserting the adequacyof the Public Accounts Committee for a probe into the irregularities.

The standoff between the BJP-led NDA and the other members-the left

parties, AIADMK, Samajwadi party, BJD and TDP got another spurt withthe Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report that discloseda total loss of revenue to the exchequer by Rs.1.76 Lakh Crores.

It the biggest ever in terms of the tax-payer’s money ever launderedin the Indian History and is also termed as independent India’s biggest

nancial scam.

This was followed by the exit of the then Telecom Minister A. Raja whowas allegedly involved in the misappropriations of funds during the pe-

riod.In a nutshell the 2G Spectrum scam, apart from the funds’ mishandling

and eventually loss, has diverted licences to private players at throwawayprices in the year 2008 by outing all rules and regulations.

The entry fee for licences were pegged at 2001 prices even after 7years in the year 2008 despite the subscriber base increase by almost 10times over that time frame.

With the licences being issued without proper auction on a rst-come-rst serve basis, the minister is alleged to have ignored the advice of

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the relevant ministriesand shown favouritism for companies, namely Swan Telecom, UnitechWireless, Loop Telecom etc, with no prior telecom experience.

These rms have been accused of later selling these licences at a muchhigher price to foreign telecom companies. High-tension political dramahas since become the order of the day putting even the Prime Ministerinto the limelight by pulling him into the scam for his silence in the whole

2G Spectrum bidding.With the BJP alleging that nine private operators were granted licences

for Wireless Radio Spectrum in 2007 using unethical methods like differ-ent dates being given for application to different players.

The UPA was held responsible for giving away the scarce spectrum at aprice much lower than the market price leading to heavy loss of revenue

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to the nation as a whole.

These two papers are the only changes that have been introduced bythe government which will be enforced from next year onwards that is2011. The rest of the pattern will remain the same as before.

The aspirants clearing these two examinations will then be short listed

for the main exam and then the interviews which will be followed aftergiving the main exams. The pattern for the main exam and the interviewwill remain the same until next year or in other words next year would bemore or less a trial basis for a new pattern.

If the government feels that there is a need for change in pattern ofthe main exam as well as the interview then it will be considered afternext year. As of now the two aptitude tests are the only main changes inthe civil services examination.

These changes are de nitely for the better as this pattern will givemore people the encouragement and hope that civil services is not nextto impossible and there is chance for even the average hard workingpeople.

It is hoped that more number of people will be able to clear the papersso that a fair chance is given to all of them to prove themselves.

Article written By:Harmeet Monga