SOP amended for Adoption of Integrity Pact by CVC

SOP amended for Adoption of Integrity Pact by CVC

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Statutory bodies

In news

• Recently, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has amended the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on adoption of “Integrity Pact” in government organisations for procurement activities.
• The CVC also restricted the maximum tenure of Integrity External Monitors (IEMs) to three years in an organisation.

Key takeaways 

• Amended Provision of IEM: The choice of IEM should be restricted to officials from the government and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) who have retired from positions of the level of Secretary to the Central government or of equivalent pay scale.
• Earlier Provision: Under the 2017 order, the officials who had retired from positions of the level of Additional Secretary to the Central government and above, or equivalent pay scale, were eligible for the PSUs. 
• Amended Provision for Appointment as IEM: For appointment as IEM, the Ministry, department or organisation concerned has to forward a panel of suitable persons to the CVC, of those persons who are in the panel maintained by the CVC.
• Earlier Provision: The panel could include those already in the panel maintained by the CVC, or they could propose names of other suitable persons.
• Amended Provision for Tenure:the IEM will be appointed for a period of three years in an organisation.
• Earlier Provision: The initial tenure of IEM would be three years which could be extended for another term of two years on a request received by the CVC from the organisation concerned.

Important value additions 

Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) 

• It is the apex vigilance institution. 
• It is free of control from any executive authority. 
• The Parliament enacted Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 (CVC Act) conferring statutory status on the CVC.
• It monitors all vigilance activity under the Central Government and advises various authorities in Central Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.
• It is an independent body. 
• It is only responsible to the Parliament.

Do you know? 

• Integrity Pact is a vigilance tool that envisages an agreement between the prospective vendors/bidders and the buyer, committing both the parties not to exercise any corrupt influence on any aspect of the contract.
• The pact also ensures transparency, equity and competitiveness in public procurement.