Page 44 - NIS English 01-15,April 2023

Nation G-20

ZERO TOLERANCE recovery of their assets both at home and abroad.

During the meeting, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra
ADMINISTRATIVE ECOSYSTEM Singh stated that economic offences continue to

FOR CORRUPTION IN be a problem for many, especially when criminals
flee the country's jurisdiction. India's position is to
DEVELOPED INDIA strengthen mechanisms for the swift confiscation
of criminal proceeds both at home and abroad,
as well as to compel the offender to return to his
country. Corruption is a complex social, political,
and economic challenge that affects all countries,
and the effects of corruption extend far beyond the
G-20. As the primary forum for global economic
cooperation, the G20 must assume leadership in
global efforts to combat corruption.
The meeting's experts stated unequivocally that
corruption is a curse at the global level, affecting
resource utilisation and overall governance. The
poor and marginalised are the most affected. During
the meeting, all member countries deliberated on
areas of future action, including how to track down
and extradite fugitive economic offenders quickly.
Offenders' properties located abroad should be
brought within the jurisdiction of the country's laws.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has envisioned an
administrative ecosystem with zero tolerance for The escape of criminals and bringing them within
corruption in a developed India. For this, digitization the scope of procedures were also considered.
has been promoted at many levels, and the laws During the event, India's top experts
that were unnecessarily impeding progress have demonstrated how the country has used ICT to
been repealed. Prime Minister Modi has said many combat corruption in public service delivery. This
times, "A safe and secure world is our shared group's second meeting will be held in Rishikesh
responsibility. When the forces of good cooperate, on May 25-27, and the third meeting will be held in
the forces of evil cannot operate." Kolkata on August 9-11.
The Anti-Corruption Working Group, formed 13
years ago to guide G-20 countries in anti-corruption INDIA AND ITALY ELECTED
initiatives, met in Gurugram from March 1 to CO-CHAIRS OF THE GPFI
March 3 during India's G-20 presidency to ensure
a zero-tolerance policy against corruption. In-depth From March 6 to March 7, Hyderabad hosted
discussions were held on how to strengthen the the second meeting of the Global Partnership
international anti-corruption mechanism even for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) Working Group
further. Efforts were made to achieve consensus under the Finance track. The first meeting
among delegates on the agenda's high-level was held in January 2023 in Kolkata. Finance
principles, such as combating corruption and ministries and international organisations,
related economic crimes and recovering property including central bank representatives from
linked to economic crimes. G-20 and non-G20 countries, as well as
The first meeting of the G-20 Anti-Corruption GPFI implementation partners, attended the
Working Group was inaugurated by Union Minister meeting. During the meeting, India and Italy
of State for Personnel and PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh, were elected as the new long-term co-chairs.
and it was co-chaired by Italy. G-20 countries were The new co-chairs have been elected for a
urged to take multilateral action to expedite the three-year term that begins in 2024.
extradition of fugitive economic offenders and the

42 New India Samachar April 1-15, 2023