India elected to advisory committees by UN panel

United Nations, Nov 4: India has been elected by acclamation by the Fifth Committee of the UN General Assembly(GA) to the Independent Audit Advisory Committee as well as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions.

Mr V N Kaul, comptroller and auditor general of India, was elected as a member of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee of the UN, a newly set up subsidiary of the GA, according to information available with the Permanent Mission of India to the UN.

The audit advisory committee will help the GA fulfill its oversight responsibilities.

The creation of the advisory committee will also contribute to improving the accountability of the UN Secretariat to member states.

The advisory committee was proposed by the World Summit 2005, which sought the strengthening of management reforms at the UN. It consists of five members -- one from each regional group.

Mr Nagesh Singh, first secretary in the Permanent Mission, was elected to represent India on the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. The committee is a 16-member subsidiary body of the GA, which advises it on administrative and budgetary matters.

UNI