The document summarizes the 2G spectrum scam that occurred in India in 2008. The scam involved the Indian government underpricing 2G spectrum licenses, resulting in a 1.76 lakh crore (1.76 trillion rupees) shortfall between the money collected versus what was required. New telecom companies with little experience were able to obtain licenses at low prices and then quickly resell shares in the companies for large profits, indicating the licenses were sold below market value. The document discusses the political, business, media, and bureaucratic reasons for the scam and proposes initiatives to prevent future scams such as reforming politician-civil servant relations and increasing transparency.
2. 2G is short for second-generation wireless
telephone technology.
The wavelength between 800-1900MHz is called
2G spectrum, which is useful for mobile
communication technology.
3. In 2008,the UPA, issued 122 new telecom licenses to
several domestic companies with little or no
experience in telecom sector, and at a price set in
2001.
The shortfall between the money collected and the
money which the law mandates to be collected is
1.76 lakh crore rupees.
4.
5. Reasons for 2G scam
1. Political reasons
2. Business reasons
3.Media reasons
4. Bureaucratic reasons
6.
7. Shortfall of money
A. Raja arranged the sale of the 2G spectrum licenses below their
market value. Swan Telecom, a new company with few assets,
bought a license for Rs. 1537 crore. Shortly thereafter, the board
sold 45% of the company to Etisalat for Rs. 4200 crore.
Similarly, a company formerly invested in real estate and not
telecom, the Unitech Group, purchased a license for Rs. 1661
crore and the company board soon after sold a 60% stake in their
wireless division for Rs. 6200 crore to Telenor.
The nature of the selling of the licenses was that licenses were to
be sold at market value, and the fact that the licenses were quickly
resold at a huge profit indicates that the selling agents issued the
licenses below market value.
Nine companies purchased licenses and collectively they paid the
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology's
telecommunications division Rs. 10,772 crore,The amount of
money expected for this licensing by the Comptroller and Auditor
General of India was 1,76,700 crore.
8.
9. Initiatives to avoid scams
1* Setting up of preventive mechanism.
2* Ministers, civil servants relation to be reformed.
3* Protection of civil servants.
4*Stopping the culture of sponsoring politicians by businessmen.
5*Searching ways by Election Commission sponsoring for contestants which
can bring ethical and moral persons to political arena.
6*Saving the media from rotting through checks and balances.
7*People should be aware of consequences of weak governments and should
enable strong governments
10. Conclusion
Whenever a scam raises,
Indian government is dealing
with scam rather than reasons
behind it.
Loopholes in system need to
be corrected in order to avoid
these scams.
A perfect policy making and
new blood in political veins
only can help India to be out
of scam era.