The Prime Minister has said that the Government is considering amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act to make it more stringent.

Dr. Manmohan Singh said that Government proposes to include corporate failure to prevent bribery as a new offence. Dr. Singh said that his Government is examining how the act can be amended to protect honest public servants more effectively.

Dr. Singh elaborated that the amendment will fine tune the act to current international practices and meet the challenges of complexities of economic development.

Inaugurating a two day conference of CBI and State Anti-corruption Bureau in New Delhi on Wednesday, the Prime Minister asserted that the government is committed to create an effective legal frame work to tackle the menace of corruption.

This menace he said is holding back the society and the nation. He advised CBI to use expertise of professionals while dealing with complex cases of corruption to ensure impartial probe. Dr. Manmohan Singh said with economic growth and globalisation newer methods are being adopted for corrupt practices.

Dr. Manmohan Singh asked CBI to upgrade skills and techniques to meet the new challenges.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also told Police officers of investigating agencies that they are directly responsible for anti corruption efforts and asked them to work hard with fairness, honesty and fearlessness.

The Prime Minister said that direct Cash Transfers for beneficiaries and subsidies is a new method to minimize corruption, leakages and wastage.