Not for the first time, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has sought declarations from his cabinet colleagues about their business interests along with their assets and liabilities. In fact, the latest directive extends to the ministers in state governments and members of the families of central ministers as well. And the idea, we are expected to believe, is to make it easier to spot the corrupt ministers. Since textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran did not reveal his business interests in his last disclosure, the prime minister reportedly failed to catch him.

The question, however, arises whether the prime minister is not well aware of the business interests of his ministers and other politicians even without such disclosures. Aren't business interests of the likes of Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel, Vijay Mallya, KD Singh and others too well known? Can't the PM spot the black sheep anyway? Hence the more important question: Will the PM act against the corrupt after discloures?