CAG to involve experts from empanelled CA firms for auditing of autonomous bodies
New Delhi, June 12, 2025
An official says this decision has been taken in view of the limited technical resources available with the institution vis-a-vis the vast audit landscape in this area
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) will involve experts from empanelled chartered accountancy (CA) firms for the audit of about 350 Central autonomous bodies beginning this year.
“In view of the limited technical resources available with the institution vis-a-vis the vast audit landscape in this area, this decision has been taken. The chartered accountants will be part of the team led by a field officer in-charge of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department of the CAG. The responsibility for the work would remain with the CAG,” said an official. About 30 locations have been identified for the deployment of empanelled experts.
The move is expected to free up resources for greater coverage of compliance and performance audits across the country.
The CAG has also been taking initiatives for capacity building in view of the rapid economic growth of the country. “In the backdrop of India’s progress towards a developed country, efficient public expenditure and robust fiscal management have become increasingly critical. With the aim of better service delivery to citizens, the coverage and complexity of the delivery systems have also evolved over the years. The auditable entities, under the jurisdiction of the CAG, have expanded,” the official said.
From the departments and ministries, the entities include more than 700 Central public sector enterprises and 1,600 State public sector enterprises, 485 Central autonomous bodies, more than 700 State autonomous bodies, panchayati raj Institutions, urban local bodies, parastatals and special purpose vehicles.
“We have initiated a system-wide push to sharpen professional skills and embed competencies across the audit cadre for immersive exposure to public-policy analytics, strategic finance, digital governance at premier institutes in India covering AI, big-data analytics, cybersecurity, communication and ethics...,” the official said, adding that the CAG had signed eight Memoranda of Understanding with knowledge partners, ranging from IIT-Madras and IIM-Ahmedabad to Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics and the National Institute of Urban Affairs.
[The Hindu]
