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Steady Decline of CAG Audit Reports Tabled in Parliament

Context: Only 18 CAG audit reports on the Union government’s accounts are tabled in parliament. 

CAG Audit Reports: Key Highlights

  • Basis of data: The data is based on an analysis of over 400 audit reports published on the CAG website between 2010 and 2023.
  • Steadily declining: The number of reports has been steadily decreasing in the last few years i.e. from 40 between 2014 and 2018  to 22 in the 2019- 2023 period.
  • Railways: Only 14 CAG audit reports of the Railways Department were tabled in the last five years, down from 27 in the previous five-year period.
  • Civil department: Only 34 CAG audit reports of the Department were tabled in the last five years down from 42 in the last five years.
  • Defense: The latest report of the defense department dates back to 2017.

CAG audit reports

CAG audit reports

CAG audit reports

CAG audit reports

Reasons for Low Reports

  • Shortage of Workforce: IA&AD has witnessed a steady decline in staff strength ie from 48,253 in 2013-14 to 41,675 in 2021-22.
    • Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA&AD) officers: The number of IA&AS officers employed came down to 553 in 2021-22 from 789 in 2014-15.
  • Sanction Strength: The total number of employees as a share of sanctioned posts has remained stagnant in the last few years.
  • Decline in Budget Allocation: The budget allocated to the IA&AD has also declined as compared to the share of the Union Budget’s total expenditure. 
    • For FY24, allocations to the IA&AD formed 0.13% of the Union Budget, down from 0.19% in FY17. 
About Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)

Constitutional Body: Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is  a constitutional authority entrusted with the responsibility of auditing the accounts of the Union and state governments.

Constitution provisions: Article 148 of the constitution provides for an independent office of CAG.

Indian Audit and Accounts Department: CAG is head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department

Supreme Audit Institution Of India: The CAG and Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA&AD) are known as the Supreme Audit Institution of India (SAI).  

Public Purse: CAG is considered the “Guardian of Public Purse.”

Appointment: He is appointed by the President of India.

Tenure: CAG holds office for a period of 6 years or 65 years, whichever is earlier.

Process of CAG report: The reports of the CAG are submitted to the President in case of the Union and to the Governor in case of the State who thereafter tables it in the respective houses.

Functions of CAG: 

Regular Audit: Every year, it is called a transactional audit through which we cover all states and schemes.

Performance Audit: It is an independent, objective, and reliable examination of whether the public sector undertakings, programs, activities, or organizations operating in accordance with the principles of economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.


News source:
The Hindu

 

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