Page 5 - Cag

CAG to conduct audit into 'irregularities' in Delhi CM residence renovation

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India will conduct a special audit into alleged "irregularities and violations" in the "reconstruction" of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence, Raj Niwas officials said on Tuesday. The Ministry of Home Affairs had recommended the special CAG audit after taking note of a letter it received on May 24, officials at Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena's office said. The letter was received from the LG office and it pointed out "gross and prima facie financial irregularities" in the "reconstruction" of the chief minister's official residence, they claimed. No immediate reaction was available from the CM's office or the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.

CAG to explore new audit areas as it adopts end-to-end digital framework

Comptroller and Auditor General of India will be exploring new audit areas, like extraction industries underwater and releasing more reports as the apex government auditor adopts end-to-end digital framework from this fiscal year. In a media interaction post the three-day SAI20 Summit under the Indian Presidency of the G20 here, CAG Girish Chandra Murmu also stressed the need for data standardisation to make audits easier and faster. The CAG, he said had held a seminar with respective departments and ministries in this regard. They have agreed to certain level of data standardisation We surpassed the ten years record last year. It (audit reports) will further increase. Data processing and report preparation will be faster, he said and added the CAG will adopt end-to-end digitalisation to prepare audit reports. The CAG audit reports are placed before Parliament and state legislative assemblies. The apex auditor would be exploring new audit areas, like shipping and extraction ...

CAG for change in recruitment rules to make public auditor future-ready

Comptroller and Auditor General of India Girish Chandra Murmu said on Tuesday that his office is in process of becoming future-ready and has proposed to the government to change the recruitment rules for auditors so as to make IT proficiency an eligibility criteria. Talking to reporters after the conclusion of the SAI20 Summit meeting under the Indian Presidency of G20 here, Murmu also said the apex government auditor was making constant upgrades in its IT infrastructure with the help of technology experts. We have already proposed to the government, some exercise is going on, for change in recruitment rules, so that we can make an IT proficiency a priority in the recruitment eligibility. So I'm taking up with the DoPT and the UPSC to approve this proposal. I cannot make it compulsory for the existing staff right now. But the future-ready capacity will be there, he said replying to queries. Murmu also said the CAG has started end-to-end digital audits from this year onwards. He ...

Need to develop new techniques to audit 'Blue Economy': CAG Girish Murmu

Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) Girish Chandra Murmu on Monday said that Supreme Audit Institutions should develop new techniques and capabilities to audit marine life or the Blue Economy to ensure sustainable development. In order to fulfil their commitment towards sustainability goals in consonance with SDG 14 - Life below Water --, the governments are reorienting policies and regulatory structures to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. "Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) must align themselves with national priorities and efforts, through their audit by tracking progress, monitoring implementation and identifying opportunities for improvement," Murmu said, while inaugurating the three-day meeting of the Supreme Audit Institutions-20 (SAI20) Engagement Group, set up under India's G20 Presidency. The conference is being attended by delegates from SAI20-member Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of G20 countries,

Goa to host 3-day meet of audit institutions of G20 nations from tomorrow

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India Girish Chandra Murmu will deliver the inaugural address for the three-day conference of the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) of G20 countries, which begins in Goa on Monday, an official said. Murmu is the chair of the SAI20 engagement group under India's G20 presidency, a government spokesperson said. The SAI20 summit will take place in Goa from June 12 to 14. CAG Girish Chandra Murmu will deliver the inaugural speech on June 12, the official said. Delegates from SAI20, guest SAIs, invited SAIs, international organisations, engagement groups and other invitees will attend the summit, he said. SAIs of Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Trkiye, Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Nigeria, Oman, Spain, UAE, Morocco and Poland will be participating in-person, he said. Under the guiding philosophy for India's Presidency of G20, Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam, i.e. 'one earth, one family, and One Future', CAG had propose

Odisha rail crash: NCP accuses Centre of ignoring CAG report, Kavach funds

NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto and chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase raised various issues pertaining to these while reiterating the party's stance seeking the resignation of Ashwini Vaishnaw

CAG Girish Murmu reelected as external auditor of WHO for 4-year term

Comptroller and Auditor General of India Girish Chandra Murmu has been reelected as the external auditor of the World Health Organization (WHO) for a four-year term from 2024 to 2027. CAG is already holding this position in WHO for a four-year term from 2019 to 2023. "The present election was held on May 29, 2023 in the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, where the CAG of India was reelected with an overwhelming majority (114 out of 156 votes) in the first round of voting itself," the CAG said in a statement. CAG's appointment is a recognition of its standing among the international community as well as its professionalism, high standards, global audit experience and strong national credentials, it added. "This resounding victory was made possible by the sustained support and tireless efforts of the Permanent Representative of India to The United Nations at Geneva, his officers and a special team of handpicked officers from CAG," it said. CAG was present in the meeting and in h

CAG team holds meeting with central ministries to identify systemic issues

A team of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on Tuesday held a brainstorming session with senior officers of central ministries with a view to facilitating the identification of systemic issues and potential areas for improvement. The CAG team was headed by Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (Report Central) Rakesh Mohan. The interactive session was held with a view to enhancing synergy to foster a constructive relationship, facilitating the identification of systemic issues, financial irregularities, and potential areas for improvement, CAG said in a statement. Addressing the participants, Mohan stated that while the traditional role of audit has been to scrutinise executive actions, there is a growing acknowledgement that there is also space for a level of synergy between the C&AG and the executive. By working hand in hand, the C&AG and the executive can address deficiencies and enhance governance mechanisms, leading to the effective and judicious utilization of ...

AP liabilities rose by 12.6% CAGR under YSRC to Rs 6.5 trn: Official

The total liabilities of YSRC-led government in Andhra Pradesh rose at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.6 percent till March 2023 to Rs 6.5 lakh crore as against the 21.8 percent CAGR during the TDP regime, said Special Secretary (Finance & Economic Affairs) to Chief Minister, Duvvuri Krishna on Thursday. He said the total liabilities of the state, including non-guaranteed liabilities was Rs 1.53 lakh crore as on date of state bifurcation, which shot up to Rs 4.1 lakh crore by the end of May, 2019 when the TDP demitted office. The outstanding liabilities have increased by 169 percent during the five-year TDP period. This translates to a CAGR of liabilities of 21.8 percent during 2014-19, said Krishna in a statement shared by the state government. As against that, he said the outstanding liabilities have increased by only 58 per cent during the YSRC rule from 2019-23, translating to a CAGR of only 12.6 percent. Interpreting these financial metrics, the special secretary

BJP demands CAG audit of discoms over power subsidies paid by Delhi govt

The Delhi BJP on Wednesday termed as a "sham" the AAP government's order to conduct a special audit of discoms over power subsidies released to them. Speaking at a press conference, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva demanded an audit of power subsidy by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). "We do not accept the audit of power subsidy by CAG empanelled audit. The government and discoms can easily influence such an audit," Sachdeva alleged. No immediate reaction was available from the Delhi government or the discoms over the issue. Has any private auditor ever given a report against their client in an audit report, Sachdeva asked. The Delhi government on Tuesday issued a direction to power regulator DERC to conduct a special audit of discoms over power subsidies released to them from 2016 to 2022 to identify any irregularities and ensure transparency. An order issued by Special Secretary (Power) Ravi Dhawan stated that in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 108 of

G20 presidency: CAG team reviews preparations for SAI20 meet in Goa

A six member team from the Comptroller Auditor General of India (CAG) visited Goa to review preparations for the upcoming Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI20) meet scheduled to held in mid-June as part of India's G20 presidency, an official said on Friday. The meet of the Supreme Audit Institutions or SAI20, a group of audit organizations from G20 countries that promotes good governance, transparency and accountability, will be held in the coastal state between June 12 and 14, the official said. "As part of India's presidency of the G20, Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) Girish Chandra Murmu will chair the SAI20 for the year 2023. This gives India an opportunity to play a leadership role in promoting good governance and accountability in the public sector," he said. "India will hold the second meeting of the two scheduled SAI20 meetings as part of the G20 summit in Goa from June 12 to 14, 2023. The first meeting for senior officials of SAI20 member nations and the World .

90% urban people in Himachal don't have adequate water supply: CAG

The requirement of water in the state was projected to increase to 726.46 million litres per day (MLD) -- 575.97 MLD in rural areas and 150.49 MLD in urban areas -- in 2021

Assam government's 2021-22 budget unrealistic, overestimated, says CAG

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India on Thursday termed the Assam government's budget for 2021-22 as unrealistic and overestimated, and asked it to formulate expenses based on reliable assumptions. The CAG also pointed to the increasing growth rate of the state's public debt and recommended that it reduces revenue expenditure. In the State Finances Audit Report for the year ended March 31, 2022' tabled in the state assembly, the CAG said the actual receipts for the year were Rs 99,548.83 crore against the estimation of Rs 1,19,423.05 crore by the state government. This restricted the expenditure to Rs 1,07,814.62 crore against estimated spending of Rs 1,36,554.69 crore. Dubbing the budgetary assumptions as unrealistic and overestimated, the auditor said the state government should formulate a realistic budget based on reliable assumptions of likely resource mobilisation, the needs of the departments and their capacity to utilise the allocated resources so as to avoid

At least three 'completed' textile parks closed, finds CAG report

Auditor says large number of cancellations defeated the purpose of the scheme

CAG red flags incomplete work on 397 projects worth Rs 1,518 crore in J&K

Nearly 400 public welfare projects in Jammu and Kashmir remained incomplete despite incurring an expenditure of over Rs 1,000 crore over the past decade till the end of financial year 2021-22, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has said. As many as 378 of these projects were taken up by different government departments between 2019 and 2022, the CAG said in its latest audit report on the Union Territory Finances for the year ended March 31, 2022. "397 capital works having original estimated cost of Rs 1,518.66 crore, taken up by four departments (viz Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Jammu (61 works) and Jal Shakti (PHE) Department Kashmir (216 work), Jal Shakti (PHE) Department Jammu (119 ) and Mechanical Engineering Department Kashmir (one) targeted to be completed during the period 2012-13 to 2014-15 and 2017-18 to 2021-22 were incomplete at the end of the year 2021-22, the CAG said. It said the cumulative expenditure of Rs 1,095.52 crore incurred on these incomplet

Tax revenue marks over 31% increase during 2021-22 in J&K, says CAG

The tax revenue in Jammu and Kashmir touched Rs 11,707.28 crore in 2021-22 compared to Rs 8,876.99 crore in the previous year, marking an increase of 31.88 per cent, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). State Excise, State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) and Taxes on sales and trade showed the maximum increase of 32.31 per cent, 32.13 per cent and 27.46 per cent, respectively, the CAG said in its audit report on the Union Territory Finances for the year ended 31 March 2022. The government's performance in the mobilisation of resources is assessed in terms of its own tax resources comprising revenue from its own tax and non-tax sources. The report said there was an increase in all components of own tax revenue during 2021-22 which marked an increase of 31.88 per cent compared to the previous year. "SGST, State Excise and Taxes on Sales/Trade showed maximum increase of Rs 1,554.95 crore, Rs 435.37 crore and Rs 410.70 cores respectively. The highest percentage increas

CAG red flags slow development of hydro power projects in Jammu and Kashmir

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) said out of 374 identified project sites with power generation capacity of 1,725.53 MegaWatts, only 10 projects with 79.75 MW capacity had been commissioned with time overrun ranging between four months and seven years. The hydro power potential of Jammu and Kashmir has been estimated at 20,000 MW which includes 1,500 MW in respect of small hydro projects. As of October 2021, only 2,813.46 MW (16 per cent) of this potential had been harnessed, which included 79.75 MW of small hydro projects. "The main objective of hydro policy for small hydro project/mini hydro projects for expeditious development of available hydro power of Jammu and Kashmir was not achieved. Out of 374 identified project sites with power generation capacity of 1,725.53 MWs, only 10 projects with capacity of 79.75 MWs (five per cent) had been commissioned with time overrun ranging between four months and over seven years," the CAG said in its report tabled in the parliament

CAG points out several flaws in Gujarat govt's financial management

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has pointed out several flaws in the financial practices of the Gujarat government and said there was a need to formulate a realistic budget based on the needs of the departments. The "State Finance Audit Report of the CAG for the year ended March 31, 2022" was tabled on the floor of the Gujarat Assembly on Wednesday, the last day of the month-long budget session. Pointing out that financial accounts of 2021-22 were "affected" as capital expenditure was overstated and revenue expenditure understated, the CAG said, "The state government needs to formulate a realistic budget based on the needs of the departments and their capacity to utilise the allocated resources." "An appropriate control mechanism may be instituted by the government to enforce proper implementation and monitoring of budget so that large savings within the grant or appropriation are controlled, and anticipated savings are identified and surrendered within the ...

CAG pulls up J&K Bank for not utilising land acquired during 2016-21

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pulled up J&K Bank Limited for not utilising the land worth over Rs 140 crore acquired during 2016-21 and recommended a proactive plan for its effective utilisation. It also said the bank's improper planning resulted into blockage of funds to the tune of Rs 22.78 crore and wasteful expenditure in hiring of premises for its units. In its report on compliance audit for the year ended March 31, 2021, the CAG said the bank purchased lands valuing Rs 184.92 crore during 2016-21, out of which the land valuing Rs 140.22 crore could not be utilised. The CAG said the compliance audit on management of fixed assets by the bank covering the period from 2016-17 to 2020-21 was carried out to examine issues relating to acquisition of land, construction, upgradation, modification related to civil and interior works, furniture, electrical works and hiring of the premises. "As on 01 April 2016, the gross block of the fixed assets (land & building, ..

CAG raises concerns over 330,000 wagons being operated without NCO approval

More than 3.30 lakh repaired wagons were operated without NCO approval and this has compromised safety, according to a new report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Neutral Control Office in workshops/yards are meant for independent examination of repaired wagons or those that go undergo periodic overhauls before their actual handing over to open line for operations. An NCO approval is vital as wagons repaired in workshops are subjected for a check by the Neutral Train Examiner (NTXR). Only those certified fit can be inducted into service. Those found defective by NTXR are detained for further attention. "More than 3.30 lakh wagons constituting 41 per cent of total were passed locally (without NCO approval) after being repaired at workshops/terminal yards, compromising safety," the CAG report said. It also said that an analysis of the FOIS (Freight Operations Information System) data for 2016-17 to 2020-21 revealed that the halt time was close to half of the total tra