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Failure to pay charges in time by Goa police led to late fee payment: CAG

The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) tabled in the Goa Assembly on Thursday said failure of the state police department to pay annual spectrum charges to the Union government resulted in avoidable payment of late fee of Rs 2.39 crore. The CAG report was tabled in the House by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on the last day of the Monsoon session. "The main duty of the state police force is to maintain law and order and wireless communication systems play an important role in this function. The Union ministry of communication is responsible for facilitating faster means of communication through the allotment of necessary spectrum," the report said. "The failure of the police department to pay spectrum charges in timely manner resulted in avoidable payment of Rs 2.39 crore as late fees for the period of 2018-19 to 2020-21. The department was required to pay annual licence fee plus royalty amounting to Rs 0.20 crore from 2004 to 2012 and Rs 0.47 crore from April 2012 to

CAG report flags shortcomings in Tourism Ministry's Swadesh Darshan Scheme

The Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Tourism Ministry was launched despite "objection of the Planning Commission/Ministry of Finance" and the ministry "did not act" upon the recommendation of a committee to formulate an umbrella scheme by merging the projects having overlapping objectives, a CAG report has found. The Performance Audit Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on Swadesh Darshan Scheme, covering the period from its inception in January 2015 to March 2022, was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, according to an official statement. The Swadesh Darshan Scheme, launched in January 2015 with an initial outlay of Rs 500 crore, is a central sector flagship scheme of the Tourism Ministry for the development of tourism infrastructure in the country. The ministry identified 15 tourist circuits for development under the Scheme, namely Himalayan circuit, North East circuit, Krishna circuit, Buddhist circuit, Coastal circuit, Desert circuit, Tribal circuit, Eco circuit, Wildlif

With operating ratio of 107.39%, Rlys couldn't make surplus in FY22: CAG

The Railways recorded an operating ratio of 107.39 per cent in 2021-22 which indicates a lower ability of the national transporter to generate surplus, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has said in a report. The CAG's report on railways finances presented in Parliament on Tuesday provides an analytical review of the finances and accounts of the Indian Railways and is based on the audited accounts for the financial year ended March 31, 2022. The report states that there was a loss of Rs 68,269 crore in all classes of passenger services during 2021-22. The auditor, however, said that this loss had decreased as compared to previous year. The CAG said that the entire profit of Rs 36,196 crore from freight traffic was utilized to cross subsidize/compensate the loss on operation of passenger and other coaching services. The loss of Rs 32,073 crore from passenger operations was left uncovered during 2021-22, it said. "The Railways' operating ratio (OR), which represents the ratio

Tea Board should have authentic database of industry for subsidy: CAG

The government auditor CAG on Tuesday said that the Tea Board should have authentic database of the industry for formulation of policies and implementation of various subsidy schemes. However, Tea Board did not maintain a database regarding areas of extensions of tea plantations, replacement and replanting of tea, age of tea bushes, district-wise yield, and labour productivity rate of the tea industry. It also said that the board has disbursed subsidy amounting to Rs 12.87 crore without adhering to certain guidelines under various schemes such as Plantation Development Scheme, Quality Upgradation and Product Diversification Scheme and Orthodox and Green Tea Production Scheme. It said that although the levy of fees for the issuance of planting permits was approved by the Board, non-collection of the same has resulted in the loss of revenue of Rs 41.36 lakh. "Due to delay in implementation of provisions of Goods and Services Tax (GST), Tea Board did not collect the same on licenses .

CAG asks FinMin to put in place online Customs refund system for efficiency

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has asked the Finance Ministry to consider having an online system for processing customs refunds along the lines of the GSTN system to make it more efficient. The official auditor has also flagged "inordinate delays" in the implementation of the module for daily updation of exchange rate and asked to make the system operational at the earliest. Under the Customs Act, refunds can be claimed in cases where the imported goods are found to be defective or not in conformity with the specification agreed upon, when the goods are exported after payment of the export duty/cess and the exported goods are returned to the exporter. A refund can also be claimed by a person who has paid duty on assessment of imported goods and applies for refund of duty consequent on remission /abatement of duty due to pilferage/damage of goods. "The Ministry may consider having an online workflow for capturing and processing refunds on the lines of the GSTN System so

Financial, operational turnaround of MSEDCL not achieved: CAG report

The compliance audit report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for fiscal 2021 that was tabled in the Maharashtra Legislature on Friday said the financial and operational turnaround of state-run power distribution firm MSEDCL was not achieved despite implementation of the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY). The report, which was tabled in the Assembly and the Legislative Council on the last day of the Monsoon session, said Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited, also called MahaVitaran, received Rs 4,960 crore from the state government under the UDAY scheme to repay its high cost debt. However, MSEDCL did not receive any other dedicated fund to achieve various operational parameters, which it had improve through its own resources or under other Central/state schemes, as per the report. The state-run power firm approached the state government in 2017 for availing guarantee for raising bonds of Rs 1,653 crore in accordance with the government .

CAG audit of Kejriwal's residence will expose AAP's corruption: Delhi BJP

The Delhi BJP on Wednesday welcomed the CAG audit into alleged irregularities in the renovation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence, saying it will expose the "corruption" of the AAP government. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is country's topmost audit body of high repute and its inquiry will soon reveal under whose "pressure" the officials "violated" laws and constructed the "palatial bungalow" for the chief minister otherwise eligible for only a 'Type VII' bungalow, said Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva. "The CAG must bring out the fact as to how repeated amounts were approved for the bungalow by the Kejriwal government whose ownership title was not clear and relevant authorities like Delhi Urban Arts Commission and Municipal Corporation of Delhi had rejected PWD sanction plan approval requests," he claimed welcoming the audit. Party MP Manoj Tiwari said earlier Kejriwal used to carry CAG reports levelling allegations of corruption against opposition

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