CAG Audit Reforms Set to Explore New Audit Areas

Abstract

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, the supreme audit institution of the country, will be exploring new audit areas such as extraction industries underwater. As part of ongoing CAG audit reforms, the apex government auditor is adopting an end-to-end digital framework from this fiscal year to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accuracy in audits.

Introduction to CAG Digital Audit Framework

In a media interaction post the three-day SAI20 Summit under the Indian Presidency of the G20 here, CAG Girish Chandra Murmu, the chairman of CAG 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 a certain level of data standardization, “We surpassed the ten years record last year. It (audit reports) will further increase. Data processing and report preparation will be faster,” Murmu told media persons after the conclusion of the meeting of national auditors of G20 nations in Goa from June 12-14, adding that the CAG will adopt end-to-end digitalization 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 industries underwater, Murmu said.

The CAG has started end-to-end digital audits from this year onwards. The move will help improve the accuracy of audits and expedite the process. Murmu also said the use of technology like drones and satellites has already become an integral part of the auditing process, which lends it more accuracy.

Key Highlights from the SAI20 Summit

Synopsis

The SAI20 Summit underlined two priority themes: the Blue Economy and Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI). In his valedictory address, CAG Murmu highlighted that the collective efforts of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) aim to strengthen efficiency, accountability, and transparency in emerging areas like the Blue Economy and AI.

As many as 85 National and International delegates from G20 member SAIs, Guest SAIs, Invited SAIs, International Organizations, and other Engagement Groups attended the event.

Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of G20 nations on Wednesday pledged to cooperate and collaborate to deal with the challenges of auditing frontier spheres of blue economy and artificial intelligence.

The communique, issued at the end of the Supreme Audit Institutions-20 (SAI20) Engagement Group, set up under India’s G20 Presidency, also underlined the need for optimal governance in the use of AIs to ensure transparency and accountability under the existing legal and regulatory framework.

Focus Areas of New Audit Reforms by CAG

Key focus areas under the CAG audit reforms and the CAG digital audit framework include:

• Exploration of new audit areas such as shipping and underwater extraction areas.
• Set out the policies and rules regarding such new areas of auditing.
• Development of Data Standardization to make the audit process easier and faster.
• Implementation of end-to-end digital audits to improve accuracy in Auditing.
• The use of tech products in auditing is an integral part of the auditing process.

So these are the major focus area on which the CAG is going to stress from the fiscal year to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of audit areas.

Benefits of Implementing CAG Digital Audit Framework

The CAG has planned to explore and implement these newly introduced policies in the auditing areas and is ready to take a move for the purpose of maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and efficiency of the audit procedure.

Following are the benefits derived from this implementation.

• Introduction of the new scope of auditing in shipping and extraction areas.
• Digitalization of audit procedures provides high accuracy and time-saving model.
• Utilization of tech end products to make the procedure easier and faster.
• Increase reliability on audit reports and be more focused on audit deliveries.
• Implement the new tech-based tools to use in auditing procedures.
• Increase demand for audit professionals, which increases employability.

Conclusion: Strengthening Accountability Through CAG Audit Reforms

CAG is the apex body of auditing and the head of the Indian audit & account department and the chief Guardian of the Public purse. It is the institution through which the accountability of the government and other public authorities (all those who spend public funds) to Parliament and State Legislatures and through them to the people is ensured. So as a regulatory function in such an area the CAG is exploring the new area of audit and to implement the digital framework in auditing, it is planning to set out policies and regulations for the same.

These ongoing policies help to achieve the purpose of the institute to maintain the reliability of data, integrity, and public trust and maintain the decorum of auditing procedure in all sectors under of law and regulatory act of the country.

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