The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, presided over the fifth Audit Diwas celebrations in New Delhi today.

In his address, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan hailed the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) as the “guardian of the public purse,” emphasizing its vital role in protecting public money and promoting good governance.He lauded the CAG’s 165 years of dedicated service legacy since the office of Auditor General was instituted in 1860.

He remarked, “Supreme Audit Institutions across the world share one common purpose: to protect public money and promote good governance. Among them, the CAG of India stands proudly, upholding the principles of accountability, transparency, and integrity in public life”.

The Vice-President described CAG’s reports as factual, evidence-based, and central to the ‘moral wealth’ of Bharat.

Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan applauded the CAG for notifying “One Nation, One Set of Object Heads of Expenditure” for both the Union and State Governments — a reform that will significantly enhance transparency and comparability of government expenditure.

Highlighting Bharat’s advancements in AI, Big Data, blockchain, and machine learning, the Vice-President expressed happiness to note that the CAG, through initiatives like the One Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IAAD) One System, AI-based audit frameworks, and several other measures, has embedded technology, predictive analytics, and generative AI into the very DNA of public financial management. He praised partnerships with premier institutions like IIT Madras to build capacity in data sciences, cybersecurity, and deep learning. He expressed satisfaction with the fact that a customized Large Language Model (LLM) is being developed to feed over 20,000 inspection reports annually, bolstering data-driven auditing.

He said that technology adoption will enhance risk detection, efficiency, and evidence-based governance, ensuring the optimal use of public funds. He added that, to achieve this, we need to have a future-ready and citizen-centric civil service.

Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan highlighted that CAG’s global reputation has surged, with its role as External Auditor for organizations like the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO). He also mentioned that currently, CAG chairs the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) and the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Committee, including the Working Group on IT Audit, positioning Bharat as a global leader in auditing standards.He called it as a Testimony to Bharat’s Journey from Being Follower to Emerging as Global Leader.

As Bharat progresses towards the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, the Vice-President underscored the steadfast partnership between the government and the CAG in promoting fiscal discipline and transparency. He urged officers to continuously upgrade their skills and auditing capabilities, ensuring that public welfare remains at the heart of governance.

The event was marked by the presence of Shri K. Sanjay Murthy, CAG of India, and senior officials including Deputy CAGs Shri Subir Mallick, Shri Krishnan Sagaran Subramanian, and Shri Jayant Sinha, retired CAGs, and officials from the Indian Audit & Account Service (IA&AS).

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PR/AR