CAG's integrated audit report on MSMEs and logistics to be released in December

India's Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has adopted an integrated approach, under which audit reports of interconnected sectors and government programmes such as MSMEs and logistics will be presented in December this year, according to a report by The Hindu.

Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (Human Resources, International Relations, Coordination and Legal) K.S. Subramanian told reporters on Thursday that the objective of this integrated approach is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the efficiency of various sectors. Under this method, an attempt will be made to present a complete picture of performance and outcomes by bringing together the findings of different departments.

According to Subramanian, until now, different sectors were audited separately, but now work will be carried out in an integrated manner through this approach. Giving an example, he said that previously, one person might have audited a part of the railways separately regarding what percentage of goods are transported by the railways, while another would talk about other routes. However, now a complete picture will be presented by analysing all aspects in a single report.

Officers present during the briefing clarified that the first reports under this new method will focus on two main sectors. The first sector includes 'Ease of Doing Business', with a special emphasis on MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) at the state level. The second main sector is logistics, in which the performance of the railways, shipping, and road transport departments will be viewed together.

This integrated audit process is progressing very importantly and is yielding very meaningful results, Subramanian added. The first reports under this approach are expected to be presented around December this year.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is the constitutional authority that audits the accounts of the Government of India. It has been the institution responsible for overseeing and auditing the country's public financial matters.