Audit Diwas celebrations: Speaker Om Birla lauds CAG’s rich legacy, highlights its rise into a globally recognised institution

“Definitely, all of us have only one resolve – to make India a powerful, rich, and influential country in the time to come, and to make India a developed country in the world. To realise the dream of becoming a developed country, financial discipline and transparency is a key requirement and you have made an important contribution to play this role… I hope that CAG of India would become the world’s guide in the changing scenario. Other countries of the world would adopt our audit system,” Birla said.

Speaking on the occasion, Girish Chandra Murmu, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, highlighted the CAG’s leadership in global audit forums.

“The CAG of India has been re-elected as External Auditor for the World Health Organization and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Also, presently, we are the external auditor of the International Labour Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency, and Food and Agriculture Organization. These appointments not only reflect our standing among the international community but also highlight our commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in audit practices and to ensure transparency and accountability in vital international organisations,” Murmu said.

Murmu also underlined the use of emerging technologies in audits.

“In this dynamic technological landscape, as governments increasingly use AI and emerging technologies to provide services, there are numerous risks ranging from privacy breaches, algorithmic biases to social exclusion,” Murmu said.

“I am happy to share that as an organisation we are deeply cognisant of these developments and are engaging closely with emerging technological trends for enhancing the effectiveness of auditing and accounting practices in such a landscape. Our Centre for Data Management and Analytics, not only provides guidance to field offices on data analytics but also functions as a pioneering research and development hub for data analytics for the future,” he said.

Speaking about the Audit Diwas, Murmu said that it is celebrated on November 16 to commemorate the appointment of India’s first Auditor General in 1860, marking a significant milestone in the establishment of effective financial oversight.

“The celebrations spotlight the historic origins of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department and the contribution it has made to good governance, transparency and accountability over the last 164 years. Each year, we observe Audit Diwas through a series of events aimed at rekindling our dedication to our mission and reaffirming our commitment to good governance,” he said.

“These initiatives embody our relentless pursuit of excellence in public sector audit and accountability, reflecting our unwavering resolve to uphold the highest standards of integrity and service. It is also an occasion to engage with our stakeholders through events that spread awareness of the role of the CAG of India in the Constitutional scheme of governance,” the CAG said.