Accountability and transparency are twins that help blossom and sustain our democratic progress – Vice President

The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today described accountability and transparency as twins that help to sustain our democratic progress. He said that accountability in public service delivery is quintessential to good governance to ensure that benefits trickle to the last rows.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating 2nd Audit Diwas celebrations at CAG office in New Delhi today, he highlighted that CAG has a pivotal role in ensuring these values; corruption and inefficiency would creep into the system, otherwise.

Describing audit as a powerful and inescapable tool of good governance, Shri Dhankhar cautioned that the absence of audit or inefficient audit would lead to system degeneration. He also called for increased focus by CAG on the instances of utility certificates involving massive public funds not being imparted for long by governmental entities.

Noting that CAG of India has been the External Auditor of various United Nations (UN) organizations over the years, Shri Dhankhar praised CAG for establishing a reputation for itself as a robust auditing organisation with global best practices. He expressed confidence that with the enhanced pro-active stance of the CAG, there is bound to be improved efficiency and monitoring and reach of government schemes. “Timely detection of fiscal misdemeanours and effective consequential correction mechanisms are peremptory CAG obligations,” he added.

Calling for continually enhancing credible systems to tackle the challenges before us, the Vice President highlighted that engaging in self-audit would be rewarding.

On this occasion, the Vice President also felicitated the winners of the National Online Essay Writing Competition – 2022 organized by CAG as part of its 2nd Audit Diwas celebrations. Appreciating the initiative, he hoped that the august institution would continue to find ways to involve the public at the grassroots in its impact assessment process and act as crusader against corruption and fiscal inefficiency.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Shri Girish Chandra Murmu, Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General, Ms Parveen Mehta, officers of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department and other dignitaries were present.

Following is the full text of speech –

Delighted to be part of the Audit Diwas celebrations today.

Congratulations on CAG foundation day, and for organising the 30th Accountants General Conference to mark the occasion.

Critical importance of the institution of the CAG was significantly indicated by Dr. B R Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly. He reflected:

“I am of the opinion that this dignitary or officer is probably the most important officer in the Constitution of India. He is the one man who is going to see that the expenses voted by Parliament are not exceeded, or varied, from what has been laid down by Parliament.”

It is indeed satisfying to note that CAG as institution has, over the years, exemplified spinal strength.

This elevated status is consequence of seminal leadership the institution has been benefiting from.

The credibility earned by the institution is due to the the painstaking efforts of the successive CAGs that brought this institution where it is today.

Impactful and wholesome CAG functioning has generated evolution of transparent and accountable eco system. Such a scenario has affirmatively contributed to our growth trajectory.

By virtue of constitutional prescription under Article 151 of the Constitution CAG reports are required to be laid before each House of Parliament as also before the Legislature of the States.

It is expected such reports receive due attention and consideration of the Parliamentarians and Legislators so that probity, efficiency and transparency in governance improves and accountability is enforced.

Painstaking efforts of CAG would bear fruit and results with timely Legislature and Executive actions in tandem and togetherness.

In a recent milestone accomplishment India secured the status of the fifth largest economy in the world and is on way to being the third largest global economy by turn of the decade.

The country has made rapid strides in structural and institutional reforms making the Country attractive opportunity and investment destination in the world.

The world is rightly looking at us today as a catalyst for positive change.

Transparent accountability in public service delivery is quintessential to good governance so as to ensure benefits trickle to the last rows. This can be impactfully brought about and enhanced by CAG acting as vigilant watchdog.

Appreciate significantly apt theme of today’s Accountants General Conference– ‘SAI India: Contributing to India Onward and Ahead’.

Am sure the deliberations would focus on opportunities and challenges with a view to fast track our continual upward growth trajectory.

Accountability and transparency are twins that help blossom and sustain our democratic progress. Lack of these breeds corruption and inefficiency. CAG has a massive role to root out this menace.

We must build and continually enhance credible systems to tackle the challenges before us.

Engaging in self audit and calibration would be rewarding. Timely detection of fiscal misdemeanours and effective consequential correction mechanism are peremptory CAG obligations.

Audit is a powerful and inescapable tool of good governance. Absence of audit or inefficient audit is the surest passage to system degeneration. This underlines imperatives of CAG focus. Instances of utility certificates involving massive public funds not being imparted for long by governmental entities needs exemplary corrective focus.

By discerning errors and highlighting wastefulness and extravagance in public spending, the CAG not only ensures that the government delivers its promise with economic efficiency, but also it helps to stamp out inefficiency and corruption.

Functional, vibrant and impactful CAG mechanism is safest assurance that the intended benefits actually reach the citizens- the ultimate beneficiaries.

It is soothing to gather that the CAG has given priority to audit many citizen centric programmes such as Direct Benefit Transfer, National Pension System and so on. CAG focus will make the system robust delivery mechanism.

The findings of these types of audits will give extremely important inputs which will help in better planning and management of citizen centric schemes.

The digital revolution, combined with CAG’s exemplary service in promoting transparency, is revitalising grassroots democracy in our country.

This august institution should find ingenious and innovative ways to involve public at the grassroots level in its audit processes.

In fact, the CAG has to play a proactive role in improving efficiency, monitoring and outcomes delivered by Government schemes.

It is satisfying to note that to manage emerging challenges CAG is continuously engaged in upgrading its professional skills and practices to stay ahead of the learning curve.

I commend CAG initiatives to become an IT-led institution and using data analytics for auditing.

This has helped CAG in enhancing efficiency and enabling analysis and risk based audit.

CAG of India has established a reputation as a robust auditing organisation with global best practices.

It is the External Auditor of various United Nations (UN) organizations over the years.

Its international audit portfolio includes external audit of several important UN organizations including

World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

On this occasion, I would also like to congratulate all the seven university students who have won the National Online Essay Writing Competition, and who’ve joined us here today from different parts of the country.

They wrote exceptional essays on themes in align with current governance vision.

I am confident that this august institution would continue to find ways to involve public at the grassroots level in its impact assessment process and act as crusader against corruption and fiscal inefficiency.

With enhanced pro-active stance of the CAG, there is bound to be improved efficiency and monitoring and reach of government schemes.

I take this opportunity to commend the supreme audit authority and all the officers for their high ethical standards.

I am sure, CAG will continue to emerge stronger and vibrant in days ahead.

Jai Hind!

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MS/RK/AM/DP