India’s national auditor is for a major shift in PWR spending, examining a move from delayed, retrospective scrutiny to real-time audits that track ministries and public sector undertakings (PSUs). At the same time, projects are still being executed, according to two people aware of the development. The plan is set to be rolled out soon, they said.
The overhaul, led by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), is designed to flag tendering lapses, execution delaysand potential losses early, allowing course correction while money is still being spent, rather than years later when the damage is done.Audit findings are currently published long after the completion of schemes or major financial decisions. Several high-profile audits, including those on the 2G spectrum allocation and coal block auctions, were released well after the projects had concluded, limiting the scope for corrective action.
Satinder Duggal
