UPSC Mains 2024 GS2 Q4 — CAG Audit Powers
‘‘The duty of the Comptroller and Auditor General is not merely to ensure the legality of expenditure but also its propriety.’’ Comment. (Answer in 150 words) 10
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Comment
- Scope keywords
- duty of the Comptroller and Auditor Generallegality of expenditurepropriety
- Implicit sub-parts
- What constitutes a regulatory/legal audit (compliance with laws and sanctions)?
- What is 'Propriety Audit' in the context of 'wisdom, faithfulness, and economy'?
- How does the CAG exercise discretion in propriety audit given it is not a mandatory constitutional obligation for all accounts?
- Why is propriety audit essential for ensuring public accountability and preventing wasteful expenditure?
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing too much on the appointment process and constitutional articles (148-151) rather than the nature of auditing.
- Failing to distinguish between 'legality' (checking the rulebook) and 'propriety' (checking the logic/wisdom of the spend).
- Ignoring the fact that while legal audit is mandatory, propriety audit is often discretionary for the CAG.
- Neglecting to mention the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as the partner in examining these propriety findings.
- Dimensions required
- Constitutional/LegalFinancial AccountabilityAdministrative EfficiencyEthical/Governance
- Marks allocation hint
Spend 30 words defining the CAG's role in financial oversight. Use 50 words to explain legality audit (vouchers, sanctions, and law). Allocate 70 words to propriety audit, focusing on '3Es' (Economy, Efficiency, Effectiveness) and the discretionary power to challenge wasteful expenditure even if it follows the rules.
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