Vice-President Releases Book "When Audit Matters" Edited by Former CAG Shri Vinod Rai

📌 Summary:

• Vice-President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book "When Audit Matters: CAG Interventions That Made a Difference" — edited by former CAG Shri Vinod Rai — at Uprashtrapati Bhawan
• VP described audit as "a vital instrument for strengthening democracy" — assures citizens that public money is being used for public good in accordance with law, efficiency and fairness
• Audit helps governments improve systems, correct deficiencies, and reinforces trust between the state and the citizens
• Combination of ethics and audit can be transformative — improved public services, efficient utilisation of public resources, greater resilience, enhanced public trust
• Indian traditions of accountability are deeply rooted in dharma, raja dharma, and public duty; Kautilya's Arthashastra laid down principles of financial oversight; post-Independence the ideals were institutionalised through the Constitution and an independent CAG under parliamentary oversight
• Accountability cycle in parliamentary democracy: legislative approval of budgets → audit → examination by Public Accounts Committees (PAC) — comprehensive fiscal oversight
• VP stressed need for continuous improvement in auditing: training, technology upgrades, performance evaluation, data analytics, sectoral expertise
• Auditors themselves must adhere to highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct
• Book emerged from project of Institute of South Asian Studies (NUS, Singapore); presents stories behind significant CAG audits in an accessible, anecdotal style
• Among those present: Vinod Rai (former CAG); Dr. Iqbal Singh Sevea (Director, ISAS, NUS); Kapish Mehra (MD, Rupa Publications); former senior IAAS officers who contributed to the book

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 (Constitutional bodies — CAG, Article 148-151; accountability and audit framework; Public Accounts Committee; parliamentary oversight of public finances); GS4 (Ethics — integrity in public administration, ethics in governance, role of audit in accountability)

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Vice-President of India: Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan (assumed office in 2025)
• CAG: Constitutional authority under Articles 148–151
• CAG appointed by the President; removal procedure similar to a Supreme Court judge (Article 148(1))
• Former CAG Vinod Rai (CAG 2008–2013) edited the book
• Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS): based at National University of Singapore (NUS)
• Public Accounts Committee (PAC): financial committee of Parliament; chairman by convention is from Opposition; examines CAG reports
• IAAS = Indian Audit and Accounts Service (organised under CAG)

🔑 Key Term: Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) — constitutional authority under Articles 148–151; audits accounts of Union, States, and PSUs; reports presented to Parliament/State Legislature and examined by PAC; widely described as "guardian of the public purse".