Compliance audit report on the Railways in Parliament
Why in news?
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has recently released several significant audit reports and updates. On December 18, 2025, the CAG presented its compliance audit report on the Railways in Parliament, highlighting various findings related to financial and operational performance.
Key Recent CAG Findings
- The CAG flagged serious financial irregularities and delays in flagship power schemes like SAUBHAGYA and DDUGJY, including early payments to contractors, unapproved project reports, and double payments, resulting in losses amounting to crores of rupees.​
- In the GST audit, the CAG highlighted a significant manpower crunch in the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), with 38% of audit positions vacant as of July 2024, leading to gaps in audit coverage and recovery rates.​
- The CAG also reported that only 122 MW of solar capacity had been installed by Coal India by December 2024, far short of the 3,000 MW target, indicating major delays in renewable energy rollout.​
- Launch Year: 2017
- Objective: Universal household electrification across rural & urban India.
- Key Features:
- Free electricity connections to poor households (identified via SECC 2011).
- Last-mile connectivity through extension of wires, meters, LED bulb, mobile charging point.
- Provision for solar power packs in remote areas.
- Achievement: Over 2.82 crore households electrified till March 2021.
- Nodal Agency: Rural Electrification Corporation (REC).
- Launch Year: 2014
- Objective: Strengthen rural power supply & infrastructure.
- Key Components:
- Feeder separation (agriculture vs. non-agriculture).
- Strengthening sub-transmission & distribution networks.
- Metering at distribution transformers & feeders.
- Completion of unfinished works under RGGVY (Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana).
- Outlay: ₹75,893 crore (with ₹63,027 crore central support).
- Nodal Agency: REC.
- Constitutional Authority: Established under Article 148 of the Constitution of India.
- Role: Head of the Indian Audit & Accounts Department and the guardian of the public purse.
- Reports To: Directly to the President of India, ensuring independence from the executive.
- Appointment: Nominated by the Prime Minister and formally appointed by the President of India.
- Tenure: 6 years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
- Mandate:
- Audits Union and State government accounts.
- Ensures Parliamentary control over public expenditure.
- Audits government-owned corporations and bodies substantially financed by government funds.
- Accountability Function: Provides reports to Parliament and State Legislatures, making the executive accountable to the people.
- Famous Quote: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar described the CAG as “probably the most important officer in the Constitution of India”
