The NDA Government at the Center will move to evidence-based policy making by 2022, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on November 22, 2019.
Modi said this in his address at the Accountant Generals (AG) conference held at Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) headquarters in New Delhi.
Stating that transparency and efficiency are key to making India a USD 5 trillion economy, the PM said CAG has a crucial role in achieving so through accountability.
He urged CAG to implement internationally best audit and accounting standards to encourage accountability among Indian stakeholders.
Highlighting CAG’s role in correcting government policies, Modi informed that they have transferred amounts to beneficiaries under 425 central schemes.
By avoiding any leakages in this process, the government could successfully save Rs. 1.5 lakh in doing so.
Citing CAG official Rajiv Mehrishi’s remarks that government departments are failing to share
inter-departmental data, the PM assured CAG of bringing inter-departmental data sharing to its audit limits.
Making a mention of Big Data analysis, he said CAG should come up with new tools that help government detect anomalies in implementation of central schemes.
Noting the importance of outcome-based audit, Rajiv said they have recently found district hospitals of UP hospital not recording data on neo-natal deaths.
He also pointed at anomalies in the government’s MNREGA scheme at the local levels, suggesting local-level officers to make digital entries for more transparency.
