CAG an indispensable pillar of democratic system: Guv

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said the credibility of governance rests significantly on the diligence and impartiality of accounting and audit professionals.

He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of “Audit Week 2025” organised here today by the offices of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India on the theme “A Collaborative Commitment Towards Good Governance and Financial Prudence.”

He emphasised that the vigilance by audit professionals transforms policies into results, ultimately benefiting the citizens who place trust in the state through their tax contributions.

The Governor described the institution of the CAG as an indispensable pillar of democracy, upholding principles of accountability, transparency and good governance.

“The audit institutions ensure that public resources are not merely spent lawfully, but also directed towards public welfare. This, he noted, reinforces the foundation of trust between the state and its citizens,” he remarked. He added that in a mountainous state like Himachal, where infrastructure, remote service delivery, environmental risks and natural disasters pose complex challenges, audit interventions become even more crucial to ensure delivery of public schemes and projects at the grassroots

Shukla stressed that Audit Week serves not merely as a formal event, but as a moment of introspection on constitutional responsibilities. “The CAG acts as a watchdog of financial accountability, ensuring honesty, transparency and public interest in every expenditure of public funds. The technical sessions, deliberations and formal events under Audit Week provide both a review of past efforts and a pathway to strengthen audit methodologies for the future,” he said.

Appreciating the department’s contribution towards financial transparency in Himachal Pradesh, the Governor said that careful documentation, fact-based reports and informed recommendations support better decision-making and facilitate good governance level. He expressed satisfaction that the audit offices in Himachal have adopted digital workflows, hybrid audit models and data analytics to enhance accuracy, efficiency and transparency.

He said that audit excellence depends on the competency of its officers and it is a matter of pride that such a premier national training academy is located in Shimla.

Director General of the National Academy of Audit and Accounts S Alok said interactive sessions are designed to ensure that audit findings and recommendations are practical, actionable and well-understood. He highlighted that the institution is building a modern digital audit system that balances tradition with innovation with focus on risk-based, citizen-centric, and outcome-oriented auditing.

Principal Accountant General (Audit) Purushottam Tiwari, Secretary to Governor Chandra Prakash Verma, senior officers of the state government and officers were also present on the occasion.