President Droupadi Murmu has appointed K Sanjay Murthy, an IAS officer of the 1989 batch (Andhra Pradesh cadre), as the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. Murthy, currently the Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, will assume the role once he takes charge, replacing Girish Chandra Murmu, who held office since August 8, 2020.
The CAG of India:
- Audits all Union and State government departments, including railways, defense, India Post, and telecommunications.
- Oversees over 1500 public enterprises, 400 non-commercial bodies, and other entities funded by the government.
- Is empowered by Article 148 of the Constitution and governed by the CAG’s Duties, Powers and Conditions Act, 1971.
The office is supported by the Indian Audit and Accounts Department (IA&AD), comprising around 600 managerial officers and a subordinate cadre of approximately 47,000 personnel. The CAG’s mandate extends to inspecting records, transactions, and financial documents to ensure accountability and transparency in public spending.
