CAG pushes AI, digital tools to detect frauds in audits

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India K Sanjay Murthy on Friday said technology deployment in audits has led to the detection of frauds in the implementation of government schemes in several states, as he underscored the importance of harnessing artificial intelligence and other tools in forensic auditing.

He also said that the supreme audit institution is focusing on the audits of urban local governments in areas such as ease of living, with special emphasis on 100 cities having populations greater than half a million.

The focus would be on evaluating the progress made by these cities in critical areas, including ensuring the supply of essential services, promoting renewable energy and sustainable transportation systems, improving living standards and fostering a conducive environment for job creation and investment, he said. Murthy was addressing the second annual conference of state finance secretaries organised by the CAG in the capital.