Consider the following statements about the powers and duties of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India : 1. He audits and reports on all expenditures from the Consolidated Fund of India. 2. He controls the issue and receipt of money from the Consolidated Fund of India. 3. He audits and reports on the expenditure of all bodies substantially financed from the Union or State revenues. Which of the statements given above are correct?

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is mandated by Article 149 and the CAG Act of 1971 to audit all expenditures from the Consolidated Fund of India, the States, and Union Territories with assemblies [3]. Statement 1 is therefore correct. Statement 3 is also correct as the CAG audits the accounts of all bodies and authorities substantially financed from Union or State revenues [1]. However, Statement 2 is incorrect. Unlike the British CAG, the Indian CAG does not function as a 'Comptroller' in the sense of controlling the issue of money [2]. In India, the executive can draw funds from the Consolidated Fund without prior authorization from the CAG; the CAG's role is primarily an ex-post facto audit once the expenditure has already occurred [4]. Thus, only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

Sources

1. [1] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 52: Comptroller and Auditor General of India > Comptroller and Auditor General of India > p. 445
2. [3] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL OF INDIA > p. 699
3. [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 52: Comptroller and Auditor General of India > ROLE > p. 447
4. [4] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 52: Comptroller and Auditor General of India > ROLE > p. 446