CAG meets Big Data challenges; Sets up Centre for Data Analytics

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has met its Big Data Challenges by setting up Centre for Data Management and Analytics (CDMA).

Inaugurating the center, Shashi Kant Sharma, comptroller and auditor general of India said, "The CDMA will help to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of evidence in the audit process and will be a game changer in the field of public audit."

A brainchild of Shashi Kant Sharma, the CDMA aims to build up capacity in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department in Big Data Analytics to exploit the data rich environment in the union and state governments.

Sharma had anticipated the challenges posed by such developments in the government and realized opportunities arising from data analytics. This initiative focuses development of in-house capacity covering the entire workforce. Sharma also indicated that this was only the first milestone in the field of Big Data Analytics.

Prior to the setting up of the centre, the CAG brought out a Big Data Management Policy for the Indian Audit and Accounts Department. A Task force was set up to study the policy document and recommend its implementation. The Task Force in May 2016 recommended setting up this centre.

The centre is to be equipped with latest analytic tools and infrastructure to assist and guide the Data Analytic Groups constituted in all audit offices of CAG across the country through setting up the data management protocols and steering the data analytic capacity of the department.

This initiative of CAG of India, puts it amongst the pioneers in institutionalising data analytics in government audit in the international community. CAG of India is also a member of an international project on 'Data Analytics' under the Working Group on IT Audit of International Organisation for Supreme Audit Institutions.