CAG Holds Workshop with Universities to Improve Governance and Financial Controls
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CAG Holds Workshop with Universities to Improve Governance and Financial Controls
New Delhi: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India held a workshop with leaders from universities across the country to talk about better control and governance in higher education.
The meeting focused on a new tool called the Risk-Controls Maturity Scorecard, or RCMS. Officials said this is not another audit. It is more like a self-check tool that universities can use on their own. It helps them see if they are handling money carefully and following proper financial rules.
Comptroller and Auditor General K. Sanjay Murthy spoke at the event. He said around 1,400 autonomous institutions come under the audit of the CAG. This number may grow in the coming years. At the same time, investment in these bodies is also rising. Because of this, he said tools like RCMS are important to spot risks early and fix problems before they grow.
The workshop brought together Vice Chancellors, university officials, and officers from the CAG. Senior officials from the Department of Higher Education also joined the discussion.
This meeting is part of a larger plan. In the first phase, the RCMS system will be introduced in 66 higher education institutions. The goal is to help university leaders understand how the framework works and what is expected during the audit cycle.
Higher Education Secretary Dr. Vineet Joshi said the new system encourages universities to move from simple rule-following to active risk management. He urged institutions to take part seriously and learn from the process.
Additional Secretary Anandrao V. Patil also spoke at the event. He said the government wants universities to improve their internal systems so that governance becomes stronger over time.
Deputy CAG A. M. Bajaj said the main responsibility for managing risks lies with the universities themselves. The RCMS framework is meant to guide and support them in doing this better.
Vice Chancellors and registrars who attended the workshop welcomed the move. Many shared the challenges their institutions face in daily operations and governance. Some also said the system should consider the different sizes and capacities of universities.
They asked for more training and support so institutions can use the new tool well.
The workshop ended with broad agreement that stronger internal controls will help universities manage public funds more responsibly and improve overall governance.
