CAG to conduct pan-India audit on ease of doing biz for MSMEs

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has launched an integrated audit across 32 states and Union Territories to assess the ease of doing business for the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector.

- HIMANSHI BHARDWAJ

The move shifts the approach from vertical, deep-dive audits to a horizontal, pan-Indian review. The consolidated report is slated for presentation in the winter session of Parliament in 2026.

This “citizen centric” audit is intended for “people who benefit from MSMEs, who use MSME services, and the MSME industry itself”, Additional Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General Pravir Pandey said. The exercise comes in the context of flagship government initiatives, including Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and the MSME (Udyam) Registration portal.

The audit will examine whether reforms on the ground are delivering efficient, timely, and more transparent services to small businesses, in line with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and the Business Reforms Action Plan 2024.