Data-led governance central to Viksit Bharat, CAG tells officer trainees

Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) of India K Sanjay Murthy on Friday said expanding access, promoting data-driven governance, and strengthening institutional maturity in financial management will be central pillars for Viksit Bharat.

Delivering the Viksit Bharat talk at the 100th Common Foundation Course at LBSNAA, Mussoorie, on Friday evening, Murthy highlighted the role young civil servants will play in shaping governance across sectors. Addressing 660 participating officer trainees, he explained how data-driven governance enhances institutional accountability and improvement.

Murthy noted that although many Indian institutions initially hesitated to participate in global rankings such as QS and Times Higher Education, their eventual engagement revealed important insights on research quality, employability outcomes, gender representation, and SDG-linked performance.

He cited instances where systematic data collection, improved employer outreach, and better documentation enabled universities to make significant advances in global rankings. He said such datasets—generated by national bodies, ministries or global institutions—serve as essential tools for administrators to identify gaps, design interventions, and track progress across sectors.

Murthy urged the young officers to strengthen financial transparency, ensure proper account maintenance, and build resilient institutional structures to effectively leverage funding opportunities.

He advised them to remain humble, accessible to citizens, receptive to the wisdom of experienced colleagues, and committed to eliminating avoidable administrative bottlenecks that hinder transparency and public trust. He reminded them that their integrity, competence, and willingness to learn will ultimately determine the quality of governance they provide.

Murthy also inaugurated the Khel Mahotsav (Sports Meet) of the 100th Common Foundation Course.

(With inputs from PTI)