CAG K. Sanjay Murthy Outlines “Outcome-Oriented” Audit of 101 Cities at BRICS Summit
BENGALURU – At the 5th BRICS Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) Leaders’ Summit, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India K. Sanjay Murthy announced a transformative approach to public oversight, centered on a special audit of 101 Indian cities. The three-day summit, held under India’s 2026 BRICS Chairmanship, focuses on the theme “Ease of Living with a Focus on Urban Mobility.”
The initiative marks a shift from traditional compliance-based auditing to outcome-oriented assessments, evaluating how government spending directly impacts the daily lives of citizens.
The 101-City “Ease of Living” Audit
The CAG is currently conducting an extensive audit across 101 cities to measure the “Ease of Living” through a citizen-centric lens. This audit moves beyond technical milestones to assess four critical pillars:
- Quality of Life: Evaluating basic amenities and service delivery.
- Access: Measuring the ease with which citizens can reach essential services.
- Sustainability: Auditing the environmental impact and long-term viability of urban projects.
- Perception: Integrating citizen feedback to gauge the actual human experience of governance.
Redefining Success: “Outcome vs. Output”
During his inaugural address, Mr. Murthy urged auditors to look past abstract data. He noted that while global congestion indices rose from 20% to 25% by 2025—costing commuters up to 180 productive hours per year—the traditional way of measuring success often misses the point.
“We measure outputs: kilometers of road laid or stations built. We must start measuring outcomes: Did commute times actually fall? Did air quality improve? Did inequality in access reduce?” Murthy stated, calling urban mobility a “daily referendum” on governance.
Strategic Partnerships in Logistics
To ensure technical depth, the CAG has partnered with premier institutions for a comprehensive audit of multi-modal transport and first-mile/last-mile logistics.
- Knowledge Partners: Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), Indian Institutes of Management (IIM), and the World Bank.
- Focus: Examining the National Rail Plan and the integration of metro lines with bus networks to prevent “flyovers that merely shift congestion.”
The Urban Economic Context
The summit highlighted the critical role cities play in India’s future:
- GDP Contribution: Indian cities occupy only 3% of the land but contribute 60% of the national GDP.
- Employment Hubs: By 2030, an estimated 70% of all new jobs in India will be created in urban centers.
- Infrastructure Investment: To manage this growth, the government has approved an $11 billion Urban Challenge Fund to develop market-linked, outcome-oriented infrastructure.
The “5-E” Vision
The audit framework is guided by the Prime Minister’s “5-E” Vision for sustainable urban transformation:
- Ease of Living
- Education
- Employment
- Economy
- Entertainment
The summit, attended by 42 delegates from BRICS nations including Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa, will conclude with the adoption of the Bengaluru Declaration and the BRICS SAI Work Plan 2027–28, setting a new global standard for urban accountability.