Lok Sabha Question No. 1733 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-31
Subject: Annual Audit Reports of Department of School Education & Literacy
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1733 ANSWERED ON - 31/07/2023

## ANNUAL AUDIT REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## 1733. SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Department of School Education and Literacy has released annual audit reports from the fiscal year 2016-17 onwards;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  directed  the  States  and  Union  Territories  to  release annual audit reports from the fiscal year 2016-17 onwards;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Department of School Education and Literacy has maintained a record of the  annual  audit  reports  of  the  States  and  Union  Territories  from  the  fiscal  year  2016-17 onwards on its website; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

(SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) & (b): The  Department  of  School  Education  &  Literacy  is  implementing  various Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  and  the  Annual  Work  Plan  and  Budget  of  each  State/UT  is approved  by  Project  Approval  Board  under  the  Chairpersonship  of  Secretary  (School Education & Literacy), Ministry of  Education.  The approved  amount of Central Share  was earlier  released  by  Central/State  Government  directly  to  State  Implementing  Society  for implementation  of  different  activities  under  their  respective  schemes  of  the  department However from  2014-15,  the  central  share  of  Government  of  India  is  being  released  to  the State  treasury.  After  the  receipt  of  the  central  share,  State  Governments/Union  Territories further release funds to the respective  State  Nodal  Agencies  (SNA)  along  with  the proportionate state share. As the funds were being released to the States/UTs, the Department had sought clarification from the Ministry of Finance whether Annual Reports and Audited Accounts  are  required  to  be  laid  on  the  table  of  the  Houses  of  the  Parliament  or  to  the concerned  State  Legislative  Assembly.  Department  of  Expenditure  had  clarified  vide  their OM dated 18.8.2016 that the execution of such schemes, including, financial sanctions, audit, and accounting is within the domain of States/UTs  and the Audited Accounts are to be laid before the State or UT Assembly. Accordingly States/UTs have been directed to submit their Audit Reports in their respective State Assemblies and submit their Annual Reports to this department for laying in both the Houses of the Parliament. However, UTs without legislature are to submit their Annual Reports and Audit Reports for laying in both the Houses of the Parliament.

The Annual Reports and Audited accounts of Autonomous Organizations are required to be laid down on the Table of both the Houses of the Parliament in terms of Rule 242(2) (iv) (a) of the General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017.

(c) to (f): In compliance to the clarification of the Department of Expenditure regarding laying  of  Annual  Reports  and  Audit  Reports,  the  States/UTs  have  been  directed  to  submit their Audit Reports in their respective State/UT Assemblies. Accordingly the States/UTs are laying  their  Annual  Audited  Reports  in  their  respective  Assemblies  and  submitting  their Annual  Reports  to  this  department  for  laying  in  both  the  Houses  of  the  Parliament.  UTs without legislature are submitting their Annual Reports and Audit Reports for laying in both the Houses of the Parliament.

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