Goa — what the CAG audit found

Financial audit · State finances

This is the CAG’s annual report on the finances of the whole State. It analyses the State Government’s own accounts for the year — what came in, what was spent, the deficit, the debt and how closely spending followed the budget. It is not a compliance audit (were the rules followed in a particular department?) or a performance audit (did a scheme meet its goals?); the CAG publishes those as separate reports.

“State Finances Audit Report for the year ended 31 March 2024 presents the time series data on the State Government’s finances for the five-year period from 2019-20 to 2023-24.” — Goa report, p. 40

1. Revenue surplus

   Report p. 11

   Goa recorded a revenue surplus in 2023-24, but it was smaller than in 2022-23.

   “Revenue surplus decreased from ₹ 2,400 crore in 2022-23 to ₹ 1,423 crore in 2023-24” — CAG report

2. Fiscal deficit

   Report p. 11

   The fiscal deficit rose to about 2.02 per cent of GSDP in 2023-24 from a lower level in 2022-23, within the permissible limit.

   “fiscal deficit increased from ₹ 1,027 crore in 2022-23 to ₹ 2,148 crore in 2023-24” — CAG report

   State Government’s reply, as recorded: Finance Department said at the exit conference that efforts are being made to lower the debts.

3. Debt ceiling

   Report p. 14

   Total outstanding debt exceeded the 25 per cent of GSDP ceiling in the GFRBM Act in every year from 2019-20 to 2023-24, though the ratio fell to 29.27 per cent in 2023-24.

   “The State Government had breached the target of debt-GSDP ratio of 25 per cent in all five years during 2019-24.” — CAG report

   State Government’s reply, as recorded: Finance Department said at the exit conference that efforts are being made to lower the debts.

4. Off-budget borrowings

   Report p. 13

   Audit found two state companies had borrowings to be serviced from the State budget, so total debt was understated by about 706 crore rupees, or 0.66 per cent of GSDP.

   “the State Government had a liability of ` 706 crore as off-budget borrowings (OBB)” — CAG report

5. Guarantees

   Report p. 13

   Outstanding guarantees were 298 crore rupees, within the 1,500 crore rupee limit, and no guarantee was invoked in 2023-24.

   “the outstanding guarantees of ₹ 298 crore were well within the limit of ₹ 1,500 crore” — CAG report

6. Subsidies

   Report p. 68

   Subsidy expenditure rose to 620 crore rupees in 2023-24, from 299 crore rupees in the previous year, with social welfare the largest share.

   “Expenditure on subsidies increased remarkably by 107.36 per cent during 2023-24 over the previous year.” — CAG report

7. Committed expenditure

   Report p. 12

   Salaries, pensions and interest together rose from 5,725 crore rupees in 2019-20 to 8,257 crore rupees in 2023-24, about half of revenue expenditure.

   “The committed expenditure increased from ₹ 5,725 crore in 2019-20 to ₹ 8,257 crore in 2023-24.” — CAG report

8. Capital spending vs budget

   Report p. 15

   Capital section expenditure fell well short of the original budget estimate in 2023-24, with a negative deviation of 27.87 per cent.

   “In Capital section, deviation in outturn compared with BE was (-) 27.87 per cent.” — CAG report

9. Savings and surrenders

   Report p. 105

   Gross savings under grants and appropriations were 6,372 crore rupees, 22 per cent of authorisation.

   “Total gross savings under various grants/appropriations amounted to ₹ 6,372 crore” — CAG report

   State Government’s reply, as recorded: Finance Department said at the exit conference that due care will be taken in future.

10. Unnecessary supplementary grants

    Report p. 105

    In 14 cases, supplementary provisions totalling 562 crore rupees were unnecessary because spending stayed below the original provision.

    “supplementary provisions aggregating ₹ 562 crore obtained during the year in these 14 cases proved unnecessary.” — CAG report

    State Government’s reply, as recorded: Finance Department said at the exit conference that controls are being put in place to avoid such lapses.

11. Excess expenditure

    Report p. 111

    Excess disbursements of 12,625.06 crore rupees for 2008-09 to 2022-23 remain to be regularised by the Legislature; none arose in 2023-24.

    “There was an excess disbursement of ₹ 12,625.06 crore pertaining to the years 2008-09 to 2022-23” — CAG report

    State Government’s reply, as recorded: Finance Department said the proposal for regularisation was taken up with the Public Accounts Committee and is yet to be addressed.

12. Pending utilisation certificates

    Report p. 128

    12,813 utilisation certificates for grants totalling 3,027.52 crore rupees were outstanding at 31 March 2024; 57 per cent were pending over five years.

    “12,813 UCs aggregating ` 3,027.52 crore which were due for submission, were outstanding” — CAG report

    State Government’s reply, as recorded: Finance Department said a decision will be taken to settle the old outstanding UCs.

13. Abstract contingent bills

    Report p. 16

    491 abstract contingent bills worth 195.75 crore rupees had no detailed contingent bills submitted at 31 March 2024.

    “491 AC bills of ₹ 195.75 crore were pending for submission of DC bills as on 31 March 2024” — CAG report

    State Government’s reply, as recorded: Finance Department said efforts will be made to clear the outstanding AC bills.

14. Accounts of autonomous bodies

    Report p. 144

    Eleven autonomous bodies had 31 sets of accounts pending submission as of October 2024.

    “there were 31 accounts pending submission by 11 autonomous bodies” — CAG report