Chartered Accountant (CA) firms and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) for appointment as statutory auditors The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has invited applications from eligible Chartered Accountant (CA) firms and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) for empanelment for the financial year 2026–27. This annual empanelment exercise is undertaken to prepare a panel of qualified audit firms that may be considered for appointment as statutory auditors of Government Companies as per the Companies Act, 2013 and various statutory corporations and autonomous bodies. The empanelment process is undertaken to discharge the CAG’s constitutional and statutory duty of appointing auditors for Government Companies under Sections 139(5) and 139(7) of the Companies Act, 2013, and for Statutory Corporations and Autonomous Bodies under their respective laws. Through this process, the CAG aims to ensure transparency, accountability, and professional excellence in the audit of public sector entities. CA firms and LLPs meeting the prescribed eligibility criteria are required to submit their applications within the notified timeline, in accordance with the empanelment policy issued for the year 2026–27. Empanelment enables firms to be considered for audit assignments, subject to the selection procedures and conditions laid down by the CAG.
The primary objective of empanelment by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is to create a structured and transparent panel of eligible of Government Companies and other public sector entities.
This process ensures that audit assignments are entrusted to professionally qualified and experienced firms in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and other applicable statutes.
The empanelment mechanism aims to:
• Ensure fairness and transparency in the selection of auditors.
• Maintain high standards of professional competence and independence in public sector audits.
• Strengthen financial accountability and governance in government-owned and controlled entities.
• Establish a merit-based system for allocation of audit assignments through a defined policy framework.
Ultimately, empanelment serves as a crucial step in upholding public trust by ensuring that statutory audits of government entities are conducted by capable and credible audit professionals.
Empanelment Period and Key Dates (2026-27):
For the year 2026-27, the key timeline for the empanelment process is as follows:
a. Application window: 13 February 2026 to 02 March 2026
b. Firm status snapshot date: 01 January 2026 (applicants must provide information as of this date)
c. Hard-copy submission deadline: 10 March 2026 (after online application and generation of acknowledgement)
Applications are made through the official CAG portal at www.care.cag.gov.in.
Who Can Apply? Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for empanelment for 2026-27:
For empanelment with the CAG of India (Comptroller and Auditor General) for the year 2026–27, the following eligibility conditions generally apply to Chartered Accountant (CA) firms and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs):
a. Basic Eligibility
• The applicant must be a Chartered Accountant firm or LLP registered in India.
• The firm/LLP must be eligible to act as a statutory auditor under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.
• The firm must have at least one full-time Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) as a partner or sole proprietor as on the prescribed cut-off date.
b. Firm Status & Constitution
• Details of partners, association, and constitution of the firm must be valid and updated as of the notified reference date (e.g., 1 January 2026 for the 2026–27 panel).
• The firm should not be under any disqualification, suspension, or restriction that would bar it from undertaking audit assignments.
c. Professional Standing
• The firm should be in good professional standing, with no adverse disciplinary findings that may affect its eligibility.
• It must comply with the applicable professional and statutory requirements governing audit practice.
d. Additional Considerations
Empanelment is generally based on a point-based system, where factors such as:
• Number of full-time partners,
• Seniority and experience of partners,
• Duration of firm’s existence, and
• Other prescribed parameters
are taken into account for ranking and selection purposes.
Meeting the eligibility criteria allows the firm/LLP to apply for empanelment; however, empanelment does not automatically guarantee allocation of audit assignments.
Application Process – Step by Step:
a. Online Submission:
• The firm registers and updates its details on the official CAG portal during the application window.
• Details must reflect the firm’s status as of 01 January 2026.
• After completing the online form, the system generates an online acknowledgement letter.
• Only firms that generate this acknowledgement letter are considered for empanelment.
b. Document Submission:
• The printed acknowledgement and supporting documents (e.g., registration proof, partner details) must be submitted by 10 March 2026.
• Hard copies are sent to the office of the CAG in New Delhi.
Empanelment Policy and Selection System: The Policy of Empanelment of CA Firms/LLPs and Selection of Auditors 2026-27, published by CAG, lays down the criteria for:
a. Empanelment Points
• Firms are awarded points based on various parameters, including the number and seniority of full-time partners, qualifications, and experience.
b. Selection for Audit Assignments
• After empanelment, a software-based system helps match audit requirements with available empanelled firms based on points and capability criteria.
• Major audit allotments consider additional factors such as audit experience, capacity to handle large audits, qualifications (e.g., specialized certifications), and location of offices.
This structured policy helps ensure fairness and consistency in selecting auditors among eligible CA firms.
Important Rules and Disqualifications: Chartered Accountant (CA) firms and LLPs applying for empanelment with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for 2026–27 must strictly comply with the prescribed policy and procedural requirements. Non-compliance may result in rejection, reduction of points, or disqualification from empanelment or audit allotment.
Key Rules
• Accurate Disclosure: All details furnished in the online application must be true and correct as of the prescribed cut-off date.
• Mandatory Acknowledgement: Generation of the online acknowledgement letter after submission is compulsory; applications without it are not considered.
• Timely Submission: Both online application and hard copy submission (where required) must be completed within the stipulated deadline.
• Eligibility Compliance: The firm must meet eligibility requirements under the Companies Act, 2013 and other applicable laws.
• Point-Based Assessment: Empanelment and subsequent selection for audit assignments are governed by the notified point-based system and software-driven allocation mechanism.
Grounds for Disqualification
A firm/LLP may face rejection or disqualification in the following situations:
• ❌ Submission of false, misleading, or incomplete information.
• ❌ Failure to meet the minimum eligibility criteria (e.g., absence of required full-time FCA partner).
• ❌ Disciplinary proceedings or adverse findings by the regulatory authority affecting professional standing.
• ❌ Any statutory disqualification under the Companies Act or other governing laws.
• ❌ Non-generation of acknowledgement or failure to submit required documents within the prescribed time.
Additional Consequences
• Points may be reduced or empanelment may be cancelled if discrepancies are discovered at a later stage.
• Empanelment does not guarantee audit assignment; allocation depends on policy guidelines and requirements of the concerned entity.
Strict adherence to the empanelment policy and submission guidelines is therefore essential to ensure successful inclusion in the CAG panel for 2026–27
Role and Significance of Empanelment: Empanelment with CAG is widely seen as prestigious for CA firms because:
a. It enhances professional credibility.
b. It provides opportunities to audit government-linked entities.
c. It expands a firm’s presence and recognition in public sector audit work.
However, empanelment itself does not guarantee an audit assignment — firms are considered based on policy criteria and audit requirements in any given year.
The CAG empanelment process for CA firms/LLPs for the year 2026-27 is a structured, transparent procedure designed to identify qualified audit professionals to support statutory audits of public sector entities. Applicants must:
a. Apply within the online window (13 Feb–2 Mar 2026)
b. Provide firm data as of 01 Jan 2026
c. Generate acknowledgement online
d. Submit required documents by 10 Mar 2026
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