The audit of Government expenditure is one of the major components of Government audit. Briefly explain the basic standards set in relation to audit…

Expenditure Audit: The audit of government expenditure is one of the major components of government audit. The basic standards set for audit of expenditure are to ensure that there is provision of funds authorized by competent authority fixing the limits within which ex-penditure can be incurred. These standards are— (i) that the expenditure incurred conforms to the relevant provisions of the statutory enactment and in accordance with the Financial Rules and Regulations framed by the competent authority. Such an audit is called as the audit against ‘rules and orders'. (ii) that there is sanction, either special or general, accorded by competent authority authorising the expenditure. Such an audit is called as the audit of sanctions. (iii) that there is a provision of funds out of which expenditure can be incurred and the same has been authorised by competent authority. Such an audit is called as audit against provision of funds. (iv) that the expenditure is incurred with due regard to broad and general principles of financial propriety. Such an audit is also called as propriety audit. (v) that the various programmes, schemes and projects where large financial expenditure has been incurred are being run economically and are yielding results expected of them. Such an audit is termed as the performance audit.