CAG, IIT Madras launch digital systems audit certification program

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have launched a new certification program to train professionals in auditing digital government and enterprise systems.

The Certification on Audit of Digital Systems (CADS) Foundation-level program was launched through SWAYAM Plus. The four-month course will be conducted entirely online and is open to candidates who hold or are pursuing an undergraduate degree in India.

The program focuses on digital systems auditing as governments and organizations increasingly adopt artificial intelligence (AI), cloud platforms, digital infrastructure and data-driven services.

The CADS curriculum covers six areas: Public Audit, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Information Systems, Digital Public Platforms and Privacy, and Artificial Intelligence.

The course combines online lessons with case studies, self-assessment modules and practical audit scenarios based on industry requirements. Learners will be evaluated through proctored computer-based tests (CBTs), which will be held in person.

The program is hosted on the IITM Pravartak Learning Management System through SWAYAM Plus. Its curriculum was jointly developed by experts from CAG, IIT Madras and IITM Pravartak.

The certification is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Credit Framework (NCrF), offering academic credits along with professional training in digital systems auditing.

CADS will be offered through a three-level certification pathway, starting with Foundation and progressing to Proficient and Expert levels. The advanced stages will focus on handling increasingly complex, multi-domain digital audit assignments.

The certification is designed to be geography-neutral, with plans to eventually extend the program to participants outside India. It aims to develop professionals with expertise in emerging technologies and the audit challenges associated with digital public and private sector systems.

The launch event took place at the IIT Madras campus on Aug 27 in the presence of CAG officials, IIT Madras faculty and other stakeholders. Comptroller and Auditor General K Sanjay Murthy and IIT Madras Director Prof V Kamakoti attended the event.

The collaboration brings together CAG's public-sector auditing experience and IIT Madras' academic and technical expertise. It is expected to expand the pool of professionals trained in areas including cybersecurity, AI, information systems and digital platforms.

CAG also awarded course completion certificates to officials who had completed an IIT Madras certification course covering Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity. The event also featured audit applications and use cases developed by CAG officials.