Report No. 1 of 20242024
CAG × ICSSR
About the Competition
Run jointly by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Indian Council of Social Science Research, the competition invites students to turn audit findings and public-finance questions into original, policy-minded scholarship. A single all-India framework governs the contest, so every State and Union Territory runs it on the same open, rigorous and academically credible terms.
State / UT Level Submission
01 Jul – 31 Aug 2026
60-day submission window
Applicant Categories
UG / PG & Doctoral
Individual entries only
Reference Material
Theme-wise Audit Reports
English and Hindi links
Who Can Enter
You qualify if you are a full-time student currently on the rolls of a recognised UG, PG or Doctoral programme. The institution must be an Institute of National Importance or hold UGC recognition under Section 2(f) and/or 12(B) of the 1956 Act. There is no entry fee.
How to Enter
Everything is done online. Entries are individual — one article per person, no co-authors — and you apply through the State where your institution is located. You may compete at both the State/UT and National levels.
Preparing Your Article
Upload a PDF set in MLA 9th edition style: Times New Roman 12-point, standard margins, double-spaced. Keep your name and any identifying detail off the manuscript, and have a bona fide enrolment certificate ready to attach.
Evaluation
Experts review every article blind, scoring for policy relevance, originality, method, citation quality and depth of analysis. Work must be unpublished and entirely your own — AI-generated or plagiarised content is disqualified.
Languages Accepted
At the State/UT level you may write in any of the 22 scheduled languages or in English. The National round is open in English and Hindi only.
Key Dates
Outreach
From 01 Jun 2026
Announcements and awareness begin
Submission Window
01 Jul – 31 Aug 2026
60 days to register and submit (State/UT)
State / UT Results
By 15 Sep 2026
State-level awards declared
National Round
01 Aug – 30 Sep 2026
National-level competition window
National Results
By 30 Oct 2026
Final results declared
Themes & Quick Navigation
Note: Some reports are relevant to more than one approved theme and have therefore been repeated under the concerned themes.
Reference Material — Theme-wise Audit Reports
Use the theme tabs to filter the reports below; each links to the official CAG repository.
Fiscal Federalism and Governance
4 Reports
Report No. 4 of 20222022
General, Social & Economic Sectors, Government of Telangana
View Report
EnglishTelugu report not available
Report No. 3 of 20222022
Revenue Sector, Government of Telangana (SSCA on GST)
View Report
EnglishTelugu report not available
Report No. 2 of 20242024
Audit Report on Revenue Sector for the year ended 31st March 2022 (SSCA on GST)
Social Sector Spending
3 Reports
Report No. 1 of 20232023
Performance Audit of Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme — Aasara Pensions in Telangana
View Report
EnglishTelugu report not available
Report No. 4 of 20242024
Performance Audit on Public Health Infrastructure and Management of Health Services in Telangana State (year ended March 2022)
Report No. 4 of 20222022
General, Social & Economic Sectors, Government of Telangana
View Report
EnglishTelugu report not available
Empowering Urban and Rural Local Bodies
1 Report
Report No. 2 of 20222022
Performance Audit of Implementation of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act in Telangana State
View Report
EnglishTelugu report not available
Important Instructions for Participants
- 1Use the audit reports listed below to choose a theme and anchor your research.
- !Submit only original, unpublished work — anything AI-generated or plagiarised leads to disqualification.
- 2Keep a bona fide enrolment certificate ready to upload when you register.
- 3Leave your name and identifying details off the article itself; disclosing your identity leads to disqualification.
- 4The official registration portal and notification are released separately by ICSSR / CAG — watch this page for the opening date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can children of CAG employees take part?
There is no automatic bar. Eligibility is judged purely against the enrolment and institution criteria, the same as for any other applicant.
I study outside my home State — which contest do I enter?
You enter through the State or Union Territory where your institution is located, since applications are filed from the State of the affiliating institution.
Are medical residents or similar candidates eligible?
It is assessed case by case against the same test: current full-time enrolment in a recognised UG, PG or Doctoral programme at a qualifying institution.
Do the State and National rounds need separate applications?
Yes. The two levels run on different schedules and language rules, so each is entered separately.
How do I get the relevant CAG reports?
They are linked on this page, organised by theme. The State-specific list may also be shared with your confirmation email after you register.
How should I structure my article?
Build it around the scoring criteria — a clear policy angle, an original argument, sound method, solid citations and real analysis — within MLA 9th formatting.
Disclaimer: The above links are provided for reference and academic use by participants of the CAG–ICSSR Research Article Competition. Participants are advised to refer to the official notification, SOP / guidelines and competition portal for eligibility, submission, timelines and other operational instructions.