Summary

SAI India conducted a compliance audit in communication agencies. SAI found that the Department of Posts entered into an agreement with M/s Naaptol Online Shopping Private Limited, an e-commerce company, on booking, collection, and delivery services, as well as Cash on Delivery (CoD) payment service. Due to the lack of pre-clearance in the SAP data processing system by the Department of Posts, as well as the lack of manual checks of CoD payments, the Department overpaid 10.5 million rupees (USD 106,000). In the Department of Telecommunications, auditors reviewed the execution of a contract to establish mobile communications in two Indian states. SAI found that, even with the contract extension, only 431 of the approved 756 sites had been commissioned as of April 2021. The companies revised the target of sites, lowering the quantity to 562. However, even with the contract adjustment, 124 sites remained uncommissioned as of April 2025. This enatailed penalties amounting to 84.9 million rupees (90,100 USD), which remained outstanding as of the audit date.