The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Army Purchase Organisation (APO), Directorate General of Supply and Transport (DGST), Indian Army, Ministry of Defence (MoD), to facilitate real-time verification of UDINs through an Application Programming Interface (API) integrated within the vendor registration process of the Army Purchase Organisation (APO).
The MoU aims to strengthen the transparency, authenticity and reliability of financial documents certified by Chartered Accountants, thereby enhancing trust and efficiency in the procurement and verification processes within the Indian Army's administrative framework.
The signing ceremony was presided over by CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, President, ICAI along with CA. Prasanna Kumar D, Vice-President, ICAI and CA. (Dr.) Jai Kumar Batra, Secretary, ICAI. Representing the Indian Army, the event was attended by Lieutenant General Mukesh Chadha, AVSM, SM, VSM, Director General of Supplies and Transport & Senior Colonel Commandant, along with senior officials from his team. Also present were the Convenor and Deputy Convenor of the UDIN Directorate.
Speaking on the occasion, CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, President, ICAI, said, "The UDIN initiative has been a landmark in promoting authenticity and curbing malpractices in document certification. This collaboration with the Indian Army marks another milestone in extending the benefits of technology-driven transparency to key national institutions".The MoU underscores ICAI's continued commitment to strengthening governance, integrity, and accountability through innovative digital initiatives. It also reflects ICAI's proactive engagement with government bodies to ensure robust systems that support institutional efficiency and trust.
The DGST, Indian Army (MoD) proposed integration of ICAI's Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN) system through an Application Programming Interface (API), enabling real-time verification of UDINs within their system. The purpose of integrating the UDIN system through an API is to strengthen the vendor registration process within the Army Purchase Organisation (APO).
The API integration aims to automate the verification of Chartered Accountant (CA)-certified documents submitted by vendors, thereby ensuring document authenticity, minimizing manual errors, and mitigating the risk of fraud.
The initiative marks a significant milestone in ICAI's technology-driven efforts to strengthen transparency and public trust in financial reporting and governance. Through this partnership, ICAI and APO/DGST are setting a benchmark for digital integration, accountability, and document authentication across government systems.
UDIN Statistics
It is a matter of record that the Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN) system has witnessed remarkable adoption and usage since its inception. As on date, approximately 9.72 crore UDINs have been generated by Chartered Accountants across the country, signifying its extensive acceptance and utilization within the profession. Further, over 3.2 crore UDINs have been verified and validated by various regulators, government authorities, and other stakeholders, reflecting the growing trust and reliance on UDIN as a robust mechanism for ensuring the authenticity and integrity of documents certified by members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
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