ICAI ANNOUNCEMENT GUIDANCE ON REPORTING UNDER THE COMPANIES (AUDITOR’S REPORT) ORDER, 2015 (CARO, 2015) AND CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE FORMAT OF THE AUDITOR’S REPORT OF A COMPANY.

1. As the members are aware, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, on 10th April, 2015, notified the Companies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2015 (CARO, 2015). The text of the Order is available on the URL http://www.mca.gov.in/Ministry/pdf/Companies_Auditors_Report_Order_2015.pdf

2. Members would have noted that, inter alia, the exemption criteria applicable to private companies as laid down in the paragraph 1(v) of the CARO, 2015 is same as that in the Companies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2003 (CARO, 2003). Also, it is noted that the twelve reporting clauses given in paragraph 3 of CARO, 2015 are similar in their requirements to the corresponding clauses in paragraph 4 of the CARO, 2003. Further, the requirement to state reasons for unfavourable or qualified answers as given in paragraph 4 of the CARO, 2015 is also similar to that contained in paragraph 4 of the CARO, 2003. Accordingly, members are advised to continue to draw in principle guidance from the relevant paragraphs of the Statement on the Companies (Auditor’s Report) Order, 2003, issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).