ICAI to explore use of blockchain technology in auditing

Technology will be a major focus of ICAI as it not only disrupts but will also creates opportunities, ICAI president Debashis Mitra said

Chartered accountants’ apex body ICAI will explore the use of blockchain technology in auditing, its new president Debashis Mitra said.

Technology will be a major focus of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) as it not only disrupts but will also creates opportunities, Mr. Mitra told PTI.

"Artificial Intelligence and blockchain technology will be the focus among the emerging technologies. We will explore how blockchain can be used in auditing," he said.

Mr. Mitra said the ICAI's decision to mandate a peer review mechanism for certain categories of firms rendering assurance services to specific classes of entities will go a long way in enhancing the audit quality.

The implementation will begin in a phased manner from April 1 with practice units that have undertaken a statutory audit of enterprises, having equity or debt securities listed in India.

Over the next three years, the rollout would steadily cover firms providing assurance services to unlisted companies.