Chapter IV — General Provisions

Section 52: Powers and duties of auditors

Reviewed by CA Nikhil Gupta · Last reviewed 18 September 2026

Section 52 states the powers and duties of RBI's auditors, including access to books/accounts and reporting on the balance sheet and accounts in the manner contemplated by the Act.

Operative provisionOfficial sources mappedProvision-specific decode

Finin2min - Section 52 in 2 minutes

Legal effectSection 52 states the powers and duties of RBI's auditors, including access to books/accounts and reporting on the balance sheet and accounts in the manner contemplated by the Act.

Operative ruleThe provision gives auditors statutory access and reporting responsibility rather than leaving the audit entirely to contract terms.

Connected lawRead it with Sections 50-51 and RBI's accounting/reporting framework.

File evidenceAudit evidence should show access to relevant records, verification procedures and the statutory report/conclusions.

Statutory structure and clause / subsection decode

This map separates the operative limbs of this provision so thresholds, powers, conditions and exceptions are not collapsed into a single summary.

Scope

Section 52 states the powers and duties of RBI's auditors, including access to books/accounts and reporting on the balance sheet and accounts in the manner contemplated by the Act.

Operative limb

The provision gives auditors statutory access and reporting responsibility rather than leaving the audit entirely to contract terms.

Legal boundary

Read it with Sections 50-51 and RBI's accounting/reporting framework.

Worked practical example

Facts. RBI management cannot contractually restrict an auditor from records that Section 52 entitles the auditor to inspect for the statutory audit.

Compliance points and common mistakes

Do not decide the issue from the heading alone. Map the facts to the operative words of Section 52 and to each relevant subsection, clause, proviso or explanation shown above.
Keep the statutory question separate from the operational overlay. Read it with Sections 50-51 and RBI's accounting/reporting framework.
Do not convert an exception, exemption or discretionary RBI/Government power into an automatic entitlement. Record the authority, conditions and effective date.
Where the provision is historical, omitted or repealed, state that status prominently and do not present it as a current compliance obligation.

Connected provisions and instruments

Section 52 has no universal instrument dependency in this package. Add an RBI circular or direction only when its subject, entity and effective date cover the issue being analysed.

Questions and answers

What is the purpose of Section 52?

Powers and duties of auditors: Section 52 states the powers and duties of RBI's auditors, including access to books/accounts and reporting on the balance sheet and accounts in the manner contemplated by the Act.

Which statutory limb should be checked first?

Scope - Section 52 states the powers and duties of RBI's auditors, including access to books/accounts and reporting on the balance sheet and accounts in the manner contemplated by the Act.

What is the next legal boundary?

Operative limb - The provision gives auditors statutory access and reporting responsibility rather than leaving the audit entirely to contract terms.

What record should support the conclusion?

Section 52 file evidence: Audit evidence should show access to relevant records, verification procedures and the statutory report/conclusions.

Primary sources

Source control for Section 52: use the official consolidated RBI Act for the statutory text and footnotes, then separately reconcile any post-Finance Act 2022 amendment, commencement notification or RBI instrument relevant to the event date.