Social audit has emerged as a powerful mechanism for enhancing accountability, transparency, and participatory governance across public and private institutions. Traditionally viewed as a tool for evaluating the social performance of development programmes, the concept has now evolved to incorporate broader dimensions such as stakeholder engagement, ethical governance, sustainability reporting, and community empowerment. This new perspective positions social audit not merely as a post-implementation review, but as a continuous process that integrates social responsibility into organisational decision-making. The paper explores contemporary frameworks, methodological advancements, and technological enablers—such as digital platforms, data analytics, and participatory monitoring systems—that are reshaping the practice of social auditing. It also highlights emerging challenges, including capacity gaps, data reliability issues, and the need for stronger institutional support. By providing a holistic understanding of the modern social audit ecosystem, this study emphasizes its potential to strengthen democratic processes, improve developmental outcomes, and foster an inclusive and ethically responsible organisational culture.
Shivani Saini (Thu,) studied this question.