History

1923 – Arguably the origin of this office could be traced to Audit Office, Indian Stores Department created in 1923 in Delhi.
1939 (August) – The name of the Audit office was changed to Chief Auditor, Indian Stores Department.
1940 (September) – This Audit Office came to be known as Controller of Supply Accounts from September 1940 with a branch office at Calcutta.
1942 (October) – The name of the office was changed to Chief Controller of Supply Accounts and a second branch office at Bombay was opened.
1947 (April) – the office was designated as Accountant General, Food, Industries and Supplies.
1948 – The name of the office was again changed to Accountant General, Food, Relief and Supply and then as Accountant General, Food, and Rehabilitation and Supply with branch offices at Calcutta and Bombay.
1955 - (April) Chief Audit Officer, Food, Rehabilitation and Supply came into being. The first major scheme of separation of Accounts from Audit in a civil department in the post-independent period was introduced in Food, Rehabilitation and Supply Departments in April 1955 when separate Pay & Accounts Offices were formed under the control of a Chief Pay & Accounts Officer (CPAO). As a result the staff strength of the office of Accountant General, Food, and Rehabilitation and Supply (AGFRS), which was 1537 before this separation, was reduced to 165 with the transfer of 1372 employees to the new Pay & Account Organization. The residuary office of 160 employees entrusted with the audit of Departments of Food, Rehabilitation and Supply was named as Chief Audit Officer, Food, Rehabilitation and Supply.
1958 (March) – The Audit and Accounting work relating to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Production was transferred to this office i.e Chief  Audit Officer, Food Rehabilitation and Supply and the staff strength became 749, which rose to 927 by October 1960. The joint cadre of staff appointed prior to April 1955 in the office of the CPAO and AGFRS was separated in April 1971 and allocated to the respective offices finally.
1958 (March) – the work of DAG Production Commerce and Industry was merged with the Chief Audit Officer (FRS). 
1958 (April) – The name of the office was changed to The Director of Audit, Food Rehabilitation, Supply, Commerce, Steel and Mines (DA FRSCS&M).
1961 (November) – The audit and accounting work of CPWD, Ministry of Irrigation and Power and Ministry of Transport and Communication was transferred to this office from the then office of the Accountant General, Central Revenues (AGCR), New Delhi on a functional basis, along with the officers and staff. The name of the office was then changed to Accountant General, Commerce, Works and Miscellaneous. 
1976 – The Accounting and Entitlement functions were transferred during 1976 to the concerned Ministries/ Departments along with officers and staff. 1280 employees of this office (including branch offices) were transferred to different Pay & Accounts Offices and the strength of the office was reduced to 790. 
1979 (1st April) – The office was re-named as The Director of Audit, Commerce, Works and Miscellaneous.
1986 (April) – Further re-organization took place in April 1986 and a new office – The Director of Audit, Commerce, Works and Miscellaneous-II was created. The administrative control of branch offices at Calcutta, Mumbai and Chennai was transferred from this office of Director of Audit, Commerce, Works and Miscellaneous to the Office of the DA CWM – R. The audit of Scientific Departments/Units such as ICAR, GSI, etc. which was earlier conducted by this office was transferred to the new office of The Director of Audit, Commerce Works & Miscellaneous-II.  The audit of different offices/units of the Ministries/ Departments located outside Delhi, which was earlier conducted by this office, was entrusted to the respective State Accountants General (Audit).  
1990 (1st March) – The name of this office was subsequently changed to Principal Director of Audit, Economic & Service Ministries. Similarly, the name of Office of the Director of Audit, CWM-I1 was also changed to Principal Director of Audit, Scientific Departments.
2020 (22nd May) - After the restructuring of Central Audit offices, this office was subsequently changed to Principal Director of Audit, Industry and Corporate Affair, New Delhi. Similarly, the name of Office of the Principal Director of Audit, Scientific Departments was also changed to Director General of Audit, Environment and Scientific Departments.