diff --git a/config.ini b/config.ini
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40383a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+[default]
+environment = aws
+wipe = False
+number = 1
+output = cs_audit.log
+audit_ip = None
+
+[azure]
+azure_user = None
+azure_pass = None
+
+[aws]
+user_name = None
+pem_file = None
+password = None
+
+[gcp]
+project_id = None
diff --git a/cs.py b/cs.py
index 46acd62..a3e2d42 100755
--- a/cs.py
+++ b/cs.py
@@ -6,12 +6,13 @@
 from modules import logger
 import rm
 import subprocess
+from modules import argspopulator
 
 
 def main():
     """ main function """
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='this is to get IP address for lynis audit only')
-    parser.add_argument('-env', '--environment', required=True, help='The cloud on which the test-suite is to be run',
+    parser.add_argument('-env', '--environment', required=False, help='The cloud on which the test-suite is to be run',
                         choices=['aws', 'gcp', 'azure'])
     parser.add_argument('-aip', '--audit_ip', required=False, help='The IP for which lynis Audit needs to be done .... by default tries root/Administrator if username not provided')
     parser.add_argument('-u', '--user_name', required=False, help='The username of the user to be logged in,for a specific user')
@@ -26,7 +27,8 @@ def main():
     parser.add_argument('-n', '--number', required=False, help='Retain number of report to store for a particular environment and user/project.')
 
     args = parser.parse_args()
-
+    args = argspopulator.update_args(args)
+    
     
     # set up logging
     log = logger.setup_logging(args.output, "INFO")
diff --git a/modules/argspopulator.py b/modules/argspopulator.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cb11e28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/argspopulator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+import ConfigParser
+import argparse
+import readconfigfile
+from argparse import Namespace as Namespace
+import logging
+import os
+
+def check_run_time_argument(args_dict):
+    list_of_run_time_keys = []
+    list_of_run_time_values = []
+    for key, value in args_dict.items():
+       if value != None and value != False:
+            list_of_run_time_keys.append(key)
+            list_of_run_time_values.append(value)
+    data_dict = dict(zip(list_of_run_time_keys, list_of_run_time_values))
+    return data_dict
+
+def get_environment():
+    config = ConfigParser.ConfigParser()
+    config.read('config.ini')
+    env_value_at_config_file = config.get('default','environment')
+    if env_value_at_config_file == 'None':
+        env_value_at_config_file = None
+    return env_value_at_config_file
+
+def put_env_variables(args_dict):
+    try:
+        
+        list_of_env_variables = ['password','azure_pass']
+        for env_variable in list_of_env_variables:
+            if os.environ[env_variable] != None and os.environ[env_variable] != 'None' : 
+                args_dict[env_variable] = os.environ[env_variable]
+        return args_dict
+    except Exception as _:
+        return args_dict
+
+def update_args(args_namespace):
+    args_dict = vars(args_namespace)
+    sections = ['default']
+    if args_namespace.environment != None:
+        sections.append(args_namespace.environment)
+    elif get_environment() != None :
+        sections.append(get_environment())
+    else:
+        print("No environment defined to run audit upon!")
+        exit(0)
+    data_from_cli = check_run_time_argument(args_dict)
+    config_file_data = {}
+    for section in sections:
+        config_file_data[section] = readconfigfile.get_section_data(section)
+    args_dict = put_config_file_data(sections,config_file_data,args_dict)
+    args_dict = put_runtime_arguments(data_from_cli,args_dict)
+    args_dict = put_env_variables(args_dict)
+    args_namespace = Namespace(**args_dict)
+    return args_namespace
+
+
+def put_runtime_arguments(data,args_dict):
+    for single_data in data:
+        args_dict[single_data] = data[single_data]
+    return args_dict
+
+def put_config_file_data(sections,config_file_data,args_dict):
+    for section in sections:
+        for i in config_file_data[section]:
+            args_dict[i] = config_file_data[section][i]
+    return args_dict
+    
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/modules/readconfigfile.py b/modules/readconfigfile.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b78ad7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/readconfigfile.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import ConfigParser
+
+
+def get_section_data(section):
+    list_of_config_file_keys = []
+    list_of_config_file_values = []
+    config = ConfigParser.ConfigParser()
+    config.read('config.ini')
+    raw_section_data = config.items(section)
+    for i in range(len(raw_section_data)):
+        list_of_config_file_keys.append(raw_section_data[i][0])
+        list_of_config_file_values.append(raw_section_data[i][1])
+    data_dict = dict(zip(list_of_config_file_keys, list_of_config_file_values))
+    data_dict = correct_false_values(data_dict)
+    return data_dict
+
+
+
+def correct_false_values(args_dict):
+    for key in args_dict:
+        if args_dict[key] == 'None':
+            args_dict[key] = None
+        if args_dict[key] == 'False':
+            args_dict[key] = False
+        if args_dict[key] == 'True':
+            args_dict[key] = True
+    return args_dict