47th Civil Accounts Day – 1st March 2023

Civil Accounts Day is annually observed across India on 1st March to mark the foundation of the Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS), one of the Civil Services of India under the Department of Expenditure, Ministry Of Finance.

• 1st March 2023 marks the observance of the 47th Civil Accounts Day. 
• Civil Accounts Day is also known as the foundation day of ICAS. 

Events: 

The event of the 47th Civil Accounts Day was organised at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New Delhi, Delhi with Pankaj Chaudhary, Union Minister of State(MoS) for Finance as  Chief Guest.

• Union Finance Secretary Dr T.V. Somanathan also addressed the audience during the celebrations.
• Some of the achievements in 2022 such as the revision of Receipt and Payment Rules, extension of roll out of e-bill system with enhanced coverage, implementation of revised fund flow mechanism through Treasury Single Accounts, Central Nodal Account (CAN) and Single Nodal Account (SNA) system were mentioned at the event. 

Background: 

i.Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) was constituted in 1976 following a historical reform in public financial administration when the maintenance of Accounts of the Union Government was separated from that of Audit.

• Following the formation of ICAS, the Comptroller and Auditor General(CAG) of India was divested with this responsibility.

ii.On 1st March 1976, the President of India promulgated 2 Ordinances: the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Amendment Ordinance, 1976 and the Departmentalisation of Union Accounts (Transfer of Personnel) Ordinance, 1976 to initiate the process of separation of accounts from audit and paving the way for departmentalised accounts.

• Since then, the 1st March of every year is annually celebrated as the foundation day of ICAS. 

Public Financial Management System:

Public Financial Management System (PFMS), started as a Plan Scheme Monitoring System, is a web-based portal that covers various dimensions of Public Financial Management of the Government.

• PFMS provides the government’s Value added services like Direct Benefit Transfers, processing of GST refunds, monitoring of funds released to states through treasury integration, and automating non-tax receipts through the Non-Tax Receipt portal.
• Through new initiatives like Treasury Single Accounts (TSA) System for other central expenditures, Central Nodal Agency (CNA) mechanism for Central Sector Scheme and Single Nodal Agency (SNA) for Centrally Sponsored Schemes, PFMS has reformed the cash and debt management of India.
• The revision of Receipt and Payment Rules has facilitated the implementation of the e-bill system, the implementation of the Treasury Single Accounts System and the modification of funds flow in Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes ensuring transparency and accountability in the system.

About Controller General of Accounts (CGA): 

The Controller General of Accounts is the Principal Accounting Advisor to the Government of India and oversees the payment and accounting system of the country.

Head of the organization of CGA- S.S. Dubey
Office of CGA– New Delhi, Delhi