Finance Minister said that Highest level of integrity and efficiency is required on the part of Officers & staff of Civil Accounts Service as great sanctity is attached to the accounting system.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today inaugurated Online GPF Module at 42nd Civil Accounts Day 2018 at DRDO. Speaking on the occasion, the  Finance Minister said that Highest level of integrity and efficiency is required on the part of Officers & staff of Civil Accounts Service as great sanctity is attached to the accounting system.

The Union Government initiated a major reform in Public Financial Management in 1976. The Audit and Accounts functions were separated by relieving the Comptroller and Auditor General of his responsibility of preparation of Union Government accounts.

The accounting function was brought directly under the control of the Executive. Consequently, the Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) was established.

The ICAS was carved out from the Indian Audit & Accounts Service (IA & AS), initially through the promulgation of an Ordinance amending the C & AG’s (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Amendment Act, 1976.

Later on, the Departmentalization of Union Accounts (Transfer of Personnel) Act, 1976 was enacted by Parliament and assented to by the President of India on 8th April 1976. The Act was deemed to have come into force with effect from 1st March 1976.

Accordingly, the ICAS is celebrating March 1 every year as the “Civil Accounts Day”.Since its inception, the ICAS has steadily grown in stature and now plays an important role in the management of public finances of the Union Government