Indian Civil Accounts Service
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. 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 Departmentalisation of Union Accounts (Transfer of Personnel) Act, 1976 was enacted by Parliament and assented to by Hon’ble 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”
ICAS has been leading the reforms in Public Financial Management leveraging the digital technology including the development and management of PFMS (Public Financial Management System), the unified and single IT platform through which the payments and accounting functions related to the Union Government are performed. The seamless flow of funds during the pandemic from the government was necessary not just to sustain the essential services like medicine and law enforcement, but also to keep the economy afloat as consumption demand crashed. Indian Civil Accounts Organisation played a critical role in ensuring electronic flow of claims and bills and keeping the wheels of public expenditure rolling