CGA, ICAS, PFMS & GFR

CGA, ICAS, PFMS, GFR

NageswaraRao 9492432160 

What is the need of knowing about CGA, PFMS, ICAS etc, being a Railway employee ?

Answer: 

• The blogger is of the opinion, the practices and software of Indian Railways is going to be in common with the Union Government of India after merger of Railway Budget with Union Budget from 2017-18 onwards, 

• GFR General Financial Rules has become relevant to Indian Railways.  

• Also GeM, HRMS, E office, the universal applications all over the Government of India has common with Indian Railways.  

• Many common digital platforms are going to be applicable to Indian Railways in the coming days. 

CGA - Controller General of Accounts 

 

•  Present CGA (as on 12th December, 2022) -  Ms Bharati Das, ICAS 

• The Principal advisor to the Union Government (on Accounting matters) 

 

• Responsible for preparation and submission of Accounts of Union Government

 

• Responsible for Exchequer control and Internal Audits 

 

• Belongs to ICAS - Indian Civil Accounts Service   

 

 ICAS - Indian Civil Accounts Service: 

 

•  Carved out from the IA & AS - Indian Audit & Accounts Service in 1976 

 

• W.e.f 01.03.1976  

 

• Celebrating March 1st as the “Civil Accounts Day” 

 

• Relieving the responsibility of preparation of Union Government Accounts from C&AG. 

 

• Under the Department of Expenditure in the Ministry of Finance 

 

•  NIFM - National Institute of Financial Management, Faridabad and INGAF -  INstitute of Government Accounts & Finance - Training Centres for ICAS Officers

 

Key Takeaways - For MCQ

1. CGA stands for Controller General of Accounts 

2. C & AG stands for Comptroller & Auditor General 

3. CGA is the Principal Advisor to the Government of India on accounting matters   

4.  ICAS stands for Indian Civil Accounts Service

5.  IA & AS stands for Indian Audit & Accounts Service 

6. Civil Accounts Day - Celebrated every year on 1st March

7. 1976  - Relieving the responsibility of preparation of Accounts of Union Government from C&AG 

8. ICAS - under the control of Department of Expenditure in Ministry of Finance 

9. NIFM is located at Faridabad

10. NIFM stands for National Institute of Financial Management

11. INGAF stands for INdian Government Accounts & Finance

12. INGAF is located at Chennai 

13. ICAS has been carved out from the IA&AS in 1976 

PFMS - Public Finance Management System

• A web based online software application

• Developed and implemented by CGA - Controller General of Accounts, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India 

 

• Started in 2019 

 

• Object: Tracking funds released under all Plan schemes of Government of India & real time reporting of expenditure. 

 

• Covers all payments, Exchequer control, all receipts, compilation of accounts, preparation of Fiscal Reports

• Interface with the treasury system of all the 28 States and 2 UTs with legislatures.  

 

• Integrated with the core banking system of over 300 Banks in the country.  

 

• Interface with the NPCI - National Payments Corporation of India   

Key Takeaways - For MCQ  

1. PFMS stands for Public Finance Management System 

2. Launched in 2019

3. Developed and maintained by CGA, Department of Expenditure

4. CGA stands for Controller General of Accounts   

5. CGA is a Principal Accounting Officer to the Government of India. (Apex accounting authority in Government of India) 

6. Old name of PFMS is CPSMS - Central Plan Scheme Monitoring System.  

7. NPCI stands for National Payments Corporation of India

GFR - General Financial Rules, 2017  

Click for GFR 2017 with amendments up to 31.07.2022

 Railway Board vide its letter No.2017/ F(X)II/PW/R dated 09.02.2018 advised all  concerned to refer to the rules under the GFR- General Financial Rules, 2017 and  used them as broad principles while making financial decisions.  

 Indian Railways being part of Govt of India, it is incumbent on Indian  Railways to refer GFR in discharging financial powers.  

 Although, historically processes have evolved on Indian Railways considering  operational requirement of field, however, with merger of Railway Budget with  General Budget, any substantive deviation from GFR has become part of  reporting through the monthly PCDO by respective PFAs to Member  Finance /Indian Railways in order to reporting to Ministry of Finance. 

 Issued by the Ministry of Finance, Dept of Expenditure.  

 Consists of 208 pages and 12 Chapters.  

 First GFR in 1947. Then Revised in 1963 and 2005.

  

What is the Need of Revised GFR in 2017 ?  

1. Removal of distinction in non-plan and plan expenditure.  

2. Merger of Railway Budget with General Budget in 2017-18.  

3. Focusing on outcomes through an improved Outcome Budget document.  

4. Reliance on DBT - Direct Benefit Transfer scheme to ensure efficient delivery of  entitlements.  

5. Introduction of new e-sites like Central Public Procurement Portal, GeM Government e-Marketing portal, Non-Tax Revenue portal.  

6. Increased focus on the Public Finance Management System(PFMS).

Key Takeaways - For MCQ  

  

1. First GFR – 1947  

  

2. Latest GFR – 2017  

  

3. GFR stands for General Financial Rules  

4. PFMS stands for Public Finance Management System. 

  

5. Any substantive deviation - 

• At Zonal Level - Brought to the notice of Member  Finance by PFA. 

• At Board level – Brought to the notice of the Ministry of Finance  by Member Finance.  

6. DBT stands for Direct Benefit Transfer 

7. Removal of distinction in non-plan and plan expenditure

8. Total Number of Chapters in GFR  = 12  (total pages 208) 

  

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