Indian Civil Accounts Service

Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS)

Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) is one of the Civil Services Group ‘A’ functioning under the Department of Expenditure in the Union Ministry of Finance. Headed by Controller General of Accounts (CGA), it functions through Indian Civil Accounts Organisation and performs a vital role in delivery of financial management solutions for the Government of India. This organisation provides payment services, supports the tax collection system, performs government wide accounting, financial reporting functions, preparation of budget estimates and carries out Internal Audit in civil ministries of the Union Government.

What are the eligibility conditions?

The eligibility criteria for Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) are the same as for other civil services. Once the candidate clears the civil services and gets allotment to the service as per his rank and has to undergo through specified training.

What kinds of trainings are offered?

Selected candidates are offered trainings at various places. At first level, candidates must undergo training for a period of 10 months at National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM), Faridabad and National Academy of Direct Taxes (Nagpur). Later, the NIFM also offers the candidates a post graduate diploma in public financial management. Finally, they are sent to the Institute of Government Accounts and Finance (INGAF) from where the officers are given on-the-job training. Candidates are also sent abroad for training.

What are the roles and responsibilities of an ICAS officer?

The primary task of an ICAS officer is to strengthen governance through excellence in public financial management. Some of the key duties of an ICAS officer are:

• Deliver and administer an effective and credible system for budgeting, payment and accounting.
• Offer a world class, robust integrated financial information system.
• Create new standards of internal audit for improved transparency and accountability.
• Enforce all kinds of information and communication technology to achieve intended goals.
• Promote professional integrity through a dedicated workforce committed to service ethos.

What is the primary function of Indian Civil Accounts Organisation?

Indian Civil Accounts Organisation performs the important tasks of consolidating the accounting and reporting functions for the entire tax and non-tax receipts of the Government. With a vast network of 28,000 branches of twenty-nine scheduled commercial banks, the organisation manages the receipts and payment functions for around 90 % of the country’s budget. It has developed and implemented policies to ensure accuracy in remittance and reporting of government receipts, from its initial deposit to its final credit in the government account. The organisation is responsible for disbursement and accounting of pension payments to Government employees of all Civil Ministries including Prime Minister and President of India. Controller General of Accounts (CGA) also consolidates the monthly and annual accounts of the Union Government on the basis of accounts submitted by Ministries and Departments.

The organisation has been able to leverage its core capability and experience in offering single point registration of implementing strategies. Besides, the organisation observes and monitors fund flow from the central government to the implementing the schemes and also reconciliation with accounting data. It also generates customized reports for the program managers on source, allocation and use of funds.

Indian Civil Accounts Service Ranks and Salaries