Most people know that the UPSC CSE exam is the gateway to becoming an IAS, IPS or IFS (Indian Foreign Service) officer. Many are also aware that Indian Forest Service (IFoS) exam is also conducted by UPSC. However, not everyone is aware that UPSC does not conduct exams for only these services. It is also the gateway to more than 20 other services.
From today, Indian Masterminds is starting a series to inform you about the competitive exams conducted by UPSC for various other services. Candidate can choose any of them based on choices, or it can be allotted to them based on the rank in the joint competitive exams. We start with Indian Audit & Account Services and Indian Civil Account Services.
INDIAN AUDIT& ACCOUNT SERVICES
This service comes under Comptroller Auditor General (CAG). The officers train at National Academy of Audits & Accounts, Shimla and serves in Audit & Account Department in an audit managerial capacity. Their role is to do financial auditing and maintain the accounts of Central government, State government and PSUs.
The officers in this service are recruited through UPSC, or through promotion from subordinate cadre. Before joining the department, the officers have to undergo two phases of training, first at NAAA and then at RBI, TISS-Mumbai, SEBI, NIFM etc.
The officers start as Assistant Accountant General or Assistant Director. At state level, state accounts & audit officers are headed by Accountant General or Principal Accountants General and at Central level, Principal Directors and Director General. These officers report to Deputy CAG or Additional Deputy CAG. They are highest ranked officers in the services.
INDIAN CIVIL ACCOUNT SERVICES
This service was created in 1976 and is headed by CAG. They work under Department of Expenditure in Ministry of Finance. The officers are recruited through UPSC and train at National Institute of Financial Management, Faridabad & Institute of Government Accounts & Finance. Their role includes providing payment services and supporting the tax collection system, performing government-wide accounting service, internal audit in civil ministries of the Union government. They also administer crucial government payment system through PFMS & are responsible for providing direct cash. The units for accounting, reporting and internal audit function in civil ministries is with these officers and the units are headed by Principal Chief Controller of Accounts, Chief Controller of Accounts or Controller of Accounts in the ministries.
