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Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Discuss the general principles of Government Accounting in India and its basic structure.

The general principles of Government Accounting are as follows: 

1. The Government Expenditure are classified under Sectors, major heads, minor heads, sub-heads and detailed heads of account, the accounting is more elaborate than that followed in commercial accounts. The method of budgeting and accounting under the service heads is not designed to bring out the relation in which Government stands to its material assets in use, or its liabilities due to be discharged at more or less distant dates. 

2. In its Budget for a year, Government is interested to forecast with the greatest possible accuracy what is expected to be received or paid during the year, and whether the former together with the balance of the past year is sufficient to cover the later. Similarly, in the compiled accounts for that year, it is concerned to see to what extent the forecast has been justified by the facts, and whether it has a surplus or deficit balance as a result of the year’s transactions. On the basis of the budget and the accounts, Government determines (a) whether it will be justified in curtailing or expanding its activities (b) whether it can and should increase or decrease taxation accordingly.

3. In the field of Government accounting, the end products are the monthly accounts and the annual accounts. The monthly accounts serve the needs of the day-to-day administration, while the annual accounts present a fair and correct view of the financial stewardship of the Government during the year. 

Basic Structure of the form of the accounts
(1) Period of Accounts: The annual accounts of the central, state and union territory government shall record transactions, which take place during financial year running from 1st April to 31st March. 
(2) Cash Basis Accounts: With the exception of such book adjustments as may be authorized by these rules on the advice of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). The transaction in government accounts shall represent the actual cash receipt and disbursement during a financial year. 

Form of Accounts: There are mainly three parts i.e. consolidated fund, contingency fund and public account. All revenues received by the Government by way of taxes like Income Tax, Central Excise, Customs and other receipts flowing to the Government in connection with the conduct of Government business i.e. Non-Tax Revenues are credited into the Consolidated Fund. Similarly, all loans raised by the Government by issue of Public notifications, treasury bills (internal debt) and loans obtained from foreign governments and international institutions (external debt) are credited into this fund. The Contingency Fund of India records the transactions connected with Contingency Fund set by the Government of India under Article 267 of the Constitution of India. Public account transactions relating to the debt deposit, advances, remittances and suspense shall be recorded.

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