India 2018

244 India 2018
Central Pension Accounting Office
The Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) was established in 1990 for
Payment and Accounting of Central (Civil) Pensioners and pension to freedom
fighters etc. CPAO is a subordinate office under the Office of the Controller
General of Accounts, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure. It has
been entrusted with the responsibility of administering the scheme of payment
of pension to Central Government (Civil) pensioners through authorized banks.
Its core functions are: issue of Special Seal Authorities(SSAs) authorizing
payment of pension in fresh as well as revision of pension cases to the CPPCs
(central pension processing centers) of pension disbursing banks; preparation
of Budget for the pension grant and accounting thereof; maintenance of data
bank of central civil pensioners containing all details indicated in the PPOs and
Revision Authorities; handle the grievances of central civil pensioners.
National Institute of Financial Management
The National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM) was set up in 1993 as
an autonomous body under the Societies Registration Act, to impart training
to officers recruited by the Union Public Service Commission through the annual
Civil Service Examinations and allocated to the various services responsible
for managing senior and top management posts dealing with accounts and
finance in the Government of India and to develop as a Centre of Excellence in
the areas of financial management and related disciplines, not only in India but
also in Asia. The Institute adheres to norms prescribed by the All India Council
for Technical Education (AICTE) in respect of faculty qualifications and strength.
Currently, the Institute runs five long-term programmes approved by AICTE -
Professional Training Course of one year for newly recruited probationers of
Accounting services called diploma in public financial management; a one year
diploma course in government financial management; a two-year post graduate
diploma in management (Financial Management) programme for officers of
the central government, the state governments, public sector undertakings and
other organizations and a one-year post graduate diploma in management
(financial markets) to produce competent researchers, teachers and consultants.
Revision of General Financial Rules
The General Financial Rules (GFRs) are rules and orders dealing with matters
involving public finances. General Financial Rules were issued for the first
time in 1947 bringing together in one place all existing orders and instructions
pertaining to financial matters. These have subsequently been modified and
issued as GFRs 1963 and GFRs 2005. The Revised General Financial Rules -
2017 were released in 2017 to enable an improved, efficient and effective
framework of fiscal management while providing the necessary flexibility to
facilitate timely delivery of services. In the last few years, Government has
made many innovative changes in the way it conducts its business. Reforms in
Government budgeting like removal of distinction in non-plan and plan
expenditure, merger of Railway Budget with General Budget, focusing on