Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service
Encyclopedia
The Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service (also known as IP&TAFS) is a Group "A" Central Civil service of the Union of India. The service was started in the year 1972 for prudent and professional management of the finances of the Department of Posts
and Department of Telecommunications which were the sole provider of the communications needs of the country at that time. Gradually, over time the service has crystallized into a professional cadre of over 225 officers. The officers are recruited through the Civil Services Examination
organised by the Union Public Service Commission
. The Services recruited through Civil Services Examination include IFS, IAS, IPS and Central Services Group "A", viz., IRTS, IRS, IA&AS, IP&TAFS, IRAS, IDAS etc.
, the officers undergo a foundation course with the officers of other services (IAS
, IPS
, IFS
& Central Services Group "A")lasting about 4 months. This is followed by a year of rigorous professional training in Financial Management at the National Institute of Financial Management,http://www.nifm.ac.in/ Faridabad
which is a specialised training institute under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India
. Thereafter, for further training in Telecom technologies and Postal procedures the officers are deputed for 10 months at National Institute of Communication Finance (NICF) at Ghaziabad (U.P.) In between this classroom training schedules, the officers are also deputed for on job field training in various areas.
After successful completion of training the officers are posted to work in the Department of Post or Department of Telecommunications as Assistant Chief Accounts Officers in the Junior Time Scale Grade.
The following officers of IP&TAFS are currently working as Chief Financial Officers in various PSUs of India:-
1. Mr S.D. Saxena, Director Finance, BSNL [Retired]
2. Mr Mathew George, Director Finance, ITI
[now working as Member (Finance) Kerala State Electricity Board]
3. Mrs Anita Soni, Director FInance, MTNL
4. Mr J.K. Ghai, Executive Director Finance, NPCIL
In the Department of Telecommunications the officers are posted at DOT Headquarters as Adviser, Sr DDG, DDG, Directors & ADG. In field units the officers are posted as Controller / Joint Controller of Communication Accounts which is involved in the settlement of pension cases of BSNL Employees, maintaining General Provident Fund accounts of BSNL Employees, collection of License fees and Spectrum Charges from BSNL, MTNL and other service providers and for checking and disbursing claims received under the Universal Service Obligation fund. The amount collected under licensing is approximately Rs.7700 crores for the Financial Year 2004-05. The CCA
units also assist in the administration of Universal Service Obligation Fund under the Ministry of Communications & IT for providing telecom service in the rural/remote areas of the country involving (a) planning & forecasting, (b) tendering (c) costing (d) disbursement of support to service providers and (e) monitoring. The collection towards USO for the 10th Plan Period is around Rs. 13000 crores
The officers in BSNL and MTNL are working at the level of Sr DDG / PGM, DDG / GM & Jt DDG / DGM. In field units they are mainly working as head of finance in various Telecom Circles of BSNL & MTNL.
In the Department of Post, the officers from this service are manning the offices of FA / DDG / GM, Director, ADG /Dy Director / ACAO of Postal Accounts located at DOP Headquarters and in all states. The work in these offices mainly comprises maintaining General Provident Fund accounts of the staff employed in a particular postal circle, settlement of pension cases, checking of money order deliveries and NSCs, budgeting and financial control, Internal Audit of Postal Units and rendering financial advice to the concerned Head of the Circle.
Indian Postal Service
The Department of Posts functioning under the brand name India Post , is a government operated postal system in India; it is generally referred to within India as "the post office"....
and Department of Telecommunications which were the sole provider of the communications needs of the country at that time. Gradually, over time the service has crystallized into a professional cadre of over 225 officers. The officers are recruited through the Civil Services Examination
Civil Services Examination
The Civil Services Examination is a nationwide competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to the various Civil Services of the Government of India, including Indian Administrative Service , Indian Foreign Service , Indian Police Service and...
organised by the Union Public Service Commission
Union Public Service Commission
The Union Public Service Commission is the central agency authorized to conduct the Civil Services Examination for entry-level appointments to the various Civil Services of India. The agency's charter is granted by the Constitution of India...
. The Services recruited through Civil Services Examination include IFS, IAS, IPS and Central Services Group "A", viz., IRTS, IRS, IA&AS, IP&TAFS, IRAS, IDAS etc.
History
After the foundation of Service in 1972, the first batch was recruited in 1974. Mr S.D. Saxena (Retired as Director Finance, BSNL and Ms Ruchira Mukherjee (Ex Adviser Finance), belong to the first batch of 1974. Initial batches of the service were very small in number, however, with growth in Telecom in India need was felt for more number of officers, hence subsequent batches of the service (e.g. 1994, 1995 etc) were large batches.Recruitment and induction
After recruitment through Civil Services ExaminationCivil Services Examination
The Civil Services Examination is a nationwide competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to the various Civil Services of the Government of India, including Indian Administrative Service , Indian Foreign Service , Indian Police Service and...
, the officers undergo a foundation course with the officers of other services (IAS
Indian Administrative Service
The Indian Administrative Service is the administrative civil service of the Government of India. It is one of the three All India Services....
, IPS
Indian Police Service
The Indian Police Service , simply known as Indian Police or IPS, is one of the three All India Services of the Government of India...
, IFS
Indian Foreign Service
The Indian Foreign Service is the foreign service of India. It is the body of career diplomats of India.The Indian Foreign Service is part of the Central Civil Services of the Government of India...
& Central Services Group "A")lasting about 4 months. This is followed by a year of rigorous professional training in Financial Management at the National Institute of Financial Management,http://www.nifm.ac.in/ Faridabad
Faridabad
Faridabad is a city in the south-east of Haryana state in northern India, in Faridabad district. It lies at 28º 25' 16" N Latitude and 77º 18' 28" E Longitude. The district shares its boundaries with the National Capital and Union Territory of Delhi to its north, Gurgaon district to the west and...
which is a specialised training institute under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
. Thereafter, for further training in Telecom technologies and Postal procedures the officers are deputed for 10 months at National Institute of Communication Finance (NICF) at Ghaziabad (U.P.) In between this classroom training schedules, the officers are also deputed for on job field training in various areas.
After successful completion of training the officers are posted to work in the Department of Post or Department of Telecommunications as Assistant Chief Accounts Officers in the Junior Time Scale Grade.
Placements of the Officers
As in the other Central Services, the officers are liable to be transferred and posted in anywhere in India. Officers from this service are also presently occupying the posts of Director (Finance) on the Board of Directors of prestigious PSUs viz., MTNL, BSNL, NPCIL and ITI. The officers of IP&AFS are working in Department of Telecom, Department of Posts, BSNL, MTNL and various other Ministries and Statutory bodies of Govt of India.The following officers of IP&TAFS are currently working as Chief Financial Officers in various PSUs of India:-
1. Mr S.D. Saxena, Director Finance, BSNL [Retired]
2. Mr Mathew George, Director Finance, ITI
ITI
Different meanings of ITI include:* Indian Telephone Industries Limited* The Institute of Translation & Interpreting, which is a professional association representing translators and interpreters in the United Kingdom....
[now working as Member (Finance) Kerala State Electricity Board]
3. Mrs Anita Soni, Director FInance, MTNL
4. Mr J.K. Ghai, Executive Director Finance, NPCIL
In the Department of Telecommunications the officers are posted at DOT Headquarters as Adviser, Sr DDG, DDG, Directors & ADG. In field units the officers are posted as Controller / Joint Controller of Communication Accounts which is involved in the settlement of pension cases of BSNL Employees, maintaining General Provident Fund accounts of BSNL Employees, collection of License fees and Spectrum Charges from BSNL, MTNL and other service providers and for checking and disbursing claims received under the Universal Service Obligation fund. The amount collected under licensing is approximately Rs.7700 crores for the Financial Year 2004-05. The CCA
CCA
CCA can refer to:*ICAO callsign for Air China*California Charter Academy*California College of the Arts*California Culinary Academy*Canadian Canoe Association*Canadian Cascade Arc*Canadian Cat Association*Canadian Centre for Architecture...
units also assist in the administration of Universal Service Obligation Fund under the Ministry of Communications & IT for providing telecom service in the rural/remote areas of the country involving (a) planning & forecasting, (b) tendering (c) costing (d) disbursement of support to service providers and (e) monitoring. The collection towards USO for the 10th Plan Period is around Rs. 13000 crores
The officers in BSNL and MTNL are working at the level of Sr DDG / PGM, DDG / GM & Jt DDG / DGM. In field units they are mainly working as head of finance in various Telecom Circles of BSNL & MTNL.
In the Department of Post, the officers from this service are manning the offices of FA / DDG / GM, Director, ADG /Dy Director / ACAO of Postal Accounts located at DOP Headquarters and in all states. The work in these offices mainly comprises maintaining General Provident Fund accounts of the staff employed in a particular postal circle, settlement of pension cases, checking of money order deliveries and NSCs, budgeting and financial control, Internal Audit of Postal Units and rendering financial advice to the concerned Head of the Circle.