Article 150 of the Constitution provides for maintenance of the Government
accounts “in such form as the President may, on the advice of the
Comptroller & Auditor General, prescribe”. The executive powers to prescribe
the form and content of accounts are the responsibilities of the Controller
General of Accounts (CGA), Ministry of Finance under the Allocation of
Business Rules. CGA has also been entrusted with the responsibility of
preparation of Finance Accounts and Appropriation Accounts (Civil) of the
Union Government.
Finance Accounts comprising the accounts of the Union Government as a
whole incorporating transactions of Civil Ministries and Non Civil Ministries,
i.e., Defence, Post and Railways are being compiled by the Controller
General of Accounts. They contain Union Government’s annual financial
statements, including the accounts of receipts and outgoings from the
Consolidated Fund of India, the Public Accounts, the accounts of public
debt, other liabilities and assets as recorded in the Accounts.
Article 114 of the Constitution prescribes that “No money shall be withdrawn
from the Consolidated Fund of India except under appropriation made by
law passed in accordance with the provisions of this article”. Appropriation
Accounts are prepared to show compliance by the Government Departments
with the appropriations provided by Parliament under various demands.
Explanations are provided for significant variances (both excesses and
savings) between the original Demand and final appropriation and actual
expenditure. The Appropriation Accounts incorporating transaction of all
Civil Ministries are being compiled by the Controller General of Accounts
for presentation in Parliament. The Appropriation Accounts of Non-Civil
Ministries are being prepared by the respective Departments / Ministries.
During the year 2008-09, the Controller General of Accounts prepared
Finance Accounts of Union Government. Appropriation Accounts are
prepared for Civil Ministries having 5 Appropriations and 93 Grants.
The Accounts at a Glance has been prepared to provide a summarized
view of the financial performance as detailed in the Finance Accounts and
Appropriation Accounts (Civil) for the year 2008-09, which contain audited
financial statements of the Government.