<span style="color: #222222;">The 45th Civil Accounts Day was celebrated in New Delhi today. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was the Chief Guest of the event.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''Comptroller and Auditor General G.C. Murmu, Expenditure Secretary Dr T. V. Somanathan and Controller General of Accounts Soma Roy Burman were present on the occasion among others.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''This annual event was celebrated for the first time by virtual mode and was enthusiastically attended by Indian Civil Accounts Service ICAS officers and staff of the Civil Accounts Organisation.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''Ms Sitharaman expressed her appreciation for the service for keeping government expenditure going even during the most challenging time.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''She expressed her happiness that the organisation adopted quickly in wake of challenge posed by pandemic and used technology to bring out efficient solutions for keeping the funds moving.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''Ms Sitharaman also expressed her satisfaction over the success of Direct Benefit Transfer through Public Financial Management system.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''She also lauded the organisations for smooth transfer of new accounting system for newly created UT of Ladakh despite the severe pandemic situation.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''The Finance Minister acknowledged the roll out of Treasury Single Accounts System TSA in 15 Autonomous Bodies in first phase and the organisation's commitment to extend this to another 40 Autonomous Bodies by the coming Independence Day.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''TSA is a great systematic reform ensuring value for money which will reduce the borrowing of the government.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''The Finance Minister further laid down three points road map for the organisation, paperless and transparent governance, keeping pace with technological advancements and continuity of seamless digital payments with user friendly interfaces.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''Chairman of Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council Dr. Bibek Debroy in his key-note address emphasised on the constructive role that responsible communities can play in nation building. While stressing on a relook at the 7th schedule, in relation to devolution mechanisms for Panchayats and Urban local bodies, he said that actual service delivery of public goods needs to happen at local body level.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''CAG G. C. Murmu commended the Service for its efficient, responsive system of budgeting, payment, accounting.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''He mentioned that Public financial Management System PFMS has facilitated electronic transactions in Government of India.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">PM-Kisan scheme was successfully implemented through PFMS. He emphasised the importance of asset accounting and Natural Resource Accounting and other accounting reforms for the Government of India. He stressed upon the requirement of geographical tagging by using Information Technology.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''Expenditure Secretary Dr. T.V. Somanathan expressed satisfaction over the organisation's performance during the pandemic and mentioned that the organisation was declared as an essential service and has performed well as frontline workers.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''He expressed his satisfaction over the processing of payments during the pandemic without compromising on quality. He also said that going forward, the service should ensure speedy payments without compromising the quality.</span>