The Defence Accounts Department, under the leadership of Controller General of Defence Accounts, Dr. Mayank Sharma, IDAS is organizing a two day Integrated Financial Advisors Conference (IFA) in Hampi from 3rd to 4th April, 2025. The inaugural session of the Conference will be graced by the Financial Advisor (Defence Services) Shri S G Dastidar, IDAS. Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, IAS will be the Chief Guest for the Valedictory Session. 

With a distinguished history of over 275 years, the Defence Accounts Department is one of the oldest Departments of the Government of India. Its mandate includes providing a wide spectrum of Financial Services to the Defence Services of the country which includes financial advice, payment and pension disbursement, audit, accounting and budget monitoring. The Department, this year will be handling the Defence budget of Rs. 6,81,210.27 Crore which is 13.45% of the Union Budget and is the highest among the Ministries. The Financial Advisor’s role assumes great importance in such a scenario.

The Integrated Financial Advisor System was introduced in the Ministry of Defence in 1983 and extended to the Services in 1994. This expansion embedded the financial advisory functions into the core- decision making apparatus of the Armed Forces. Today, there are 196 Integrated Financial Advisors spread throughout the length and breadth of the nation and the delegation of financial powers has percolated to the lower echelons of the formations.

The Conference is being organized with a view to evolve an effective mechanism to promote regular functional interaction and consultation among PIFAs/IFAs and to facilitate coordination and consistent approach in various common areas of functioning. The upcoming Conference while focusing on the pivotal role of the IFAs in ensuring fiscal prudence, efficiency and transparency within the Defence Financial Management System will delve and deliberate on the areas of concern and required interventions through its’ six well-devised business sessions. Six vital areas viz. Streamlining Finance Role in Capital Acquisition Outcomes, IFA System in MES, Army Commander Special Financial Powers(ACSFP), Operational and Logistics requirement of IFA offices, outsourcing and role of IFA in Project Management will be discussed at length during these sessions. Each business sessions is going to be marked by a presentation, panel discussion and a question and answer session.

The Conference will see the active participation of officers serving as Integrated Financial Advisors to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Border Roads, CSD, DRDO and MES throughout the nation. It will provide a collective platform to all the IFAs to bring up the issues being faced by them and will help the Department in re-aligning its’ collective efforts to achieve its’ organizational goals.

 

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