Provide sound financial advice to military: Prez to IDAS officers

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday asked young Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) officers to provide "sound" financial advice to the military establishment at a time when defence outlays were increasing.

Interacting with a group of probationers of this all-India service (2014 and 2015 batches) at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President noted that the department had the "crucial responsibility of guaranteeing financial propriety, probity and integrity in all transactions.

"The increase in defence outlays requires that all of them remain abreast of the latest techniques in financial management and deliver sound financial advice in a timely and efficient manner," he said.

The President welcomed the probationers to government service and assured them that there will be no dearth of challenges and opportunities in their long career ahead.

A Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson said Mukherjee spoke about the "canvas, scope and breadth" of exposure and responsibility that a career in government offers and that too at a relatively young age, it was an experience and opportunity for these officers unlike any other.

He also congratulated the young officers for clearing the civil services exam which is recognised as one of the toughest competitive examinations.

Established several years ago, the Defence Accounts Department was known as the Military Accounts Department till 1951.

The department renders finance related services and is mandated with the task of ensuring financial propriety and accountability in the Ministry of Defence.

It handles the payment and accounting functions, pension management, internal audit, budget management and the financial advice function for the Armed Forces and allied establishments like the Ordinance Factories, Coast Guard and Border Roads Organisation.