(IAS Planner) : Job Profile of Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service Group ‘A’

OVERVIEW:

Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service Group ‘A’ (IP&TAFS Gr. ‘A’) was constituted in 1973. This is an organized Accounts & Finance Service and caters to Department of Telecom & Department of Posts. IP&T AFS Gr.’A” carries with it a definite liability for posting in any part of India. Most of the posts are at Capital Cities.

RECRUITMENT :

The members of the service are recruited through Civil Service Examinations conducted by UPSC or by promotion from the feeder grade of Group ‘B’ of P&T Accounts and Finance Service.

TRAINING :

Candidates appointed to the service through the Civil Service Examination shall be on probation for a period of two years and shall attend such Training and undergo such examination/tests as may be prescribed from time to time in various training centers as decided by the Cadre Controlling Authority. The indicative training for probationers is as follows:-

S.No	Module	Institution	Duration
1.	Foundation Course	DOPT designated institution	16 days
2.	Professional Training Course	National Institute of Finance Management, Faridabad	44 weeks
3.	Department Training	National Institute of Communication Finance, Ghitorni, New Delhi	36 weeks

Besides, the officers also undergo various Inservice as well as Mid Career Trainings from time to time so as to enhance their skills and personality.

BRIEF OF DUTIES PERFORMED BY THE OFFICERS OF IP&T AFS GR.’A’ :-

(i) Assessment and Collection of License fee and Spectrum usage charges paid by Telecom Licencers.
(ii) Spectrum Auction.
(iii) Policy making in Department of Telecommunications and Department of Posts.
(iv) Financial Management of Department of Posts and Department of Telecommunications.
(v) Internal Audit of Department of Telecommunications and Department of Posts.
(vi) Accounting of Department of Posts and Department of Telecommunications.
(vii) Pension Management of DoT, DoP, BSNL and MTNL.
(viii) Human Resourse Development and Capacity Building of IP&TAFS, Gr.’A”.

CAREER PROSPECTS :

The entry in the service is at Junior Time Scale in the pay-scale PB-3 Rs. 15600-39100+ Grade Pay of Rs. 5400/-) with further promotion up to the level of Junior Administrative Grade (NFSG) within span of 13 years of the service. At present the highest grade in the cadre is HAG+ in the scale of pay of Rs. 75500-80000. The hierarchy of the posts in the IP&T AFS, Gr.’A” their pay scale & minimum span of service for promotion is mentioned below:-

Sl. No.	Name of the Post & Pay Scale	The minimum qualifying service for promotion
1	Junior Time Scale PB-3 Rs. 15600-39100 +Grade Pay Rs. 5400	On initial Recruitment
2	Senior Time Scale PB-3 Rs. 15600-39100 + Grade Pay Rs. 6600	On completion of four years of approved service as on 1st January of the year
3	Junior Administrative Grade PB-3 Rs. 15600-39100 + Grade Pay of Rs. 7600	On completion of 09 years of approved service as on 1st January of the year
4	Selection Grade inJunior Administrative Grade PB-4 Rs. 37400-67000 + Grade Pay of Rs. 8700	Junior Administrative Grade officers who have entered into 13th year of service on 1st January of the year of examination
5.	Senior Administrative Grade PB-4 Rs. 37400-67000 + Grade Pay of Rs. 10000	On completion of 17 years of approved service with four year regular service in Junior Administrative Grade as on 1st January of the year
6.	Higher Administrative Grade Rs. 67000(annual increment @ 3%)-79000	Senior Administrative Grade Officers with three years of regular service in the Grade as on 1st January
7.	Higher Administrative Grade Rs. 75500--80000	Officers in Higher Administrative Grade or Senior Administrative Grade Officers with three years of regular service in the Grade as on 1st January

POSTING ON COMPLETION OF PROBATION -

IP&TAFS Gr.’A” officers cater to Department of Posts and Department of Telecommunications. After successful completion of the probation period, the officer may be posted against vacant Junior Time Scale posts available at that time in various offices in these Departments. Most of these offices are situated in the State Capitals & UTs all over India with HQs at Delhi.

DESIGNATIONS HELD BY IP&TAFS OFFICERS IN DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION AND DEPARTMENT OF POSTS :

S.No	Grade	Department of Telecommunication		Department of Posts
S.No	Grade	HQ	Field	HQ	Field
1	Junior Time Scale	Asstt. Chief Accounts Officer	Asstt. Chief Accounts Officer	Asstt. Chief Accounts Officer	Asstt. Chief Accounts Officer
2	Senior Time Scale	Asstt.Director General	Dy.Controller of Communicati on Accounts	Asstt.Director General	Deputy Director
3	Junior Administrative Grade	Director	Jt. Controller of Communicati on Accounts	Director	Director
4	Senior Administrative Grade	Dy. Director General/ Jt.Administrat or	Controller of Communicati on Accounts	Dy. Director General/ General Manager	General Manager
5	Higher Administrative Grade	Sr. Dy. Director General	Pr. Controller of Communicati on Accounts	--------	---------
6	Higher Administrative Grade+	Advisor (F)	---------	--------	---------

Appointments to other Organizations/Bodies:

Besides IP&T AFS, Gr.’A” officers can be appointed on deputation to Central Government, State Governments, Central Staffing Scheme, Autonomous Organizations/ Subordinate Organizations, PSUs and UN Organizations/International Organizations like world Bank, Asian Development Bank in various capacities.

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