Treasury and Accounts , Department of Finance

REGULATIONS FOR THE PUNJAB STATE ACCOUNTS SERVICE EXAMINATION (ORDINARY BRANCH)

1.The Punjab Government will hold a departmental examination called the State Accounts Service Examination (Ordinary Branch) to meet the demands of Punjab Government Offices for qualified accounts trained officials.

2. The examination will be conducted by the Secretary to Government, Punjab, Finance Department (Treasuries and Accounts Branch). It shall be held twice a year in May/June and November/December, or at such intervals as may be decided upon by the Secretary, Finance Department.

3. The State Accounts Service Examination will consist of three parts, namely Part, I, II and III. Part I and Part II would be compulsory while Part III would be optional.

4. Subject to other conditions prescribed in these regulations the following officials of State Government (other than the officials of L.A.D. who are eligible to appear in L.A.D. Branch only) shall be eligible to sit in the Examination: -

(i) Clerks/junior Assistants / Sr. Assistants / Superintendents Grade-II/Officials working in identical or higher scale of clerk called by any nomenclature, in any Department of the State Government and State Sponsored Corporations Autonomous Bodies.

(ii) Auditors / Upper Division Clerks.

(iii) Accountants working in the offices of Block Development officers and other offices.

(iv) Stenographers / Steno-typists.

(v) District Treasury Officers / Treasury Officers.

(vi) District Treasurers / Assistant Treasurers

(vii) Officials working on any post under the Punjab Government possessing qualifications of Graduation in Commerce or Post Graduation in Economics.

Provided that –

(a) they possess a degree of a recognized university, and ;

(b) they have rendered atleast 3 years regular service.

(c) the Head of Department / Corporations / Boards certifies that the candidate is efficient and likely to pass the Examination.

5. The Secretary to Government, Punjab, Finance Department, reserves the authority to reject the request of any applicant for appearing in the Examination.

6. A candidate shall have to complete the examination in (Part I and II) before he reaches the age of 48 years. The age limit may, however, be relaxed by the Secretary to Government, Punjab, Finance Department, in exceptional circumstances. Age shall be determined with reference to age on 31st May in case of the examination to be held in May / June and on 30th November, in the case of the examination to be held in November / December.

7. No candidate who has not passed Part I of the examination shall be allowed to take the examination for Part II. A candidate who secures exemptions in four papers of Part I may be allowed to take both the parts in the same session. Result of each part would be determined independently but a candidate will be considered to have passed the S.A.S. Examination for the purpose of Punjab State Accounts Service Rules only if he has passed both the Parts I and II.

8. A candidate may avail any number of chances. However, no candidate, who has appeared in Part I of the Examination five times, shall be eligible for appearance on subsequent occasion, unless: -

a. a period of at least two years has elapsed since his preceding attempt; and

b. he has gained at least thirty five percent of the marks in his preceding attempt.

Note: - For the purpose of this rule, a candidate shall be deemed to have appeared in an examination, if he has been permitted to appear in that examination and has not withdrawn his candidature with the approval of the Finance Secretary.

9. In order to secure a pass, a candidate must obtain not less than 40 per cent marks in each subject and 45 per cent in the aggregate of all the subjects in each part of the examination. A candidate who obtains not less than 50 per cent marks in Précis and Draft and 60 per cent marks in any other subject will not be required to appear in that subject again.

10. Each candidate for the Ordinary Branch Examination shall pay a fee of Rs.300/- in the Treasury under head "0070-Other Administrative Service-60-Other Services-800- Other Receipts - Departmental Examination Fees- Punjab S.A.S. Examination (Provincial)" and append the Treasury Challan with the application. The fee will be refunded if a candidate is not allowed to appear in the examination. The fee once deposited will not be refunded / adjusted, except in exceptional cases of serious illness of the candidate if the Civil Surgeon / P.M.O. as the case may be, of the District certifies that he is not fit to take the examination.

11. The candidates shall bring their own books of reference for answering question papers to be answered with the aid of books.

12. (a) The Services of a candidate who passes the S.A.S. Examination (Part I & II) can be requisitioned by the Finance Department for filling in posts to be manned by members of Punjab State Accounts Service in any Department of the State Government. Such officials would retain their liens / rights in their respective Departments till they are confirmed in the Punjab State Accounts Service.

(b) The Finance Department shall maintain a seniority list of officials who have passed the S.A.S. Examination (Ordinary Branch). Interse seniority of officials who qualify the S.A.S. Examination (Ordinary Branch) will be determined as under: -

(i) a candidate who passes Part II of the Examination at any examination shall be senior to a person passing Part II in subsequent examination;

(ii) in case of candidates passing Part II of the Examination together the candidate obtaining more marks in Parts I & II combined will be senior to the candidate obtaining less marks; and

(iii) in case two or more officials obtain the same number of marks, the seniority of the officials in the parent office will be maintained if they belong to the same office. In case they belong to different offices, the official senior in age will be treated senior.

13. (a) A member of the Punjab State Accounts Service or a member of the Punjab Accounts Service may take Part III of the Examination. In order to secure a pass the candidate will have to obtain not less than 40 per cent marks in each subject and not less than 45 per cent in the aggregate. A candidate who obtains not less than 60 per cent marks in any subject will not be required to appear in that subject again.

(b) An official who qualifies himself in this part would be given preference for deputation to Government undertakings.

14. The syllabus for the examination is given in Annexure I to these regulations.

15. Application for seeking permission to appear in the S.A.S. Examination shall be in the form prescribed in Annexure II to these regulations.

K.R. Lakhanpal, IAS
Principal Secretary to Government of Punjab,

Department of Finance

ANNEXURE - I

I. SYLLABUS FOR PUNJAB STATE ACCOUNTS SERVICE EXAMINATION

PART-I (OB)

S.No. Paper Hours Marks Books Prescribed
1.

Precis and Draft (English Portion)

1-1/2 75

i. Drafting a letter on a topic of current administrative interest or a note on a topic of current public interest.

ii. To make précis of the matter to be set out in the paper in specified words with a suitable heading therefore.

iii. ENGLISH GRAMMER

a. Correction of errors.

b. One word substitution.

c. Distinguish between pair of words.

d. Transformation of sentences.

e. Punctuation.

f. Active & Passive Voice & Direct Indirect.

g. Fill in the blanks with suitable words.

h. Antonym & Synonym Words.

i. Correct use of prepositions, Idioms & Theorems.

iv. Giving Punjabi equivalent of English Administrative Terms & use the said Administrative Terms to make suitable sentences.

v. Translation of Punjabi into English
2.

Précis and Draft (Punjabi Portion)

1-1/2 75

i. Drafting a letter on a topic of current administrative interest or note on a topic of current public interest.

ii. To make Précis of the matter to be set out in the paper in specified words with suitable heading therefore.

iii. PUNJABI GRAMMER

a. Correction of errors.

b. Change of genders.

c. Antonym and Synonym words.

d. Fill in the blanks with suitable words.

e. Punctuation.

f. Distinguish between pair of words.

iv. Giving English equivalents of Punjabi Administrative Terms and to use the said administrative terms to make suitable sentences.

v. Translation of English into Punjabi.

3. Punjab Civil Services Rules (with books) 3 150

Punjab Civil Services Rules,

Volume-I Part-I;

Volume-I Part-II;

Volume-II; and

Volume-III.

4. Audit and Account Codes (with books) etc. 3 150

i. An Introduction to Indian Government Accounts and Audit.

Part-I - Chapters 1-4

Part-II- Chapters 6,11 excluding the following three sections from Chapter 9:

C - Defence Department.

D - Railway Department.

E - Postal & Telegraph Department.

Part-III - Chapters 12-21

Part-IV - Chapters 24 to 31, and 35 to 39, excluding the following sections from Chapter 31:

C - Stores and Stock Account of Railway.

D - Stores and Stock Account of Posts and Telegraphs.

E - Purchase Organisation of the Government of India.

ii. Government Accounting Rules 1990.

iii. Government Accounting Rules for Treasuries, 1992

iv. Account Code for Accountant General.

v. P.F.R. Volume I and II.

vi. Punjab Treasury Rules Volume I & II

5. Commercial Book Keeping. 3 150

Paper will be fairly elementary and which will cover the following: a.

i. Book Keeping upto the Trial Balance.

ii. Trading & Profit & Loss Account and Balance Sheet.

iii. The correction of Errors.

iv. Depreciation, Sinking Funds, Reserves Reserve Fund, Secret Reserves.

v. Bill of Exchange, Promissory Notes, Cheques.

vi. Account Current & Average Due date, consignment Accounts.

vii. Self balancing Ledgers.

viii. Capital and Revenue Account, Receipts and Payments Accounts, Income & Expenditure Account.

b. Principles of Auditing.

ANNEXURE - I

I. SYLLABUS FOR STATE ACCOUNTS SERVICE EXAMINATION SAS Part-II (OB)

S.No. Paper Hours Marks Books Prescribed
1.

Constitution of India and Budget Manual)

3.00 150

a) Constitution of India-

Part-I, V to XII, XIV, XVIII to XXI with

relevant schedules appended to the Constitution.

From these parts questions, such as manner of election, conditions of eligibility for elections, qualifications, procedural details and jurisdiction of Court etc will be excluded.

b) Budget Manual.
2.

P.W. Accounts Rules and Procedure (with books)

3.00 150

a) Account Code Volume-III

b) Punjab Financial Handbook No. 3,

Departmental Financial Rules.

c) P.W.D. Code (excluding portion dealing with administrative matters).
3. Advanced Accountancy 3.00 150

a) Partnership Accounts, Joint Stock

Company Accounts, Branch and

Departmental Accounts, Hire Purchase

Accounts, Insolvency Accounts,

Accounts from Incomplete Records;

Double Account System.

b) Analysis and interoperation of Financial

statements.

c) Significances of Analysis of Financial

Statement including accounting ratios,

statement of source and Application of

funds, co-operative statement analysis;

inter firm comparisons;.

d) Nature and limitations of financial

statements in assessing real

achievement of a firm alternative

measures for such assessment

quantitative as against value

measurements.

e) Concepts and Techniques used for the

construction of Fund Flow and Cash

Flow statements working capital

Analysis, Capitalization and Capital

structure Project Appraisal.
4. Cost Accounts and Inventory Valuation and Control 3.00 150

i) Principles, Objects, Advances Methods, Types etc.

ii) Elements of Cost and Classification of Costs.

iii) Materials-Records, valuation, Control techniques.

iv) Overheads, Classifications, Collection allocation and apportionment.

v) Labour, Records, systems of payment Control of Costs.

vi) Reconciliation of cost and Financial Accounts.

vii) Unit, operating, Job and Process costing Methods.

ANNEXURE – I - concld

I. SYLLABUS FOR STATE ACCOUNTS SERVICE EXAMINATION

PART-III

S.No.

Paper

Hours

Marks

Books Prescribed

1.

Costing (Advanced Standard and Management Information Systems)

3.00

150

Any standard book.

2.

Mercantile Law (with Books)

3.00

150

1. Indian Companies Act, 1956.

2. Partnership Act.

3. Sales of Goods Act.

4. Indian Contract Act.

3.

Labour Laws (with Books)

3.00

150

1. Payment of Wages Act.

2. Factory Act.

3. Industrial Disputes Act.

4. Transport Workers Act.

5. Workmen Compensations Act.

6. Employees State Insurance Act.

7. Employees Provident Fund Act.

8. Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.

4.

Income – Tax

3.00

150

1. Income – tax Act.

2. Rules issued under the Income-Tax Act.

ANNEXURE II

Application for admission to S.A.S. Examination

1.

Name of applicant

(in Capital Lettrs)

:

_____________________________

2.

Father's Name

:

____________________________

3.

Designation

:

_____________________________

4.

Whether a member of S.C. or B.C.

:

_____________________________

5.

Department / Office in which posted

:

_____________________________

6.

Address on which Roll No. / result is to be dispatched

:

_____________________________

7.

Educational Qualifications

:

_____________________________

8.

*Age on 30th November / 31st May of the year of examination

:

_____________________________

9.

Date of birth

:

_____________________________

10.

Date of entry in Government Service

:

_____________________________

11.

Post by virtue of which he claims to be eligible and the period for which the post has been held

:

_____________________________

12.

Whether officiating or permanent. If permanent, the post held in substantive capacity

:

_____________________________

13.

Branch of the Examination for which applying (Ordinary / LAD)

:

_____________________________

14.

Whether Part I or Part II

:

_____________________________

15.

No. of chances already availed. Part I

:

Details

S. No.

Chance No.

Roll No.

Session(Year / Month)

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

16.

Exemptions obtained, in Part I, if any

:

Index No.

Paper in which exempted

Month / Year

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

17.

No. and date of Treasury challan for credit of examination fee in Treasury / Sub-Treasury in Punjab No. ____________________, dated _____________ / Treasury / Sub-Treasury _______________________

:

18.

State to which allocated (In case of Government Employee)

:

_____________________________

19.

For candidates of Part II only (Roll No. and Session in which Part I qualified)

:

_____________________________

Exemption obtained, in Part II, if any

:

Index No.

Paper in which exempted

Month / Year

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

Remarks, if any

Certified that the particulars of chances, filled in column 15/19 are correct and nothing has been concealed. In case the particulars given in column 1 - 19 are found to be incorrect subsequently at later stage, I will be liable to be disqualification / reversion to my original post.

2. I understand that in the event of passing the S.A.S. Examination my services shall be at the disposal of the Finance Department, if necessary, for being posted outside the present Department and in case of non-allocated employees, I shall not claim any right for appointment on S.A.S. cadre under the Punjab Government. No Departmental / judicial proceedings etc. are pending against me.

Signature of the applicant.

No. Dated: -

Certified that the particulars entered in the application are correct to my knowledge and belief and have been verified from records of the official. It is also certified that no departmental / judicial proceedings are pending against Sh / Smt ______________________

2. Any other remarks.

(Head of Office)

Signature and Designation with seal.

No. Dated: -

Forwarded to the Secretary to Government, Punjab, Finance Department, Treasuries and Accounts Branch, Chandigarh, for necessary action. It is certified that the applicant is efficient and likely to pass the S.A.S. Examination.

(Head of Department)

Signature and Designation with seal.

_____________________________________________________________________ *Age shall be determined with reference to age on 31st May in case of examination to be held in May / June and with reference to age on 30th November in the case of examination to be held in November / December.