ICAR Order: Good Management Practices for Financial and Administrative Discipline (2026)
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), under its Internal Finance Division, issued an official document outlining Good Management Practices on September 28, 2026. Released under F.No. FIN/22/33/2026/e-444589, this order serves as a ready-reckoner for officers across the ICAR system to strengthen financial discipline and institutional efficiency.
The document aims to facilitate compliance with the General Financial Rules (GFR), 2017, and updated statutory provisions, including new tax and labor rules.
Key Highlights
- Funds must never be drawn merely because they are available or to avert a lapse of budget at the close of the financial year.
- Wages to contractual personnel must be disbursed directly into their bank accounts within the timeline prescribed under the Code on Wages (Central) Rules, 2026.
- Service verification for retiring employees must be managed through a live, date-sorted tracker focusing on pre-retirement (five-years-to-go) milestones.
- The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) shall serve as the default channel for procuring all listed goods and services.
- Compliance with the Income-tax Act, 2025 and Income-tax Rules, 2026, which came into force on April 1, 2026, is strictly mandated.
Important Administrative & Financial Guidelines
1. Financial Discipline and Fund Management
The practice of "parking" funds, including opening Letters of Credit for more than genuine near-term requirements, is strictly prohibited.
Furthermore, institutes mapped to PFMS must route all GeM payments through PFMS and cannot operate a GeM Pool Account.
Unreconciled entries in the Bank Reconciliation Statement (BRS) pending beyond 90 days must have a recorded reason, while a zero-tolerance policy applies to entries aging beyond 180 days.
Cash transactions are heavily restricted, with PFMS/NEFT/RTGS being the default payment method.
2. Procurement and Vendor Payments
Procurement specifications must focus on functional parameters rather than specific brand names.
Splitting requirements to avoid higher sanctioning levels or competition is considered a serious management lapse.
Payments to MSME-registered vendors must adhere to the timelines in Section 15 of the MSMED Act, 2006, to avoid compound interest penalties.
3. Service Verification and Pension Rules
To avoid hardship for retiring employees, service verification under the CCS (Pension) Rules must be treated as a routine procedure rather than acting upon the employee's reminder.
Service Books must be updated and verified by the employee annually as a standing practice.
No contractor's monthly bill shall be passed without cross-verifying the EPFO/ESIC portal challans to ensure actual remittance of both employer and employee contributions under the Social Security (Central) Rules, 2026.
Critical Timelines & Deadlines
| Task / Event | Prescribed Timeline |
|---|---|
| Refund of Unspent Project Balance | Within 60 days of project closure |
| GeM Consignee Receipt (CRAC) Generation | Within a 10-day window |
| Outstanding Advance Resolution | Flagged to Director if beyond 1 year |
| Review of User Charges | At least once every year |
Conclusion
The adherence to these Good Management Practices ensures the responsible stewardship of public resources across the ICAR system.
By maintaining strict compliance with taxation rules, timely pension service verifications, and transparent procurement policies, institutes can prevent administrative lapses and protect the statutory rights of both regular and contractual employees.
Disclaimer
Educational Purpose Only: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only.
Accuracy & Mistakes: While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, human errors or omissions may occur.
No Liability: Under no circumstances shall the author or this website be held liable for any loss arising from the use of this information.
Are you a Central Government Employee?
Don’t stay in the dark! Vital updates on Service Rules, Pension policies, and your career are happening right now.
Add as Preferred Source on Google
Follow us to ensure our latest exclusive reports appear first in your Google Search and Discover feed.
Comments
Post a Comment