नेपालमा लेखा र लेखा प्रणालीको विकासक्रम (Government Accounting Sytem)

The government accounting system largely depends upon the volume of financial transactions and the rules and provisions of the government. In the Nepalese context, in the past, there were not many financial transactions and the government was not accountable to the people to show the position of public funds.

Government accounting in Nepal can be traced back to the Lichhavi period. It was first introduced in Nepal in the Lichhavi period to record the revenues and expenditures of the government. In the Lichhavi period, there was a certain form of accounting to record financial transactions. In this period government revenues were collected from trust, tax, and custom duty and expenditures were made for war, renovation, and construction of temples. When trade and industry further developed in the Malla period, the sources of government revenue were increased. The revenues were collected from trust, tax, customs, and trade. The expenditures were made for war, renovation, and construction of temples. The accounting system remained in the same state as in the Lichhavi period. When the number of financial transactions increased during the Shah Period, it was necessary to originate the systematic accounting system. As a result, in 1871 B.S, a book called Laldhadda was introduced to record revenues and administrative expenses of the government. In 1879, another book of accounts was introduced for recording details about the land and its revenues. These two books of accounts were important steps in the history of accounting in Nepal.

After a long gap, an office Kitabkhana was established in 1925 B.S. for recording the salary paid to the employees of government offices, which is still in practice. In 1936 B.S., an important contribution was made by Kharidar Gunawanta, a senior professional who propounded Syaha Sresta Pranali which was used to present a real picture of government revenues and expenditures. After the restoration of democracy in 2007 B.S., the government became more responsible towards the people and financial administration. As a result, the budgeting system was started in 2008 B.S. Under the constitution of 2015 B. S. of Nepal, on 2016 Ashadh 16, the Auditor General was appointed as the constitutional body. In the Nepalese context, in the past, there were not many financial transactions and the government was not accountable to the people to show the position of public funds. Government accounting in Nepal can be traced back to the Lichhavi period. It was first introduced in Nepal in the Lichhavi period to record the revenues and expenditures of the government. In the Lichhavi period, there was a certain form of accounting to record financial transactions. In this period government revenues were collected from trust, tax, and custom duty and expenditures were made for war, renovation, and construction of temples. When trade and industry further developed in the Malla period, the sources of government revenue were increased. The revenues were collected from trust, tax, customs, and trade. The expenditures were made for war, renovation, and construction of temples. The accounting system remained in the same state as in the Lichhavi period. When the number of financial transactions increased in the Shah Period, it was necessary to originate the systematic accounting system. As a result, in 1871 B.S, a book called Laldhadda was introduced to record revenues and administrative expenses of the government. In 1879, another book of accounts was introduced for recording details about the land and its revenues. These two books of accounts were important steps in the history of accounting in Nepal. After a long gap, an office Kitabkhana was established in 1925 B.S. for recording the salary paid to the employees of government offices, which is still in practice. In 1936 B.S., an important contribution was made by Kharidar Gunawanta, a senior professional who propounded Syaha Sresta Pranali which was used to present a real picture of government revenues and expenditures. After the restoration of democracy in 2007 B.S., the government became more responsible towards the people and financial administration. As a result, the budgeting system was started in 2008 B.S. Under the constitution of 2015 B. S. of Nepal, on 2016 Ashadh 16, the Auditor General was appointed as a constitutional body.

The main objective of the appointment of the Auditor General was to maintain systematic accounting and avoid fraud and misappropriation of government funds. To maintain uniformity in financial administration Procedural rule for government fund expenditure in 2016 was passed and enacted in 2016 B.S. As a result, Bhuktani Sresta Pranali was introduced in 2017 B.S. Bhuktani Sresta Pranali also became unsuitable and unable to maintain the systematic record of revenues and expenditures of government offices. As a result, the new accounting system based on a double-entry bookkeeping system was introduced in 2018 B.S. It has a systematic and scientific system that has been followed by the government of Nepal since the fiscal year 2019/20 B.S. and it is still in practice in Nepalese government offices.

Types of Accounting Systems used in Nepal

There were various types of accounting systems used in Nepal before introducing the New Accounting System. Some of the accounting systems used in Nepal were as follows:

Wasil Banki Sresta Pranali: Wasil Banki Sresta Pranali was a simple statement based on a single entry system, which was used to record revenues and expenditures of government offices. It was used to record incomes on one page and expenditures on other pages. The accounts were closed at the end of the fiscal year or after the completion of the job. This system was unscientific and impracticable because financial transactions were not classified and analyzed into different heads.

Syaha Sresta Pranali: In the process of historical development of the government accounting system in Nepal, Syaha Sresta Pranali was introduced by Kharidar Gunwanta in 1936 B.S. It was in practice up to 2022/023 B.S. This system was more scientific than Wasil Banki Sresta Pranali. Various types of books, that were used under Syaha Sresta Pranali, are as follows:

Syaha: Syaha was the primary record of financial transactions like journal vouchers. It was used as the first step by Syaha Sresta Pranali to record the incomes and expenditures of government offices. Syaha was prepared in a shape by providing a number of columns for incomes and expenses. A leaf was folded into different creases according to the requirement. It was divided into two parts. The right-hand side was used to record expenditures and the left-hand side was used to record incomes. Nagadi, Jinsi, and Dharauti Syaha were used in practice.

Awarje: Awarje was familiar with the ledger. It was to keep the record of financial transactions in a classified manner according to the heads of income and expenditures. It facilitated the similar nature of transactions under a single heading.

Dhapot: Dhapot was a final statement, which was used to report revenues and expenses in summary form to present the real position of the public fund on a given date. It was similar to the balance sheet.

Form Sresta Pranali: When the number of financial transactions of the government offices became voluminous, Syaha Sresta Pranali became unable to fulfill the requirement. As a result, Form Sresta Pranali was introduced in 1968 BS especially to record the land revenue of Terai and the city area of the Kingdom of Nepal. Different types of 51 forms were used in practice to record the financial transactions and hence it was called Form Sresta Pranali.

Bhuktani Sresta Pranali: Bhuktani Sresta Pranali was developed in 2017 B.S. to maintain the systematic record of revenues and expenditure of government offices according to the budget heads. It was based on a double-entry bookkeeping system, which classified the government offices into the central level and operating level for the systematic recording of public funds.

sources:kullabs.com/classes/subjects/units/lessons/notes/note-detail/538