6 days ago
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The Integrated Financial Adviser (IFA) system will be introduced in five administrative departments with “significant Budget allocations” in the initial stage, according to the Finance department.
It will be extended to other departments in a phased manner, the Finance department said in an order dealing with the implementation of this arrangement which was cleared by the Kerala Cabinet in June, 2026.
The State government has tasked the Finance department with preparing a table of topics on which scrutiny by the IFAs is necessary and those on which it is not necessary. The Finance department will also identify the departments where the IFA system is to be implemented in the first phase. The IFA system is aimed at freeing the Finance department from a needless accumulation of files from other departments.
Advisory mechanism
At the same time, the Finance department has made it clear that the IFA will not be a parallel authority but will act as an internal advisory mechanism.
The State Cabinet had decided to appoint the IFAs in every department to accelerate file processing and improve project implementation. Presenting it as a major reform, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan had said that many files that need not be sent to the Finance department are often sent to it. Under this system, each administrative department will have a Joint Secretary-level officer as the IFA. The IFA’s opinion will be compulsorily sought on recommendations that entail financial liability before final orders are issued. The secretary of the administrative department will continue to be the executive authority exercising the delegated powers.
In public sector enterprises, boards and similar institutions, the post of the IFA will be filled using Finance department officers posted outside the Secretariat. The advice given by an IFA will be categorised into three—financial compliance/propriety, financial opinion/prudence and administrative/non-financial.
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