Monday, July 11, 2011

AAO QUESTION PAPER 2010

2010
SOUTHERN RAILWAY
EXAMINATION FOR SELECTION FOR THE POST OF ASSISTANT FINANCIAL ADVISER
(70 PERCENT QUOTA)
Time: 3 hours 18th August 2010 Max Marks 150
SECTION- A
Answer in one word 8 x 2 = 16 Marks
a) The Suspense Head use to book expenditure the allocation of which is not known is_____
b) Wages not paid to staff within the stipulated period are taken to ________________________ of Unpaid Wages Account
c) In Railway Accounting ____________________________ sets of journal are maintained
d) All Transfer Transactions between railways are adjusted through ______________________
e) Interest on account of loans and advances is credited to Railway Board through _______________
f) The register maintained in accounts office to ensure that appointments are not made in excess of post sanctioned is known as ____________________ register
g) Estimate of Expenditure which is not submitted to vote of parliament known as _________________expenditure
h) Expenditure on track circuiting is charged to ____________________________
i) Cost of manufacturing of section of line not opened for traffic is charged to ________________
j) When railway land is lost through erosion, cost of the same is written back from capital to ______________
SECTION B
Identify the correct choice 7 x 2 = 14 Marks
Answer any seven
a) Bulk of southern railways apportioned earnings are generated through - Passenger/Goods traffic
b) In Appropriation Accounts expiations are furnished for variation between original grant and actual expenditure (correct / incorrect)
c) Block Account represents all physical assets of railways financed from loan capital and railway’s own generation funds ( correct / incorrect)
d) Tender received after the specified time of opening is known as – delayed tender / late tender
e) Railway pensioners are required to submit a life certificate once in a year / once in two years
f) The object of maintaining an Abstract Of Bills passed in Accounts Office is to reduce the number of cheques drawn everyday/ to issue more cheques of smaller value
g) The payment received by a railway employee while under suspension is known as subsistence allowance / compassionate pay
h) Leave on Average Pay is credited to the loan account of railway employee at the rate of 2 ½ / 3 days for each calendar month of service
i) Leave granted for railway employee under medical treatment for injures sustained in the course of official duties is known as accident leave / hospital leave
j) receipts from forfeited Provident Fund loans is credited to Railway Earnings / Staff Benefit Fund
SECTION - C
Answer any two 2 x 10 = 20 marks
a) Originating Earnings and Apportioned Earnings
b) Travelling Allowance and Transfer Grant
c) Voted Expenditure and Charged Expenditure
d) Group Incentive Scheme and CLW pattern of workshop incentive
e) Rate Contract and Running contract
SECTION – D
Write short notes answer any two questions 2 x 10 = marks
a) Inventory turn over ratio
b) Traffic book
c) Material modification
d) Workshop general register
e) Proforma on cost
SECTION – E
Answer any five questions 5 x 16 = 80 marks
a) What is known as the official language policy of the Govt? How is its implementation mentioned? 8 + 8 = 16 marks
b) What is the impact of 6th Pay Commission on the operating ratio of southern railway? How the operating ratio can be brought down? 8 + 8 = 16 marks
c) What are the different types of estimates prepared for execution of works? What are the points that are verified in accounts office while certifying the estimate 8 + 8 = 16 marks
d) What are the different types of tenders that are used to execute a work in the railways? What are the modifications effected to general conditions of contract at recent years 8 + 8 = 16 marks
e) What are the major sources of earnings for Indian railways? What are the steps that could be taken to improve the sundry earnings in Southern Railway?
f) What are the various stages of budget review followed in railways? What is the mechanism to ensure that the revenue expenditure is regulated with references to budget grant? 8 + 8 = 16 marks
g) What is the methodology adopted in the Internal Check of Establishment claims? How can we make our internal check mechanism more effective? 8 + 8 = 16 marks
h) How the Revenue Accounts is current compiled in Accounts Office every month? Detail the procedure followed in compilation and the annexures that are generated? 8 + 8 = 16 marks
i) What are the various suspense heads that are operated in the railways? What is the need to operate them? 8 + 8 = 16 marks

AAO QUESTION PAPER 2009

2009
SOUTHERN RAILWAY
EXAMINATION FOR SELECTION FOR THE POST OF ASSISTANT FINANCIAL ADVISERS
(70 PERCENT QUOTA)
Time: 3 hours 19th February 2009 Max Marks 150
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CANDIDATES
Do not write your Roll No or name anywhere in the Answer Book. Only the Roll No should be written on the top sheet in the space provided.
NOTE 1. Answer any five questions. All questions carry equal marks
The marks for each sub-section are indicated in the brackets
2. All questions have two sub-sections – (a) & (b)
Candidates must answer both (a) & (b) of each questions attempted, to qualify for marks. For example if Q 1 is attempted then both (a) & (b) of Q1 must be answered to get the benefit of full evaluation of 30 marks as allotted to the whole question.

Answer any five questions (15 marks)
Q 1. (a) What do you understand by inter-railway and intra-railway transactions? How are such transactions proposed, accepted, adjusted and reconciled?
(15 marks)
(b) Do you think that the preparation of two accounts current – Approximate and Actual are necessary? Explain in detail
(15 marks)
Q 2 (a) What is a “Works Programme”? What are the various steps involved in its finalisaiton
(15 marks)
(b) Discuss “Pink Book”. “Orange Book” and ‘Divisional Works Programme’

Q 3 (a) Write Short notes on any Five (15 marks each 3 marks)
i. Traffic Suspense
ii. Admitted debits and disputed debits
iii. Draft para and provisional para
iv. Material modification
v. Stock adjustment account
vi. Single tender and limited tender
vii. “global meltdown”
(15 marks)
(b) What do you understand by Inventory Control? What is ABC analysis and its advantages?
(15 marks)
Q 4 (a) What is meant by Apportionment of Earnings? How is it done in respect of Goods Earnings of Through Traffic?
(15 marks)
(b) What is “Zero Based Budget”? How can this be made applicable for Revenue Budget?
Q5 (a) distinguish between the following (any three)
(15 marks – each 5)
i. Fall Clause and Option Clauses
ii. Zonal Tender and Bulletin Tender
iii. Purchase Preference and Price Preference
iv. Development Fund I & II
(15 marks)
(b) What are the Objectives of Budgetary Controls? Discuss the various Budgetary Reviews.
Q 6 (a) What is meant by Productivity Test? Do they serve any purpose?
(15 marks)
(b) What is “Operating Ratio”? Is it a fair Index to assess a Railway’s Performance? How can we improve upon the “Operating Ratio” of Southern Railway?
(15 marks)
Q! 7 (a) What is Stock Verification? How is the Stock Sheet prepared and finalised?
(15 marks)
(b) What are the various heads under “Purchase Suspense”? Give your suggestions for maintain this “Suspense” efficiently and currently?
(15 marks)
Q 8 (a) What is meant by Exchequer Control? In addition to Budget allotments, Demand and Primary Unit –wise-Why is Exchequer Control still necessary?
(15 marks)
(b) What are the various kinds of leave an employee is entitled to? When can leave been encahsed?
(15 marks)
Q9 (a) Discuss the salient features of the Official Languages Act 1963. Suggest steps for promoting Rajbhasha in southern railway.
(15 marks)
(b) How would you inspect an Executive Office? What are the objectives? Give suggestions for improving it.
(15 marks)
Q10 (a) Elaborate on the significance of “Cheques and Bills” reconciliation How can computerisation help in this area?
(15 marks)
(b) Discuss the merits and demerits of the Incentive Scheme on Railway Workshop

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Saturday, July 9, 2011

AAO EXAM QUESTIONS 2008

2008
SOUTHERN RAILWAY
Examination for Selection for the post of Assistant Accounts Officers
(70 percent quota)
Time: 3 hours 23rd January 2008 Max Marks 150

Note 1. THE QUESTION PAPER CONSISTS OF FOUR SECTIONS. SECTION-A CARRIES 15 MARKS, SECTION-B CARRY 10 MARKS. ALL THE QUESTIONS ARE TO BE ANSWERED IN THESE TWO SECTIONS
2. SECTION-C CARRIES CONSISTS OF TWO QUESTINS
3. SECTION –D CARRIES 82 MARKS CONSISTS OF 7 QUESTIONS OUT OF WHICH FOUR HAVE TO BE ANSWERED. EACH QUESTION CARRIES 20 MARKS
SECTION - A 3 x 5 = 15
Explain whether the following are TRUE or FALSE giving reasons
Financial performance is judged by wagon turn around
arbitration awards are to be treated as charged expenditure
General Managers have full powers to waive profit and departmental charges in respect of deposit work of a central Government organisation
the value realised from scrap sales is allocated to sundry earnings
a tender submitted after the opening date of a tender can be considered if it is financially advantageous to railways
SECTION B 2 x 5 = 10
I Identify the correct choice
a. expenditure which cannot be anticipated is met through Consolidated Fund of India/ Contingency Fund of India
b. transaction between railways and other ministries is known as Transfer Transactions/ Remittance Transactions
c. freight on material transported by a train for a deposit work executed by the railway is credited to Abstract Y / Abstract Z
d. postal haulage charges are computed on berth replacement / seat replacement
e. the index of fuel efficiency is SFC / O R

SECTION –C 4 x 5 = 20

1 ) Distinguish any FOUR of the following
a. Special Railway Safety Fund and Development Fund
b. Originating Earnings and Apportioned Earnings
c. M&P Programme and Works Programme
d. Bills Receivables and Bills Payable
e. IRCA and IRFA adjustments
f. Stock Adjustment Account and Stores in Transit account
g. Fall Clause and Option Clause

2) Write short note on any FIVE of the following 5 x 5 = 25
a. Traffic Book
b. Inventory Turn over Ratio
c. P E Index
d. PRIME and AFRES
e. Official Language Policy
f. Internal Rate of Return
g. Material Modification
SECTION D
Answer any FOUR of the following 4 x 20 = 80
1. What are the reasons for the operating ratio of Southern Railway exceeding 100? Is it healthy or inescapable? If it is not acceptable level, what are your suggestions for bringing it down below 100
2. What is the process for preparing the revenue and expenditure budget on Southern Railway? What are the various stages of Budgetary Review? Also discuss about the adoption of Zero Based Budgeting Techniques.
3. What are the major points of justification for electrification of existing Broad Gauge line between station A and Station B. what are the checks to be exercised by Finance when such a proposal is received for inclusion in PWP?
4. “Control of inventory is the effective way to control expenditure”. In the light of this, describe the inventory control mechanism on railways right from indenting stage through procurement, storage, issue and disposal?
5. What is traffic suspense? What are its constituent items? What steps you would suggest to reduce traffic suspense to the minimum?
6. Explain in detail the Costing System adopted in Southern Railways Repair Workshops? In what way it differs from the system of Production Units. Can you suggest any improvement on this?
7. Describe the various sources of funding for Railway Projects. Describe what the alternative sources of finance are. What do you understand by Pubic-Private-Partnership.PPP)

AAO EXAM QUESTIONS 2005

2005
SOUTHERN RAILWAY
Examination for Selection for the post of Assistant Accounts Officers
(70 percent quota)
Time: 3 hours 5th January 2005 Max Marks 150

Note 1. THE QUESTION PAPER CONSISTS OF FOUR SECTIONS. SECTION-A AND SECTION-B CARRY 24 MARKS EACH, SECTION-C CARRIES 20 MARKS AND SECTION –D CARRIES 82 MARKS
2. ALL QUESTIONS IN SECTIONS – A , B AND C ARE COMPULSORY
3. IN SECTION –D ANSWER ANY FOUR QUESTIONS, ALL OF WHICH CARRY EQUAL MARKS

SECTION - A 8 x 3 = 24 Marks
Explain whether the following are TRUE or FALSE giving reasons and explaining the correct position.
General Manager has no power to authorise SAG officers to travel by Private Airlines
Arbitration awards under Arbitration Act 1996 can be contested in a Court Of Law
Works and Stores tenders cannot be awarded to a party other than the lowest (L-1)
National Holiday Allowance is payable to eligible staff for the three National Holidays only
Dividend payable on Capital invested in Residential Buildings is less that the Capital invested in Track
FReight on material transported by train for a Deposit Work executed by the Railway is credited to Abstract – Y
Accident Compensation, Safety and Passenger Amenities Fund has been abolished
City Compensatory Allowance is not include for Leave Salary Encashment at the time of retirement
SECTION B 8 x 3 = 24 Marks
How will you deal with the following situation?
After opening of the tenders, one of the tenderers offers a discount
wagons weighed enroute are found to carry excess weight beyond the permissile limits
ex-gratia payment has been sanctioned by GM to railway employees affected by Tsunami
central railway refuses to accept IRFA debits on the plea that I is not an adjacent railway of southern railway
a PHOD asks the administration to pay the entire amount of Rs 2000/- in December 2004 for his mobile phone provided by the railway
a special pay sheet is lost by the cashier before payment has been made
you have detected a fraud of aout Rs 50000/- while inspecting a booking office
after opening of the tenders, the lowest tenderer expresses inability to carry out his work

SECTION- C 5 x 4 = 20 Marks
Distinguish between ANY FIVE of the following
1. Special Railway Safety Fund and Railway Safety Fund
2. PLB and Incentive Bonus
3. PEI and Operating Ratio
4. Gross Traffic Receipts and Gross Earnings
5. Single Tender and Single Offer
6. Pink Book and Green Book
7. Vote-On-Account and Voted Expenditure

SECTION – D 82 Marks
FIRST QUESTION IS COMPULSORY AND CARRIES 22 MARKS ANSWER ANY THREE OF THE REMAINING EACH OF WHICH CARRIES 20 MARKS

The three major achievements of the Accounts Department in the last 50 years are Computerisation in the 60s, Revised Classification in the 70s and FMIS in the 90s. Elaborate on the statement
OR
What are the major points of justification for provision of the 5th and 6th line between Chennai Central and Arakkonam. What are the points to be examined in Finance when such a proposal is received for inclusion in PWP?
What are the salient features of accounting followed in Southern Railway for reserved ticketing and in reserved ticketing in passenger traffic? What are your suggestions for improvement in both areas?
Elaborate the present system of accountal of Pension Payments. What are your suggestions for improving the same?
What are the important recommendations of Sudhir Chandra Committee? What changes are necessary in the present system of project management as far as Accounts Department is concerned?
What is the Official Language Policy followed in the railways? List out the documents which must be bilingual under section 3(3) of the Act. Give the Hindi equivalent for FA&CAO, Senior AFA and FC (Railways)
What are the various ways in which Railway Projects are financed? Explain the special features of financing followed in MRTS projects
elaborate on the system of Inventory Control followed in Railways with special emphasis on the role of Accounts Department
‘operating ratio is a good indicator of the financial health of a railway’, elaborated\ on this statement, what are your suggestions to bring down the operating ratio of Southern Railway to less than 100 % in the next five years

Sunday, July 3, 2011

AAO EXAMINATION

2002
SOUTHERN RAILWAY
Selection of Assistant Accounts Officers
(70 percent quota)
Time: 3 hours 19/08/2002 Max Marks 150

Instructions to candidates
The question paper consists Four sections. Section” A” caries 30 marks, Section “B” carries 20 marks, Section ”C” carries 20 marks and Section “D” carries 80 marks
all questions in the first three sections ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ are to be attempted
in section “D” any FOUR questions have to be attempted out of the total 8 questions

Section A
Explain whether the following statements are “TRUE” or “FALSE” giving reasons for your answer
10 x 3 = 20 Marks
1. all expenditure on computer and other related items is charged to Plan Head No 17- Capital
2. all expenditure on repairs of Plant & Equipment is charged to Demand No 07- Minor Head 500
3. GM has full powers to approve and sanction expenditure on modifications and improvements to Rolling Stock
4. excise Duty and Sales tax is payable on all items of rolling stock manufactured or repaired in railway workshops
5. works and stores tenders are to be awarded to L1 only as per the latest guidelines
6. study leave and Hospital leave can be sanctioned by DRMs
7. the value realised from scrap sales is allocated to sundry earnings
8. surcharges is levied on all consignments booked as wagon loads
9. leave encasehment is permissible for balance credit of LHAP
10. arbitration awards are to be treated as “charged Expenditure”

Section B
Multiple choice questions There is only one correct answer
10 x 20= 20 Marks
this is an index indicating fuel efficiency
a. operating ratio b. BCI
c. ROR d. SFC
expenditure on safety related works is allocated to
a. DRF b. DF
c. Contingency Fund d. SRSF
staff related to expenditure of POH debits from Raiwlay Workshop is allocated to this Primary Unit
a.1 b. 2 c.34 d.99
expenditure on ballast for track renewal works is allocated to
a. Plan Head 31 PU No 03
b. D No 04 PU No 32
c. D No 04 PU No 28
d. Plan head PU No 08
an expenditure of Rs 100000/- on ceremonial occasions is sanctioned by
a. DRM b. AGM c. GM D. Railway Board
concession for senior citizens is given as
a. 30 % in all classes in Mail and Express Trains only
b. 30 % in sleeper class and second class only
c. 25 % in oridinary second class
d. 25 % in all classes beyond 500 KMs
in case fo missing non-issued tickets in SPTMS
a. debits are raised for single-fare up to the farthest point
b. debits are rasied for second class-fare to the farthest
c. at a flat-rate of Rs 500/-
d. debits are rasied for 4 dult-fares in II Mil Express to the farthest station
powers are delegatged to CWMs in respect of jobs done for PSUs
a, to waive off the full Proforma on –cost
b. to charge only 50 % of the on cost
c. to charge 0 % on cost
d. none of the above
commuted portion of the pension is restored
a. 15 years from the date of super-annuation
b. 15 years from the date of commutation
c. 12 years from the date of retirement
d. none of the above
all expenditure in workshops in respect of deposit works
a. is first charged to WMS
b. only the direct labour and direct stores in first charged to WMS
c. on cost and administrative overheads are charged to Deposit works directly and the rest to WMS first
d. none of the above

Section C
5 x 4 = 20 Marks
Distinguish between:
Consolidated Fund and Contingency Fund
workshop manufacturing suspense and Mis Advance Capital
draft para and action taken note
coaching earnings and other coaching earnings
IRCA and IRFA adjustments
Section D
Answer any four questions
4 x 20 = 80 Marks
1. Explain in detail the costing system adopted in our Repair Workshops. In what respects it is different from the one followed in our Production Units. Do you consider that our system is working satisfactorily?
2. Write critical comments on the incentive scheme adopted in workshops. Do you opine that the new guidelines and increased rates of incentive issued in 1999 and the steps taken so far have served the purpose?
3. Explain he salient features and deficiencies if any in the PRS and SPTM accountal of the earnings. Is the system of concurrent checking of accounts working well? Give your suggestions for improvement.
4. Explain the different areas and the scope for ‘Leakage of Revenue’ and give your suggestions for improvements in the system of internal checks in the Accounts Office and inspections of the TIAs
5. Is the financial and budgetary control of earnings and expenditure exercised by the accounts dept satisfactorily? What are the steps to be taken for improvement of the entire process?
6. ‘The system of giving accounting allocation by the departments and their checking in the accounts department is a farce resulting in enormous number of mis-classifications’ Please comment
7. ‘The pension debits received are not audited. There is no effective system of cheming reviosnof pension payment’ give your views and suggestions if nay for improvement
8. ‘finance concurrence in general and finance vetting of indents and estimates can be done away with to improve efficiency and perform better’ Give your critical views on the above recommendation.


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