Section 24A. Books of account, etc

CHAPTER VI FINANCE, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT 1[24. Funds of the Corporation.— (1) The Corporation shall have its own fund or funds, and all receipts of the Corporation shall be credited thereto and all payments of the Corporation shall be made therefrom: Provided that the Board may, in relation to any of the funds of the Corporation or otherwise, establish reserves which may or may not be allocated for a specific purpose, and such sums as the Board may determine, may be transferred to or from such reserves. (2) The Board shall, for every financial year after the financial year in which the provisions of section — 136 of the Finance Act, 2021 come into force, cause to be maintained (a) a participating policyholders fund, to which all receipts from participating policyholders shall be credited and from which all payments to such policyholders shall be made; and (b) a non-participating policyholders fund, to which all receipts from non-participating policyholders shall be credited and from which all payments to such policyholders shall be made: Provided that the members, by resolution in a general meeting, may exempt maintenance of such funds for one financial year at a time up to two financial years. 24A. Books of account, etc.--- (1) The Corporation shall prepare and keep at its central office books of account and other relevant books and records and financial statement for every financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of its affairs, including that of its zonal offices, and which explain the transactions effected both at the central office and at its zonal offices. (2) The Corporation shall prepare and keep at each zonal office of the Corporation, books of account and other relevant books and records and financial statement for every financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of every divisional office established in the zone corresponding to such zonal office and which explain the transactions effected thereat. (3) The Corporation shall prepare and keep at each divisional office of the Corporation, books of account and other relevant books and records and financial statement for every financial year which give 1. Subs.by Act 13 of 2021, s. 136, for section 24 (w.e.f. 30-6-2021). a true and fair view of the state of affairs of every branch established under such divisional office and which explain the transactions effected thereat. (4) All or any of the books of account and other relevant books and records referred to in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) may be kept at such other place or places in India as the Board may decide. (5) The Corporation shall be deemed to have complied with the provisions of sub-section (1) or subsection (2) or sub-section (3), in respect of a zonal office or a divisional office, other than the central office, or a branch of the Corporation, whether within or outside India, if proper books of account relating to the transactions effected at such office or branch, are kept thereat and proper summarised returns are sent periodically to the central office or the corresponding zonal office or the corresponding divisional office, or to the other place referred to in sub-section (4). (6) The books of account and other relevant books and records referred to in sub-section (1) or subsection (2) or sub-section (3) may be kept in electronic form, in such manner as the Board may determine. (7) The books of account of the Corporation relating to a period of not less than ten financial years immediately preceding a financial year, together with the vouchers relevant to any entry in such books of account, shall be kept in good order: Provided that where the Central Government has appointed a special auditor under section 25D or is of the opinion that circumstances exist which render it necessary so to do, it may direct the Corporation that the books of account be kept for such longer period as the Central Government may specify.