Indian accounting standards are financial reporting standards that have been evolved by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) in India. It is implemented in cooperation with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to achieve compliance with basic requirements for presenting financial statements. Indian accounting standards are a necessity for all businesses that want to enhance their reporting standards and meet investors’ expectations as well as global standards.
In this blog, I will explain what Indian accounting standards are, give you a list of Indian accounting standards, and explain why they are crucial for businesses and the economy in India.
What is the Indian Accounting Standards?
It is the accounting standard that has been provided as a necessary criterion by the Indian government for preparing and presenting the company’s financial statements wherein they conduct their business. They play a crucial role in maintaining compliance, voluntary relevance, and equivalency of international financial statements. IS withholds assist the companies in preparing and presenting their financial position, operations and cash flows in a format and language understood easily by the investors, the regulators and the stakeholders.
Importance of Indian Accounting Standards
- Global Compliance: Indian accounting standards are aligned with Indian GAAP and IFRS, making a cross-sectional comparison between domestic entities and international entities more plausible.
- Investor Confidence: It meets internationally accredited standards, which boosts investors’ confidence and attracts foreign investors.
- Regulatory Requirements: It is important to note that Indian accounting standards have mandatory requirements for all the companies that are listed on the stock exchange, and hence, such a requirement puts the companies on the best seat of International practices.
Objectives of Indian Accounting Standards
Indian Accounting Standards were issued in order to harmonize the generating accounting practices with international standards in terms of transparency and reliability.
- Uniformity and Consistency: Ind AS makes it possible to have one accounting standard followed the same way in different industries and, hence, prepares its financial statements properly. This uniformity helps in enhancing the comparability and readability of financial information to the different users.
- International Convergence: One goal is to synchronize Indian GAAP with IFRS. This convergence makes it easier to conduct international business, commerce, and investments and prepare financial statements across the world.
- Transparency and Accountability: Ind AS intensifies disclosure requirements to improve the extent of disclosure of financial information by providing clarity to the users of financial statements about a company’s financial health. This creates responsibility and helps in formulation of correct decisions.
- Reliability and Credibility: Ind AS further focuses on the proper recognition and measurement of transactions and other economic events so as to provide users with reliable information. This gives investors, creditors, and regulators confidence in the company.
- Investor Protection: The framework protects the investor by providing accurate, comparable and standardized financial data on the investments so that investors can make informed decisions.
- Facilitation of Cross-Border Transactions: It eliminates inconsistencies that prove difficult when comparing and transforming various accounting standards, hence facilitating cross-border transactions and investment.
Advantages of Indian Accounting Standards
- Simplified Financial Reporting: The use of Ind AS eradicates confusion, makes the standard more understandable, and relieves organizations of major differences in practices.
- Global Comparability: Adherence to IFRS makes the analysis of the position of Indian companies with competing companies of the world easier, thus making them attractive to investors in the global market.
- Enhanced Decision-Making: Standardized financial statements help investors, creditors, and all stakeholders who have an interest in the company to make the right decisions.
- Efficient Auditing: It elucidates and defines structures and makes auditing easier and more effective inward compliance on Ind AS.
- Increased Credibility: Compliance with Ind AS improves the quality of reports and increases investors’ confidence, hence its significance.
- Performance Assessment: It was a common language or standard that produced standard measures for appraisal of management and financial position.
- Fraud Prevention: Higher transparency leads to fewer cases of fraud and manipulation and, thus, greater or improved financial credibility.
List of Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS)
Ind AS Number | Description |
Ind AS 1 | Presentation of Financial Statements |
Ind AS 2 | Inventories |
Ind AS 7 | Statement of Cash Flows |
Ind AS 8 | Accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates and errors |
Ind AS 10 | Events after the Reporting Period |
Ind AS 11 | Construction Contracts |
Ind AS 12 | Income Taxes |
Ind AS 16 | Property, Plant and Equipment |
Ind AS 17 | Leases |
Ind AS 18 | Revenue |
Ind AS 19 | Employee Benefits |
Ind AS 20 | Classifications of the Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance |
Ind AS 21 | Foreign Exchange Rate Changes |
Ind AS 23 | Borrowing Costs |
Ind AS 24 | Related Party Disclosures |
Ind AS 27 | Separate Financial Statements |
Ind AS 28 | Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures |
Ind AS 29 | Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies |
Ind AS 32 | Financial Instruments: Presentation |
Ind AS 33 | Earnings per Share |
Ind AS 34 | Interim Financial Reporting |
Ind AS 36 | Impairment of Assets |
Ind AS 37 | Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets |
Ind AS 38 | Intangible Assets |
Ind AS 40 | Investment Property |
Ind AS 41 | Agriculture |
Ind AS 101 | First-time Adoption of Ind AS |
Ind AS 102 | Share-Based Payments |
Ind AS 103 | Business Combinations |
Ind AS 104 | Insurance Contracts |
Ind AS 105 | Assets – Non-Current – Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations |
Ind AS 106 | Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources |
Ind AS 107 | Financial Instruments: Disclosures |
Ind AS 108 | Operating Segments |
Ind AS 109 | Financial Instruments |
Ind AS 110 | Consolidated Financial Statements |
Ind AS 111 | Joint Arrangements |
Ind AS 112 | Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities |
Ind AS 113 | Fair Value Measurement |
Ind AS 114 | Regulatory Deferral Accounts |
Ind AS 115 | Revenue from Contracts with Customers |
Conclusion
Ind AS is a set of accounting standards which ensures better global compatibility, increased clarity and confidence in the financial statements of the Indian companies. Ind AS is important because firms are compelled to implement it in their operations to stand a better chance of competing and operating in a manner that complies with international standards.
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