The IP&TAFS was formed in the year 1972 and the first batch was recruited in 1974. It is one of the Group A Central Civil Services of India.

The cadre controlling authority for IP&TAFS is Member Finance, Telecom Commission of India.

The selected candidates' go through a number of training sessions in different institutes:

* Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration at Mussorie: 4 month foundation course.

* National Institute of Financial Management at Faridabad: one year course in Financial Management.

* Advance Level Telecom Training Center at Ghaziabad: 10 month advanced training.

Cadre size: 225 posts (direct recruitment – 50%, promotion - 50%).

Functions of the Officers:

*. Manned posts in the Departments of Telecom and Posts, the TRAI and a number of PSUs under the Communications Ministry, such as TCH, ITT and VSNL.

*. Finance posts in the largest PSUs in the country, i.e., the BSNL and MTNL.

*. Budgetry control, finance advice in the management of projects and internal audit.