15. Payment to the Council—The Central Government may, after due appropriation made by Parliament
by law in this behalf, pay to the Council in each financial year such sums as may be considered necessary for
the performance of functions of the Council under this Act.
16. Fund of the Council—(1) The Council shall have its own Fund; and all sums which may, from time
to time, be paid to it by the Central Government and all the receipts of the Council (including any sum which
any State Government or any other authority or person may hand over to the Council) shall be credited to the
Fund and all payments by the Council shall be made therefrom.
(2) All moneys belonging to the Fund shall be deposited in such banks or invested in such manner as
may, subject to the approval of the Central Government, be decided by the Council.
(3) The Council may spend such sums as it thinks fit for performing its functions under this Act, and such
sums shall be treated as expenditure payable out of the Fund of the Council.
17. Budget.—The Council shall prepare, in such form and at such time each year as may be prescribed, a
budget in respect of the financial year next ensuing showing the estimated receipts and expenditure, and
copies thereof shall be forwarded to the Central Government.
18. Annual report.—The Council shall prepare once every year in such form and at such time as may be
prescribed, an annual report giving a true and full account of its activities during the previous year and copies
thereof shall be forwarded to the Central Government and that Government shall cause the same to be laid
before both Houses of Parliament.
19. Accounts and audit.—(1) The Council shall cause to be maintained such books of account
and other books in relation to its accounts in such form and in such manner as may, in consultation with the
Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, be prescribed.
(2) The Council shall, as soon as may be, after closing its annual accounts prepare a statement of
accounts in such form, and forward the same to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India by such date,
as the Central Government may, in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General, determine.
(3) The accounts of the Council shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India at such
times and in such manner as he thinks fit.
(4) The accounts of the Council as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or
any other person appointed by him in this behalf together with the audit report thereon shall be forwarded
annually to the Central Government and that Government shall cause the same to be laid before both Houses
of Parliament.