AS-1 – Disclosure of Accounting Policies :

This standard deals with the disclosure of significant accounting policies followed in the preparation and presentation of financial statements. The purpose of this standard is to promote better understanding of financial statements by establishing the disclosure of significant accounting policies in the financial statements and the manner of doing so. Compliance with this standard should go a long way in facilitating a more meaningful comparison between financial statements of different enterprises.

The views presented in the statements of an enterprise of its state of affairs and of the profit or loss account can be significantly affected as the accounting policies followed vary from enterprise to enterprise.

All significant accounting policies adopted in the preparation and presentation of financial statements should be disclosed. The disclosure of the significant accounting policies as such should form part of the financial statements and the significant accounting policies should normally be disclosed in one place. Any change in the accounting policies which has a material effect in the current period or which is reasonably expected to have a material effect in later periods should be disclosed. In the case of a change in accounting policies which has a material effect in the current period, the amount by which any item in the financial statements is affected by such change should also be disclosed to the extent ascertainable. Where such amount is not ascertainable, wholly or in part, the fact should be indicated. If the fundamental accounting assumptions, viz. going concern, consistency and accrual are followed in financial statements, specific disclosure is not required. If a fundamental accounting assumption is not followed, the fact should be disclosed. The primary consideration is that the financial statements should give a true and fair view of the firm’s income and financial position