Q.Discuss the role of Public Accounts Committee in establishing accountability of the government to the people.
How to approach: Address all parts of the prompt systematically—covering positive dimensions, structural constraints, and a constructive Way Forward.
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The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is a vital parliamentary tool for ensuring financial accountability. As Dr. B.R. Ambedkar stated, "The Public Accounts Committee is the most powerful body, which exercises control over the finances and expenditure of the government and serves as a formidable check on the misuse of public funds."
graph TD
PAC["Public Accounts Committee"]
PAC --> ECR["Examines CAG Reports"]
PAC --> RCA["Recommends Corrective Actions"]
PAC --> NPA["Non-Partisan and Advisory Role"]
PAC --> HI["Highlights Irregularities"]
PAC --> ELO["Ensures Legislative Oversight"]Body
1. Role of the Public Accounts Committee
- Scrutiny of Expenditure: The PAC meticulously examines government spending to ensure funds are utilized for their designated purposes as approved by Parliament, highlighting any unauthorized diversions.
- Examination of CAG Reports: It acts as the sister committee to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), analyzing its audit reports to uncover financial irregularities, as seen during the scrutiny of the 2G spectrum and coal allocation cases.
- Ensuring Propriety and Efficiency: The PAC assesses whether public funds are spent with wisdom, faithfulness, and economy, calling out delays and inefficiencies in major public projects.
- Promoting Transparency: By making its findings public, the PAC fosters informed parliamentary debates and enhances public awareness regarding the utilization of taxpayer money.
- Non-Partisan Oversight: By convention, the PAC is chaired by a member of the opposition, ensuring unbiased, rigorous oversight of the executive's financial decisions.
- Continuous Monitoring: The committee provides actionable recommendations and continuously tracks their implementation, establishing a robust culture of financial discipline.
Conclusion
The PAC remains a cornerstone of financial accountability in India's Westminster model. However, its ultimate effectiveness depends on the timely and decisive implementation of its recommendations by the executive.
Question Specifications, Marking Rubric & Syllabus Mapping
| Examination & Year | UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2017 (Question 4) |
|---|---|
| Paper & Syllabus Topic | General Studies Paper II — Polity, Governance, Social Justice & IR → Indian Constitution & Polity |
| Marks, Word Limit & Ideal Time | 10 Marks • 150 Words • Ideal Writing Time: 7–8 Minutes |
| Directive Word & Core Demand | Discuss: Conduct a comprehensive, 360-degree exploration of the topic covering multiple perspectives. |
| Recommended Structure Split | Intro: ~20–25 Words • Body: ~100 Words (3–4 dimensions) • Conclusion: ~20–25 Words |
| AI Practice & Evaluation Tools | Upload Handwritten Answer for 3-Min Vision AI Evaluation | Generate Custom Answer & Mind Map |
Related & Repeated UPSC Mains PYQs (6)
Past UPSC Mains questions connected to this node in the 3D PYQ Realm knowledge graph.
Exercise of CAG’s powers in relation to the accounts of the Union and the States is derived from Article 149 of the Indian Constitution. Discuss whether audit of the Government’s policy implementation could amount to overstepping its own (CAG) jurisdiction.
‘Simultaneous election to the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies will limit the amount of time and money spent in electioneering but it will reduce the government’s accountability to the people’ Discuss.
To what extent, in your view, the Parliament is able to ensure accountability of the executive in India?
Do Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees keep the administration on its toes and inspire reverence for parliamentary control? Evaluate the working of such committees with suitable examples.
Explain the structure of the Parliamentary Committee system. How far have the financial committees helped in the institutionalisation of Indian Parliament?
“The duty of the Comptroller and Auditor General is not merely to ensure the legality of expenditure but also its propriety.” Comment
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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Mains 2017 GS2 (Polity & Constitution)
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This 2017 GS Paper II question carries 10 marks with a 150-word limit and uses the "Discuss" directive. Address all parts of the prompt systematically—covering positive dimensions, structural constraints, and a constructive Way Forward. Follow the ideal word split (Intro: ~20–25 Words • Body: ~100 Words (3–4 dimensions) • Conclusion: ~20–25 Words) and aim to finish within 7–8 Minutes.
Which UPSC Mains syllabus topic does this 2017 question belong to?
This question is part of General Studies Paper II — Polity, Governance, Social Justice & IR under the syllabus module "Indian Constitution & Polity". You can explore all repeated questions from Polity & Constitution in Acme AI's 3D PYQ Realm or filter all Polity & Constitution PYQs on the Mains PYQ Directory.
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