UPSC Mains 2025 · GS IV · Q6(b) · 10 marks · 150 words

India is an emerging economic power of the world as it has recently secured the status of fourth largest economy of the world as per IMF projection. However, it has been observed that in some sectors, allocated funds remain either under-utilised or misutilised. What specific measures would you recommend for ensuring accountability in this regard to stop leakages and gaining the status of third largest economy of the world in near future ?

हिन्दी में

भारत विश्व की उभरती हुई आर्थिक शक्ति है क्योंकि आइ.एम.एफ. के अनुमानानुसार हाल ही में इसने विश्व की चौथी सबसे बड़ी अर्थव्यवस्था का दर्जा हासिल किया है । तथापि यह देखा गया है कि कुछ क्षेत्रों में आबंटित धनराशि का या तो कम उपयोग किया जाता है अथवा उसका गलत उपयोग होता है । इस संबंध में जवाबदेही सुनिश्चित करने, लीकेज रोकने तथा निकट भविष्य में विश्व की तीसरी सबसे बड़ी अर्थव्यवस्था का दर्जा प्राप्त करने के लिए आप क्या विशिष्ट उपाय सुझायेंगे ?

Utilisation of Public FundsAccountability and Ethical Governance

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Effective utilisation of public funds is not merely an administrative requirement but a moral responsibility of those entrusted with public office. However, instances of funds allocated to government schemes lying idle or being diverted towards extraneous purposes continue to be reported across the country. Examine the reasons for under-utilization and mis utilization of public funds and their implications.”

Gaurav KumarAIR 34 · CSE 2017 · 166 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a figure

Construction workers fund have > 50,000 crore rupee underutilised // & MNREGA funds are misallocated (West Bengal: MGNREGA fund). This show the ineffective public fund utilisation.

Body · points

Effective Utilisation of public fund :

  1. Fulfill the 'Samvodaya dream' effective delivery of public services (eg: Divya Mittal IAS, Irrigation work)
  2. Builds credibility of 'economy' of offices
  3. Helps improve 'ease of doing business'
  4. Boost the morale of public - their funds are utilised over them
  5. Reduces inter departmental, inter state centre state conflict (eg: Samagra)

Sikshe, pm-shravan funds (Tamilnadu)

(6) Ethical ground : Increased transparency in money trail (taxpayer money)

→ Citizen charter : public fund over designated services eg MeeSeva (Andhra)

→ Increase responsibility of offices over corruption & embezzlement-

How to effectively use

(1) Reduced discretion : DMF discretion of DM, very low utilisation

(2) Technology - DBT, direct transfer eg Pahal LPG (JAM trinity)

(3) Information management system

(4) Reduce extravagant expenditure → Compels Budget management

(5) Election freebies (Punjab in debt)

Close · no separate close

None written.

2 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2025, General Studies Paper IV, Q6(b). The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.