UPSC Prelims 2016 · CSAT

Question 4: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “Accountability, or the lack of it,…” — Passage-1 · as printed by UPSC

According to the passage, which one of the following is not a means of enhancing internal accountability of civil services ?

aBetter job security and safeguards

bSupervision by Central Vigilance Commission

cJudicial review of executive decisions

dSeeking accountability through enhanced participation by people in decision making process

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

Internal accountability, in the passage, comes from the services' own performance monitoring, supervision by bodies such as the Central Vigilance Commission and the CAG, judicial review of executive decisions, and the job security and safeguards guaranteed to the services. Involving people in decision making, through decentralisation, is mentioned separately as a way to bring accountability closer to society, so it is an external measure. Remember the split: watchdog bodies, courts and safeguards are internal; people's participation and elections are external.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Job security and safeguards under the constitutional articles belong to the internal framework.
(b) Supervision by the CVC is listed among the internal means.
(c) Judicial review of executive decisions is listed among the internal means.
(d) Right: people's participation through decentralisation is an external route, not an internal one.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2016, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.