GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

Though it may seem that accountability and efficiency are antithetical to each other, accountability is a sine qua non for good governance. Discuss.

Answered by 13 toppers · CSE 2020–2023

Syllabus: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.

How toppers approached it

From all 14 answers · about 180 words · 50% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • A definition93%
  • No separate opening7%

Body

  • Points and prose57%
  • Points43%

Close

  • A summary57%
  • No separate close21%
  • A way forward14%
  • A quotation7%

The toppers’ answers

Shubham KumarAIR 1 · CSE 2020 · 151 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

None written.

Body · points and prose

Accountability refers to being answerable to one's actions. For example → A civil servant is accountable for his actions as a District magistrate to the administration and general public.

Efficiency refers to how the work has been carried out. High efficiency means carrying out work and activities fast and without much delay. It is linked with productivity of an individual. Eg → Dealing with official work in time and processing more work in a given day. Bureaucrates → performing work & without any red-tapism

Sometimes because of obligation, accountability may be seen by many as bringing in delays & hence inefficiency

It is true that accountability may lead to certain delays as :-

Diagram
* (1) Now people/administrator would take actions & decisions based on giving more consideration to its outcomes * It would lead to better decision making * (2) following set of procedures & rules so that he/she in position to justify his/her actions * leads to predictability, reliability, trust in system

Combined both → Good governance

Accountability brings governance which listens to people, their demands work according to rule of law & constitution. Thus is sine qua non to good governance and in long run bring efficiency as well.

Close · a summary

High efficiency means carrying out work and activities fast and without much delay. It is linked with productivity of an individual. Eg → Dealing with official work in time and processing more work in a given day. Bureaucrates → performing work & without any red-tapism

Sometimes because of obligation, accountability may be seen by many as bringing in delays & hence inefficiency

It is true that accountability may lead to certain delays as :- Combined both → Good governance

Accountability brings governance which listens to people, their demands work according to rule of law & constitution. Thus is sine qua non to good governance and in long run bring efficiency as well.

More on Accountability and Ethical Governance

Answerability for a decision, strengthening ethical and moral values in governance, and institutional mechanisms for it.

All GS4 questions on Accountability and Ethical Governance