GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

There is a view that the institutional mechanisms to ensure accountability of civil servants have weakened over time. In this context, discuss the need of a social accountability law in India.

Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2021

Accountability and Ethical GovernanceProbity in GovernanceTransparency and InformationCorruption

Syllabus: Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.

How toppers approached it

From all 8 answers · about 140 words · 38% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • A definition88%
  • A quotation13%

Body

  • Points88%
  • Points and prose13%

Close

  • A way forward38%
  • No separate close25%
  • A summary25%
  • A source13%

The toppers’ answers

Gamini SinglaAIR 3 · CSE 2021 · 128 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Accountability refers to the answerability and open-ness to public scrutiny, for any decisions made by civil servants.

Body · points

Weakening of institutional mechanisms

  1. Enhanced discretion due to over- and ineffective regulations → As mentioned in Economic survey 2020-21

eg: while awarding the contracts for public project, the criteria are not laid out

  1. Security of tenure - Article 309 and Article 310 of constitution

  2. Lack of performance appraisal systems

  3. Feeling of masters rather than servants of public

Diagram
- Corruption - Partiality in decision making - Political-civil servants nexus (Vohra committee)

Need of social accountability law

  1. Power in hands of public to seek answers
  2. It will ensure responsible decision making
  3. Deterrence against actions taken solely for self interest
  4. Public participation in administration

Close · a way forward

Second ARC has also highlighted its need. Government must ensure, a law is brought timely.

More on Accountability and Ethical Governance

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

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