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UPSC Notes

Accountability and Transparency in Public Governance

PYQs

10

Articles

2

Momentum

27

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

Accountability and transparency are core pillars of good governance, essential for maintaining public trust, ensuring checks and balances, protecting fundamental rights, and upholding democratic values. Failures in these areas can lead to misgovernance, erosion of institutions, and social unrest.

Accountability in public governance refers to the obligation of government officials and institutions to explain and justify their actions to the public and other oversight bodies. Transparency involves making government operations open and accessible, fostering trust and preventing corruption. These principles are vital for democratic functioning and ensuring responsible administration.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Suppression of Dissent

Use of force against peaceful student protesters and labelling dissent as 'anti-national'.

Bypassing Parliamentary Scrutiny

Key policies (e.g., NEP 2020) and institutions (NTA) cleared without seeking consensus or parliamentary deliberation.

Disregard for Oversight Bodies

Dismissal of recommendations from Parliamentary Standing Committees by the executive.

Evasion of Accountability

A consistent pattern of the government avoiding dialogue and evading responsibility for policy failures and administrative lapses.

Precedent for Ministerial Accountability

The Mundhra case established a precedent for ministerial accountability, leading to the resignation of Finance Minister T.T. Krishnamachari.

Role of Parliamentary Scrutiny

Feroze Gandhi's intervention as an MP demonstrated the critical role of parliamentary scrutiny in exposing executive impropriety, even against one's own party.

Safeguarding Public Institutions

The scandal highlighted the vulnerability of public institutions (like LIC) to undue influence and the bypassing of established safeguards.

Importance of Public Inquiry

The public judicial inquiry (Chagla Commission) reinforced the need for transparency and independent investigation into financial irregularities.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaParliamentary System & Procedures
Conceptual areaSeparation of Powers & Constitutional Ideals
Conceptual areaFundamental Rights
Conceptual areaConstitutional & Statutory Bodies
Conceptual areaGovernance
Conceptual areaIndian Polity

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
Parliament of IndiaLegislative scrutiny and oversight
Union Home MinistryResponsible for law and order, police forces
Parliamentary Standing CommitteesScrutinise government policies and bills
Life Insurance Corporation (LIC)Subject to oversight
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Institutional roles and functions

Quick revision

  • Suppression of dissent and peaceful protests.
  • Bypassing parliamentary scrutiny for policy/institutions.
  • Disregard for Parliamentary Committee recommendations.
  • Evasion of accountability by executive.
  • Impact on democratic values and public trust.

Elimination traps

Authority vs ministry — Distinguish between the Union Home Minister (an individual authority) and the Union Home Ministry (the institutional body).

Ministry sets policy; regulator often has quasi-judicial powers.

High-confidence PYQs

2022Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements : 1. Pursuant to the report of H.N. Sanyal Committee, the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 was passed. 2. The Constitution of ...

Indian PolityOpen question
2020Conceptual understanding, Definition-based questions

A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which

Indian PolityOpen question
2019Institutional roles and functions, Multi-statement analysis

In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.? 1. Ad Hoc Committees se...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements : 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per ...

Indian PolityOpen question
2019Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.? 1. Ad Hoc Committees se...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements : 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per ...

Indian PolityOpen question
2018Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

With reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parliamentary Committees scrutinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make re...

Indian PolityOpen question
2017Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions

The main advantage of the parliamentary form of government is that -

Indian PolityOpen question
2015Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions

With reference to the Union Government consider the following statements. 1. The Department of Revenue is responsible for the preparation of Union Budget th...

Indian PolityOpen question

There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because:

Indian PolityOpen question
2015Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

With reference to the Union Government consider the following statements. 1. The Department of Revenue is responsible for the preparation of Union Budget th...

Indian PolityOpen question

There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because:

Indian PolityOpen question
2014Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which one of the following is the largest Committee of the Parliament?

Indian PolityOpen question
2013Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions

Consider the following statements: The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts: 1. Consists of not more than 25 Members of the Lok Sabha 2. Scrutinizes ap...

Indian PolityOpen question

Topic timeline

Parliamentary System & ProceduresSeparation of Powers & Constitutional IdealsFundamental RightsConstitutional & Statutory Bodies
Prelims 2013· Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions

Consider the following statements: The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts: 1. Consists of not more than 25 Members of the Lok Sabha 2. Scrutinizes ap...

Open question
Prelims 2014· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which one of the following is the largest Committee of the Parliament?

Open question
Prelims 2015· Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions

With reference to the Union Government consider the following statements. 1. The Department of Revenue is responsible for the preparation of Union Budget th...

Open question

There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because:

Open question
Prelims 2015· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

With reference to the Union Government consider the following statements. 1. The Department of Revenue is responsible for the preparation of Union Budget th...

Open question

There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because:

Open question
Prelims 2017· Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions

The main advantage of the parliamentary form of government is that -

Open question
Prelims 2018· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

With reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parliamentary Committees scrutinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make re...

Open question
Prelims 2019· Institutional roles and functions, Multi-statement analysis

In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.? 1. Ad Hoc Committees se...

Open question

Consider the following statements : 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per ...

Open question
Prelims 2019· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.? 1. Ad Hoc Committees se...

Open question

Consider the following statements : 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per ...

Open question
Prelims 2020· Conceptual understanding, Definition-based questions

A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which

Open question
Prelims 2022· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements : 1. Pursuant to the report of H.N. Sanyal Committee, the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 was passed. 2. The Constitution of ...

Open question

Sonia Gandhi writes: 'An education system’s collapse, young India’s trauma'

24 Jul 2026 · The article criticizes the government's response to student protests, highlighting a pattern of using violence, suppressing dissent, and evading accountability through bypassing parliamentary processes and disregarding oversight bodies, thereby undermining democratic principles.

Read article

Amid IDBI Bank sale, Sitharaman cites India’s first big financial scandal: The 1957 Mundhra case

02 Nov 2026 · The Mundhra case exemplified how parliamentary oversight and public inquiry ensure accountability of ministers and safeguard public institutions from undue influence, setting a crucial precedent for governance in India.

Read article

Related topics

Current topic

Accountability and Transparency in Public Governance

Often confused with

Civil Liberties and State Overreach

Open notesOften confused with

Judicial Independence and Constitutional Morality

Open notesOften confused with

Ministerial Responsibility

Open notesOften confused with

Parliamentary Standing Committees

Open notesOften confused with

National Security Review Mechanisms and Accountability

Open notesOften confused with

Independent Audit and Oversight of Government Data

Open notes

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 10 linked questions on Accountability and Transparency in Public Governance in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on Accountability and Transparency in Public Governance

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

With reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parliamentary Committees scrutinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make re...

2018·Indian Polity
Solve

Consider the following statements: The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts: 1. Consists of not more than 25 Members of the Lok Sabha 2. Scrutinizes ap...

2013·Indian Polity
Solve

The main advantage of the parliamentary form of government is that -

2017·Indian Polity
Solve

A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which

2020·Indian Polity
Solve

In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.? 1. Ad Hoc Committees se...

2019·Indian Polity
Solve

With reference to the Union Government consider the following statements. 1. The Department of Revenue is responsible for the preparation of Union Budget th...

2015·Indian Polity
Solve

There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because:

2015·Indian Polity
Solve

Consider the following statements : 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per ...

2019·Indian Polity
Solve

Consider the following statements : 1. Pursuant to the report of H.N. Sanyal Committee, the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 was passed. 2. The Constitution of ...

2022·Indian Polity
Solve

Which one of the following is the largest Committee of the Parliament?

2014·Indian Polity
Solve

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