Accountability & Control

Meta

Where?

UPSC GS Paper-II

Why?

Important aspects of Governance, transparency and

accountability...

Recent events whistleblowers bill, Lokpal

controversy, corruption, protests, etc.. Daily news item.

Previous UPSC Qs.

Concept/Theory

State & Society

Social Contract.

Separation of Powers.

Rule of Law.

Representative Democracy.

Corruption.

Accountability is at the root of democracy, good

governance & development.

Accountability is answerability and enforcement on the part

of those having responsibility.
Accountability refers to the extent to which actual policies
and their implementation coincide with the normative ideal
of what they ought to be.

Control Same, but Concurrent and not post-facto.

Accountability has many dimensions

Legal

Moral

Political

Extent of Accountability depends on

Morality/Ethics - Personal objectives of government

officials - Kautilya, Gandhi's seven social sins, etc.

Awareness - Perceptions of citizens or other

watchdog agencies concerning their performance. Political Culture.

Sanctioning/Pressure Mechanism Mechanisms by

which citizens or watchdog agencies can exert
pressure or sanctions.

Historical Evolution

French Revolution and Democratic Movements.

Colonial Legacy

Mixed Experience

-Ve

Limited Accountability in India.

Freedom Struggle about asking for greater accountability.

+Ve

Rule of Law.
Parliamentary system.

Dimensions

Accountability Measures related to the view of state.

Democratic Welfare State

Need to deepen democratisation and accountability.

Looks at political-philosophical prism.

Structures & Tools

Social Audit, RTI, Decentralisation, Ombudsman, Social Capital etc.

Minimalist Neo-Liberal Paradigm

Public Choice approach. Self-interested man. So, market principles work.

Choice & Exit, Voice. - Govt has no business to be in business.

Structures & Tools

MIS, Privatisation & Competetion. MoUs, Citizen's Charter, legalisation of lobbying, etc.

Challenges

Colonial Legacy

Huge inequity in society.

Overexpansive Welfarist State.

Indian Situation

Mix of both.
Good governance approach + Neo-Liberal
Approach.

So, period of churning.

See picture..