QUESTION 7
GS4
10 marks
What does 'accountability' mean in the context of public service? What measures can be adopted to ensure individual and collective accountability of public servants?
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Define accountability in public service and suggest measures for individual and collective accountability.
ExplainMake clear how and why it happens: causes, process, and an example for each point.
Demand-wise check
- 1Meaning: answerability for actions and results to superiors, legislature, courts and citizens; includes responsibility and consequence≈30 words
- 2Individual measures: clear roles, performance appraisal, citizen charters with timelines, RTI, disciplinary action, e-file tracking≈30 words
- 3Collective measures: social audit, outcome budgets, parliamentary committees, CAG, team-based targets, public service delivery laws≈30 words
- 4Balance: accountability without paralysis; protect honest decisions≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
MeaningIndividual measuresCollective measuresCaution against fearConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Not separating individual and collective measures
- Only legal measures with no citizen-centric tools
Draw this
- Flowchart: target → action → monitoring → feedback → consequence
Value addition
- LawSection 17 of MGNREGA mandates social audit by Gram Sabhas.MGNREGA, 2005
- ExampleRight to Public Services Acts (Madhya Pradesh 2010 first) fix timelines and penalties for officials.State laws
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Vidushi Singh · AIR 13 · Page 3 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- G Sanjana · AIR 55 · Page 5 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Rishabh Yadav · Page 9 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Tushar Chauhan · Page 9 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.