Accountability and Control over Administration
Accountability and Control over Administration
This domain tests the difference between accountability and control, and the external and internal mechanisms that keep administration answerable.
Core rules and concepts
- Accountability means answerability for decisions, use of resources and results; control is the power to direct, correct or sanction.
- Political control: legislature, questions, motions and committees; ministerial responsibility.
- Legal control: courts and administrative law; financial control: CAG, Public Accounts Committee, budget and audit.
- Administrative control: hierarchy, inspections, performance review and discipline; external watchdogs include CVC, Lokpal and Lokayukta, RTI, media and civil society.
- Rajasthan has a Lokayukta mechanism for complaints against public functionaries; its exact jurisdiction is set by state law.
Worked example
A district office misuses scheme funds. The accountant reports irregularity; the CAG audits and reports; the PAC examines the report; the department starts disciplinary action; the Lokayukta may investigate a complaint. Each mechanism has a different function and no single one substitutes for all others.
Traps
Do not equate accountability with punishment. Do not treat internal audit and external audit as identical. Do not say the legislature controls day-to-day administration; it oversees and authorises.