UPSC Mains 2021 GS2 Q4 — Parliamentary Accountability
To what extent, in your view, the Parliament is able to ensure accountability of the executive in India? (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- To what extent
- Scope keywords
- Parliamentensure accountabilityexecutiveIndia
- Implicit sub-parts
- Constitutional and procedural mechanisms through which the Parliament exercises control.
- Critical evaluation of the decline in effectiveness of these mechanisms (The 'Extent' part).
- Emerging challenges like the use of ordinances, bypass of committees, and lack of debate.
- Brief suggestions or 'way forward' to restore legislative oversight.
- Common pitfalls
- Listing only theoretical tools (Question Hour, Zero Hour) without discussing their actual erosion in recent years.
- Failing to mention the role of the Parliamentary Committee system as the 'mini-parliament' for technical oversight.
- Over-emphasizing the Judiciary or CAG instead of sticking to the Parliament's direct role in accountability.
- Neglecting the impact of the Anti-Defection Law on the independence of MPs to hold the executive accountable.
- Dimensions required
- ConstitutionalProcedural/InstitutionalPolitical/Party-systemFinancial (Budgetary control)
- Marks allocation hint
Dedicate 30 words to the constitutional mandate (Art 75). Allocate 50 words to existing mechanisms (tools like motions and committees). Devote the core 70 words to the critical 'extent'—analyzing the decline in sittings, disruption of Question Hour, and the bypassing of bills to committees—to provide a balanced assessment.
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