UPSC Mains 2021 GS4 Q6a — Accountability and audit
An independent and empowered social audit mechanism is an absolute must in every sphere of public service, including judiciary, to ensure performance, accountability and ethical conduct. Elaborate. (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Elaborate
- Scope keywords
- independent and empowered social audit mechanismevery sphere of public serviceincluding judiciaryperformance, accountability and ethical conduct
- Implicit sub-parts
- Definition of an 'independent and empowered' social audit in a modern governance context.
- How social audits specifically enhance performance and ethical conduct beyond traditional financial audits.
- Arguments for and challenges of extending social audits to the Judiciary (addressing judicial independence vs. accountability).
- Structural requirements to make such a mechanism 'empowered' rather than just a symbolic exercise.
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing only on MGNREGA or welfare schemes instead of the broader 'public service' and 'judiciary' scope.
- Failing to address the 'Ethical Conduct' aspect of the GS4 syllabus, focusing instead only on financial corruption.
- Ignoring the specific tension between 'judicial independence' and 'social audit'—a crucial nuance for this question.
- Writing a generic essay on transparency without mentioning institutional mechanisms or statutory backing.
- Dimensions required
- Ethical lens (Probity, Duty of Care)Constitutional lens (Judicial Independence vs. Accountability)Administrative lens (Performance measurement and Citizen-centricity)Procedural lens (Audit design and implementation)
- Marks allocation hint
Spend 25 words defining the mechanism and its link to ethics. Devote 75 words to elaborating how it improves performance and accountability across general public services. Use the remaining 50 words specifically for the 'Judiciary' dimension, balancing the need for accountability with the principle of independence.
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