“Transparency and accountability in governance are not about controlling corruption but about creating the trust of stakeholders in the policy process by following the Rule of Law and Participatory Governance.” Comment.
15 marks · answer in 250 words · directive: Comment
The core of a good answer
The statement is largely valid: transparency and accountability are tools for building citizens' trust in how policy is made and implemented, through rule of law and participation, and corruption control is one outcome of that trust-building rather than its whole purpose; but it understates how central anti-corruption remains to accountability in India.
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What the question asks
'Comment' needs an opinion on the statement with reasons. The answer should accept its broader view (trust, legitimacy, participation) while noting that anti-corruption is a core, not a separate, part of accountability, and illustrate with Indian laws and practices.
Answer outline
Introduction
Transparency means openness of information and decisions; accountability means answerability of public officials for their actions; together they underpin good governance as described in the Second Administrative Reforms Commission reports.
Beyond corruption: trust in the policy process
- Right to Information Act, 2005: Section 4 requires proactive disclosure of functions, budgets and decisions, enabling citizens to understand and question policy.
- Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy (2014): draft bills to be placed in the public domain for comments for at least 30 days.
- Social audits: Section 17 of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, 2005 required gram sabhas to audit works; Meghalaya enacted a social audit law in 2017.
- Second ARC first report (2006) called RTI the 'master key to good governance'.
Rule of law as the base of trust
- Article 14 equality before law and non-arbitrariness; reasoned orders and judicial review let citizens predict and challenge state action.
- Accountability bodies: CAG (Article 148), Central Vigilance Commission (statutory since 2003), Lokpal (Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013).
- Citizen's charters and grievance redress (CPGRAMS) give enforceable standards of service.
Participatory governance
- 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) created gram sabhas and ward committees for local planning.
- Participatory budgeting and public consultations on regulations give stakeholders ownership of decisions.
Limits of the statement
- Corruption control remains a core aim: the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended 2018) and Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014 exist because trust cannot be built where graft persists.
- Weak spots: pendency in information commissions, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act widening the personal information exemption, and limited consultation on many bills.
Conclusion
Transparency and accountability are best seen as instruments of legitimacy: they control corruption and, more broadly, build trust through rule-based and participatory decision-making, so both aims should be pursued together.
Examples and data to cite
- Right to Information Act, 2005 and its Section 4 proactive disclosure duty.
- Second Administrative Reforms Commission, First Report 'Right to Information: Master Key to Good Governance' (2006) and Fourth Report 'Ethics in Governance' (2007).
- Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy (2014).
- Meghalaya Community Participation and Public Services Social Audit Act, 2017.
- Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
Facts to remember
- Right to information is part of Article 19(1)(a) as read by the Supreme Court (State of U.P. v Raj Narain, 1975).
- Section 44(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 amends Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.
- Section 17 of MGNREGA mandated social audits of works by the gram sabha.
- Article 148 provides for the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
Concepts explained
- Social audit 2 stories
Where it sits in the syllabus
- GS2: Governance, transparency, e-governance
Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance: applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.