UPSC Prelims 2016 CSAT Paper II · Q3 of 79 Comprehension medium

Passage

Directions for the following 6 ( six ) items: Read the following two passages and answer the items that follow each passage. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only. Passage-1 Accountability, or the lack of it, in governance generally, and civil services, in particular, is a major factor underlying the deficiencies in governance and public administration. Designing an effective framework for accountability has been a key element of the reform agenda. A fundamental issue is whether civil services should be accountable to the political executive of the day or to society at large. In other words, how should internal and external accountability be reconciled ? Internal accountability is sought to be achieved by internal performance monitoring, official supervision by bodies like the Central Vigilance Commission and Comptroller and Auditor General, and judicial review of executive decisions. Articles 311 and 312 of the Indian Constitution provide job security and safeguards to the civil services, especially the All India Services. The framers of the Constitution had envisaged that provision of these safeguards would result in a civil service that is not totally subservient to the political executive but will have the strength to function in larger public interest. The need to balance internal and external accountability is thus built into the Constitution. The issue is where to draw the line. Over the years, the emphasis seems to have tilted in favour of greater internal accountability of the civil services to the political leaders of the day who in turn are expected to be externally accountable to the society at large through the election process. This system for seeking accountability to society has not worked out, and has led to several adverse consequences for governance. Some special measures can be considered for improving accountability in civil services. Provisions of articles 311 and 312 should be reviewed and laws and regulations framed to ensure external accountability of civil services. The proposed Civil Services Bill seeks to address some of these requirements. The respective roles of professional civil services and the political executive should be defined so that professional managerial functions and management of civil services are depoliticized. For this purpose, effective statutory civil service boards should be created at the centre and in the states. Decentralization and devolution of authority to bring government and decision making closer to the people also helps to enhance accountability.

Which one of the following is the essential message implied by this passage ?

  1. (a) Civil services are not accountable to the society they are serving
  2. (b) Educated and enlightened persons are not taking up political leadership
  3. (c) The framers of the Constitution did not envisage the problems being encountered by the civil services
  4. (d) There is a need and scope for reforms to improve the accountability of civil services ✓ UPSC's answer

Why the answer is (d)

• The passage identifies the lack of accountability in civil services as a major factor underlying deficiencies in governance and public administration.

• It notes that while the Constitution built in a balance between internal and external accountability, the emphasis has tilted towards internal accountability to the political executive, which has not worked out.

• The text explicitly states that 'Designing an effective framework for accountability has been a key element of the reform agenda' and that 'Some special measures can be considered for improving accountability'.

• It suggests specific reforms such as reviewing Articles 311 and 312, creating statutory civil service boards, and decentralizing authority to enhance accountability.

• Therefore, the essential message is that there is a clear need and scope for reforms to improve the accountability of civil services, making option (d) the correct answer.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Civil services are not accountable to the society they are serving
The passage states that the system for seeking accountability to society 'has not worked out', but it does not claim that civil services are entirely unaccountable, nor is this the central message regarding the need for reform.
(b) Educated and enlightened persons are not taking up political leadership
The passage does not mention the educational or enlightenment levels of political leaders, focusing instead on the structural and constitutional mechanisms of accountability.
(c) The framers of the Constitution did not envisage the problems being encountered by the…
The passage explicitly states that the framers of the Constitution 'had envisaged' that safeguards would result in a civil service functioning in the larger public interest, contradicting the claim that they did not envisage the problems.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2016, held on 7 August 2016. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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