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.

According to the passage, which one of the following is not a means of enhancing internal accountability of civil services ?

(a) Better job security and safeguards
(b) Supervision by Central Vigilance Commission
(c) Judicial review of executive decisions
(d) Seeking accountability through enhanced participation by people in decision making process ✓ UPSC's answer

Why the answer is (d)

• The passage explicitly lists internal performance monitoring, official supervision by bodies like the Central Vigilance Commission, and judicial review of executive decisions as means to achieve internal accountability.

• It states that Articles 311 and 312 provide job security and safeguards, which the framers envisaged to ensure the civil service is not subservient to the political executive, thereby supporting internal structural integrity.

• The passage identifies decentralization and devolution of authority to bring government closer to people as measures to enhance external accountability, not internal accountability.

• Therefore, seeking accountability through enhanced participation by people in the decision-making process is a mechanism for external accountability, making it the correct answer for what is NOT a means of internal accountability.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Better job security and safeguards: The passage links job security and safeguards under Articles 311 and 312 to the strength of the civil service to function in the public interest, which is part of the internal accountability framework.
(b) Supervision by Central Vigilance Commission: The passage explicitly cites official supervision by bodies like the Central Vigilance Commission as a method to achieve internal accountability.
(c) Judicial review of executive decisions: The passage explicitly lists judicial review of executive decisions as a means to achieve internal accountability.

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.