Public Administration Optional · Paper I · Administrative Theory
Accountability and Control Notes · PYQs
Free notes and every UPSC previous year question for Accountability and Control, Unit 05 of Paper I: the official syllabus, 3 topic-wise notes in syllabus order, and all 53 questions from 1987 to 2026 grouped by sub-topic.
3
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53
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30
Asked since 2013
1987–2026
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Syllabus Free notes Previous year questions All Public Administration units
Official UPSC syllabus
Accountability and Control: syllabus
The syllabus text as UPSC notifies it for Paper I of Public Administration Optional. Every note and question on this page maps to it.
Concepts of accountability and control; Legislative, Executive and Judicial control over administration; Citizen and Administration; Role of media, interest groups, voluntary organizations; Civil society; Citizen’s Charters; Right to Information; Social audit.
Paper I · Unit 05
Accountability and Control notes
Topic-wise notes for this unit in syllabus order, written for UPSC Mains with diagrams, key terms, Indian examples and the previous year questions on each topic.
Free notes
Free practice
Previous year questions: Accountability and Control
All 53 questions UPSC has set from this unit between 1987 and 2026, grouped by syllabus sub-topic and sorted newest first. Questions from 2013 onwards are shown; earlier ones open on a tap.
How often UPSC asks each sub-topic
| Sub-topic | Questions | Since 2013 | Last asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountability and control | 5 | 2 | 2026 |
| Legislative, executive, judicial control | 13 | 6 | 2026 |
| Citizen and Administration | 4 | 3 | 2020 |
| Media, interest groups, NGOs | 10 | 6 | 2025 |
| Civil society | 8 | 5 | 2025 |
| Citizen’s Charter | 4 | 2 | 2023 |
| Right to Information | 5 | 2 | 2023 |
| Social Audit | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
Accountability and control
5 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2026
Read the notes: Accountability and Control
Asked since 2013 · 2
2026Have governments under governance become more transparent and accountable? Elucidate.2013Public administration in the neo-liberal era is governed less by instruments of internal accountability and more by those of external accountability. Elaborate.
Show 3 earlier questions (before 2013)
1992–2006 · 3 questions
2006“Autonomy and accountability in Public Enterprises cannot walk together”. Explain.2000“The weakest aspect of Indian Administrative System is utter disregard of accountability.” Examine the current mechanism for enforcing accountability. What steps are necessary to make it more effective?1992It would be fatal for administration if the public functionaries indulge in procrastination, betray inaction, or more in circles simply because the demand for accountability has overawed and benumbed them.’ Comment.
Legislative, executive, judicial control
13 questions · 6 since 2013 · last asked 2026
Read the notes: Accountability and Control
Asked since 2013 · 6
2026The fine demarcation between judicial control and judicial overreach disappears when judicial prudence is replaced by activism. Critically examine.2024Ineffectiveness of legislative control over administration can stem from various factors, hence in ensuring effectiveness, a comprehensive approach is the need of the hour. Discuss.2023“The judiciary is playing a more positive role in policy formulation, not just in limiting government actions, but also in mandating them.” Comment.2018Edward Gibbon, the author of Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire remarked: “Corruption, the most infallible symptom of Constitutional liberty.” Critically examine this statement.2016“The legislative control over administration is not as effective as it ought to be.” Comment.2015“Legislative action is not subject to the rules of natural justice.” Explain the exceptions to the rule of natural justice.
Show 7 earlier questions (before 2013)
1987–2005 · 7 questions
2005What is judicial activism? How far has it been successful in exercising a check over administration?2000Write short note on Judicial control over administration in India and concept of judicial activism.1999“Public Interest Litigation is an effective innovation in realizing social justice.” Comment.1998“Executive control over administration is much more real.” Comment.1997“The controls exercised over administration by legislature are, in sum, of greater theoretical than practical efficiency. Comment.1996At one extreme, the vigour of judicial control may paralyse effective administration, at the other the result may be offensive bureaucratic tyranny, exactly where the balance may be best struck is a major problem of judicial administration relationship. Comment.1987‘The Judicial Control over administration operates through a system of writs.’ Comment.
Citizen and Administration
4 questions · 3 since 2013 · last asked 2020
Read the notes: Citizen and Administration
Asked since 2013 · 3
2020Thrust on the citizen centricity and right based approaches, aim to empower the citizens. In the light of the above, has the administrative accountability improved? Justify your argument2018“The political approach to Public Administration stresses on the values of representativeness, political responsiveness and accountability through elected officials to the citizenry” (David H. Rosenbloom). Comment.2013“For those who use the euphemism of ‘shared power’ for participation, the appro-priate literature for guidance is practical politics, not organization and management.” “Strong state and strong civil society are the need to develop both participatory democracy and responsive government as mutually reinforcing and supportive.
Show 1 earlier question (before 2013)
2003 · 1 question
2003What are the various institutional devices available for the redressal of citizen’s grievances against the excesses and malfunctioning of administration? How successful have they been?
Media, interest groups, NGOs
10 questions · 6 since 2013 · last asked 2025
Read the notes: Citizen and Administration
Asked since 2013 · 6
2025Has the media nixed its role in holding the governments accountable and ensuring transparency? Argue.2024Media has become more of a societal lens than an institutional lens. Analyse.2019“Media the Fourth estate is in chains.” Examine the statement in the context of governmental accountability.2017When the media is controlled by vested interests, how can it control the vested interests in the government? How can the media become more responsible and impartial?2015How far do you agree with the view that the growing influence of media comes in the way of agenda-setting by the Government?2014“Voluntary organizations nave become tools of sensitization of governmental agencies.” Comment.
Show 4 earlier questions (before 2013)
1999–2012 · 4 questions
2012Should media exposure be included in rules for administrative accountability in India? State your views.2011‘Media is a Parliament of citizens’. Explain.2008“Instruments of public accountability can be truly effective only if the people and their associations, backed by a responsible media, are assertively pro-active.” Comment.1999“Voluntarism is not anti-thesis of state-centricism.” Comment.
Civil society
8 questions · 5 since 2013 · last asked 2025
Read the notes: Citizen and Administration
Asked since 2013 · 5
2025The effectiveness of civil society in development process is only when state institutions are receptive to inputs from the civil society organizations. Discuss.2022Interaction between the State and Civil society has hitherto been largely neglected, especially in developing countries. Examine.2021In theory, the ‘civil society organizations’ promote cooperation between people and public service organizations, but in practice, their activities restrict the promotion of government programmes. Analyze.2017Civil Society supplements and complements the State. However, its capacity and role depend upon the will of the State. Comment2016“Civil society performs a key role in defending people against the State and market and in asserting the democratic will to influence the State.” Analyze the statement with suitable examples.
Show 3 earlier questions (before 2013)
2002–2012 · 3 questions
2012Comment on the role of Civil Society in facilitating administrative accountability with special reference to the ‘Janlokpal’ issue in India.2006Define the term ‘civil society’. How does civil society influence the public policy?2002“Civil society exists to ensure that government does provide good governance.” Discuss.
Citizen’s Charter
4 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2023
Read the notes: Citizen’s Charters, RTI and Social Audit
Asked since 2013 · 2
2023“Citizen Charter’s focus is on empowering citizens concerning public service delivery.” Analyze.2015“Right from the days of the ‘peoples’ Charter’ to the new concept of ‘Precariat Charter’, the concept of Citizen’s Charter and its scope is constantly evolving.” Comment.
Show 2 earlier questions (before 2013)
2003–2010 · 2 questions
2010Explain the basic principles underlying Citizen’s Charter with special reference to Its administrative philosophy. Promoting public accountability. Ensuring standards of public service.2003“’Citizens’ charter’ is the most important innovation in the context of promotion of customer-orientation of administration.” Discuss.
Right to Information
5 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2023
Read the notes: Citizen’s Charters, RTI and Social Audit
Asked since 2013 · 2
2023“The backlash against Right to information (RTI) by the State hampered the citizen’s right to know.” Examine and point out the need to amend the RTI Act to provide protection to RTI activists.2014“The right to information is not all about citizens empowerment, it essentially redefines the concept of accountability.” Discuss.
Show 3 earlier questions (before 2013)
2004–2012 · 3 questions
2012‘Open access to government records is … the hallmark of a democratic government’, but ‘governments are not hesitant about destroying records – very deliberately – in order to prevent investigations, as well as to generally weaken accountability’. Do you think that in this situation right to information can go to the extent of demanding complete declassification and ‘be-archivization’ of government records? Argue.2007“Right to information promotes transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.” Explain.2004Discuss the legal and political implications of Right to information. Is it a feasible concept in the developing countries?
Social Audit
4 questions · 4 since 2013 · last asked 2024
Read the notes: Citizen’s Charters, RTI and Social Audit
Asked since 2013 · 4
2024Strengthening social audit through appropriate ways will promote inclusive government. Comment.2022Social auditing is not just saving the money, it creates positive impact on governance. Comment.2017Can we say that statutory audit and social audit are two sides of the same coin? Or are they two separate coins with varying values?2016“In spite of certain advantages, Social Audit arrangements have mostly been ineffective because there is no legal provision for punitive action.” Comment.
Year-wise question papers
All question papers Topic-wise PYQ bank (both papers) Topic-wise PYQ post: Accountability and Control 2026 paper 2025 paper 2024 paper 2023 paper
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