To what extent, in your view, the Parliament is able to ensure accountability of the executive in India?

Question

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

Parliament ensures executive accountability only partially: confidence motions, questions, the Public Accounts Committee and standing committees are strong on paper but blunted by whip-bound majorities and shrinking scrutiny. The 17th Lok Sabha sat for only 274 days, the fewest of any full-term Lok Sabha.

**Introduction**

Article 75(3) makes the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. Yet the 17th Lok Sabha sat for only 274 days, the fewest of any full-term House (PRS), testing that accountability.

**Instruments of Executive Accountability**

1. **Confidence**: A no-confidence motion can remove a ministry, as the Vajpayee government's one-vote defeat in 1999 showed.
2. **Questions and motions**: Question Hour, Zero Hour and adjournment motions force public replies, and the Committee on Government Assurances tracks ministers' promises.
3. **Financial control**: Articles 113-114 require Parliament's vote for spending, and the Public Accounts Committee examined CAG audits of 2G and the Commonwealth Games.
4. **Committee scrutiny**: Departmentally related standing committees, set up in 1993, examine demands for grants and bills away from partisan glare.

**Gaps that Dilute Accountability**

SKETCH: forcefield | Parliamentary Accountability
center: Executive accountability
driving: Question Hour, Committees, CAG-PAC audit, No-confidence motion
restraining: Party whip, Budget guillotine, Disruptions, Fewer sittings

1. **Disciplined majorities**: The Tenth Schedule binds MPs to the whip; the 2023 no-confidence motion fell by voice vote.
2. **Weak budget scrutiny**: All demands for grants were guillotined without discussion in 2023 (PRS).
3. **Bypassed committees and questions**: Committee referral of bills fell from 71% in the 15th Lok Sabha to 25% in the 16th, and Question Hour was dropped in the 2020 Monsoon Session.
4. **Vacant offices**: No Deputy Speaker was elected in the entire 17th Lok Sabha, despite Article 93.

**Conclusion**

Parliament ensures accountability only partially: its tools are strong on paper but blunted in practice. Minimum sittings, as the NCRWC (2002) urged, and mandatory committee referral would make Article 75(3) a living check.

To what extent, in your view, the Parliament is able to ensure accountability of the executive in India?

Model answer

Practise this question

Parliament — Powers & Functioning4 questions

Ghissu