India is an emerging economic power of the world as it has recently secured the status of fourth largest…

Question

India is an emerging economic power of the world as it has recently secured the status of fourth largest economy of the world as per IMF projection. However, it has been observed that in some sectors, allocated funds remain either under-utilised or misutilised. What specific measures would you recommend for ensuring accountability in this regard to stop leakages and gaining the status of third largest economy of the world in near future?

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

Stopping leakages needs accountability at every stage: outcome budgeting, just-in-time releases through SNA-SPARSH, a digital trail via DBT and GeM, and social audits and audit follow-up with personal liability. The CAG found 41,002 utilisation certificates worth ₹16,761 crore outstanding in a few ministries in March 2024.

**Introduction**

India became the fourth largest economy in 2025 on IMF projections, which place it third by about 2028. Yet the CAG found 41,002 utilisation certificates worth ₹16,761 crore outstanding in scientific and environmental ministries alone in March 2024.

**Accountability Before and During Spending**

SKETCH: flow-cycle | Public Fund Accountability Loop
- Plan: outcome targets
- Release: on need
- Spend: traceable
- Verify: audit
- Answer: legislature

1. **Outcome-based budgeting**: Allocations tied to targets under NITI Aayog DMEO's Output-Outcome Monitoring Framework make ministries answer for results.
2. **Just-in-time release**: SNA-SPARSH (2023) releases scheme funds only when payment falls due, ending idle balances like the ₹122.75 crore the Coal Controller's Organisation parked in a current account (CAG, 2025).
3. **Technology against leakage**: DBT via the JAM trinity, geo-tagged assets and GeM procurement remove middlemen and leave a digital trail for every rupee.
4. **Absorptive capacity**: Funds should go only to ready projects with trained staff and cleared land, so money is neither surrendered nor rushed out in March.

**Accountability After Spending**

1. **Social audit**: MGNREGA's Section 17 and Meghalaya's 2017 social audit law let beneficiaries verify spending and expose ghost works.
2. **Audit with follow-through**: Time-bound action-taken notes to the Public Accounts Committee and personal liability for avoidable losses would clear the backlog of unanswered audit paragraphs.
3. **Watchdogs and stewardship**: An empowered Lokpal and whistle-blower protection make concealment costly, while Mission Karmayogi training instils **fiduciary stewardship**, treating public money as a trust for citizens.

**Conclusion**

The third rank will be earned by every rupee reaching its purpose. With a named answerable officer at each stage, fiscal effort becomes assets and services on the road to Viksit Bharat 2047.

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