What does ‘accountability’ mean in the context of public service? What measures can be adopted to ensure individual and collective accountability of public servants?
This question is available to read here. The practice button generates a fresh question from the same paper. Here, practise an answer plan in keywords. Choose your timer on the next screen. Feedback uses our common 15-point practice rubric, rather than the paper’s original mark allocation.
The Madras High Court has delivered a pivotal interpretation of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), ruling that prior government sanction is not required to prosecute public servants for offenses related to disproportionate assets. The court’s judgment came while refusing to discharge former Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam from a long-standing corruption case, emphasizing that the accumulation of illicit wealth cannot be equated with the discharge of official duties. This decision reinforces the legal framework for accountability, ensuring that the transition to the new criminal law code does not inadvertently shield public officials from corruption investigations.
In September 2026, political leader Aaditya Thackeray urged the Maharashtra government to defer the Maharashtra Public Service Commission State Service Mains examination until the reform committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary V. Radha submits its report and recommendations are implemented. The demand highlights systemic concerns regarding exam scheduling, transparency, and candidate grievances in public service recruitment.
A recent public disclosure by a Tamil Nadu Congress Committee leader claiming he filed a police complaint regarding the Veeramani sex abuse scandal two years prior has ignited intense debate over institutional transparency, political accountability, and the responsiveness of law enforcement agencies in handling sensitive criminal allegations.