TRANSPARENCY :
* refers to the ‘flow of timely and reliable information, making decisions and actions
visible and about sharing and disclosing the necessary information to the stakeholders.
Transparency in administration means the availability of information in the public
domain as permissible under the law. Sanctity of procedure should be reflected in
decision-making.
For example, e-auction of any public procurement project where all the details and
parameters are made available in public domain.
As per the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission, transparency in a democracy allows
bi-directional information flow, which allows citizens to participate in governance.
* Transparency in governance - idea that the people have a right to know, what their
government is doing, and the government has an obligation to provide that information.
* transparent government= one that provides accurate information about itself, its
operations, and the country as a whole, or permits that information to be collected and made
available.
* For example, the selection of beneficiaries for any government scheme such as ‘Skill
India Mission’ would be based on explicitly known and publicly communicated criteria; it
will be known as to who will apply these criteria, when and how? what benefits would
accrue to those who fit these criteria? When will these benefits accrue, at what costs etc
* Importance =
i) As a tool of good governance (ensures PCRA TREE components)
For example, e-auctions of coal blocks by Coal India in 2018-19 made the auction process
more transparent and fetched 44% higher prices.
ii) Check against mismanagement and corruption
iii) Empowers the citizens - educate the people about their rights, entitlements and how to
question their fulfillment.
iv) strengthen participatory democracy and usher in people centric governance
v) significant for motivating citizens to exercise ‘voice power which in turn results in
greater accountability
Lack of adequate open, relevant, and publically accessible govt data and records
Institutions such as the judiciary, political parties etc. remain outside the purview of the RTI
Act, hence, it is difficult to monitor their functioning
Apathetic government officials who are secretive in their workings
the (RTI Act), Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, Citizen’s Charter, social audit, digitization
of records, etc. are tools of transparency and accountability.
ACCOUNTABILITY
* the process as well as norms that make decision makers answerable to ones for whom
decisions are taken i.e., the decision maker and the beneficiary.
Accountability includes – Answerability, Enforceability, Grievance redressal
* Accountability also means establishing criteria to measure the performance of public
officials, as well as oversight mechanisms to ensure that standards are met.
Accountability has little meaning without transparency. Without complete and correct
information in public domain, accountability will be of little value.
Transparency and accountability share a complementary relationship. On one hand,
accountability defines the type of transparency needed and on the other hand, the quality of
information decides the type of accountability possible
* Advantages of Accountability in Governance :
a) is a fundamental principle of democratic governance.
b) Remedial measures: provides for remedial measures including punishment in case of
deviations from norms.
c) Public confidence: Accountability helps in improving public confidence .
d) Accountability necessitates transparency in decision making
e) Improving the system as a whole by reflecting upon and evaluating the results of
implementation of schemes + policies
f) prevents the public services from turning into tyrant
g) Avoids conflict of interests-Setting accountability clearly demarcates area of one’s
actions
h) Promotes justice, equality, and egalitarianism
i) brings legitimacy to public services- promotes loyalty to service as keeps a check on
arbitrary and ill-conceived actions and policies
* The accountability could be financial, administrative, legal
by promoting transparency, through effective implementation of RTI public officials would
be more careful to function strictly according to the spirit of the law and constitution
There should be capacity building of the stakeholders to question the public officials
about their discharging of official duties. For example, the concept of Social Audit under
MGNREGA. Also, effective implementation of laws like Prevention of Corruption Act
should be ensured.
* GOI initiatives to promote transparency + Accountability :
1) The Right to Information Act, 2005
2) Citizen Charter
3) Horizontal accountability: The institutions of horizontal accountability in Indian
context include the institutions of:
o Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG),
o the Election Commission,
o Vigilance Commission,
o Central Information Commission and
o In addition, there are a large number of Regulatory bodies including SEBI, TRAI,
CERC, CPCB etc.
4) Financial accountability – ensured via Budget , CAG
5) Lokpal and lokayukta
PYQ : Open Govt
Open government has essential element of : Transparency , participation and
accountability.
that means open govt includes also the 3 components of A/C + Participation of citizens or
civic engagements in governance in the form of people’s planning, participatory budgeting,
corruption watch by citizen audit + transparency or efficient accurate timely info avail
Participation means that the public can engage directly in the consideration of policy options
and decision making, and can contribute ideas and evidence that lead to policies, laws, and
decisions which best serve society and broad democratic interests. Governments should
actively seek to mobilize citizens to engage in public debate. Mechanisms should exist which
permit the public to participate at their own initiative and to trigger policy debates on matters
of concern