Legal instruments
- RTI Act 2005 (weakened by 2019 amendment on tenure & salaries).
- Whistleblowers Protection Act 2014 (rules unnotified).
- Lokpal & Lokayuktas Act 2013; PMLA 2002.
Administrative & social
- Citizen's Charter (Sevottam model); grievance redress via CPGRAMS.
- Social audit under MGNREGA — Andhra model.
- Public hearings (jan sunwai) pioneered by MKSS in Rajasthan.
Digital layer
- Open Government Data portal, DBT dashboard.
- GeM procurement transparency.
- Audit visualisation and CAG e-portal.
Reforms
- Restore RTI Commission independence (pre-2019 status).
- Notify Whistleblowers rules; witness-protection scheme scale-up.
- Statutory backing for Citizen's Charters (2nd ARC).
Common Pitfalls
- Do not treat accountability as prosecution alone — political, financial and social accountability matter equally.
FAQs
- One reform to headline?
- Restoring RTI Commissioners' tenure and salary parity — a low-cost, high-signal reform.
UPSC Mains PYQs on this microtheme
- What are the aims and objects of the recently passed and enforced, The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024? Whether University/State Education Board examinations, too, are covered under the Act ?📅 2024 · 📌 15
- Reforming the government delivery system through the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme is a progressive step, but it has its limitations too. Comment.📅 2022 · 📌 10
- “Recent amendments to the Right to Information Act will have profound impact on the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission”. Discuss.📅 2020 · 📌 10
- Effectiveness of the goverment system at various levels and people’s participation in the governance system are inter-dependent. Discuss their relationship with each other in context of India.📅 2016 · 📌 12.5
- In the integrity index of Transparency International, India stands very low. Discuss briefly the legal, political, economic, social and cultural factors that have caused the decline of public morality in India.📅 2016 · 📌 12.5
- If amendment bill to the Whistleblowers Act, 2011 tabled in the Parliament is passed, there may be no one left to protect. Critically evaluate.📅 2015 · 📌 12.5
- In the light of the Satyam Scandal (2009), discuss the changes brought in corporate governance to ensure transparency, accountability.📅 2015 · 📌 12.5