“Explain the importance of balancing accountability and autonomy for effective governance in India.”

Meaning of Accountability and Autonomy

Accountability is really important because it makes sure that everything is transparent and that people have to answer for what they do. When people have autonomy they can do their jobs in a way and get things done efficiently. This is good for administration because it means that people can make decisions and take care of things on their own which’s a big part of being a professional. Accountability and autonomy are both crucial, for making sure that things run smoothly.

Indian Context

In India, when the government has much control over things it can make the system really slow. On the other hand if people have too much freedom to do what they want, India risks not being able to see what is going on and some people in India might misuse the power they have in India.

Way Forward

To make sure that people are doing their jobs we need rules. We also need to check how well they are doing and use computers to keep an eye on things. This helps make sure that people are responsible for what they do but have the freedom to make some decisions on their own. Clear mandates and performance-based evaluation and digital oversight are important for this balance between being accountable and having autonomy. Clear mandates are necessary for autonomy.

Balanced integration of accountability and autonomy strengthens democratic governance and service delivery.

UPSC General Studies Paper Preparation

Public Administration Optional Exam Preparation

About the Author: Jyoti Verma