Sample Answer
Introduction
Indian Parliament is not only a symbol of representative democracy but also accountable democracy where council of ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha – Article 75(3).
Body
Instruments for parliamentary scrutiny
- Debates and Deliberations: during Question and Zero-hour highlights concerns on policy and measures of the government.
- Various Motions: such as no confidence motion, adjournment motion, policy cuts, censure motion etc. ensures government’s accountability.
- Parliamentary committees: standing and ad hoc committees Art 118(1) – scrutinizes the bill and also take opinion from stakeholders.
- Ensures Financial scrutiny: through Department Related Standing Committees, Public Accounts and Estimates Committees etc.
Concerns
- However, continuous disruptions, washout of sessions, taking ordinance route for legislations, decrease in number of bills sent to committees for Parliamentary scrutiny, introducing legislations without giving adequate time to the opposition has reduced accountability of the executive in Parliament.
Conclusion
Thus, measures of Parliamentary reforms such as compulsory presence of PM during the zero hour, pre and post Legislative Impact Assessment of bills, longer tenure of standing committees, fixing quorum at 50%, decriminalization of politics will improve accountability of the Executive in India.