• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla recently addressed the 28th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference (CSPOC) in New Delhi.
• He emphasized that the legitimacy of democratic institutions depends on their ability to remain transparent, inclusive, and accountable amidst the rise of AI and social media.

What is accountability?

• Accountability is the ethical obligation of those in power to provide an account of their actions, justify their decisions, and face consequences for their conduct. It is a relational concept where the agent (government) is answerable to the principal (citizens).

Key Features

• Answerability: The duty to explain decisions and provide reliable information to the public.
• Enforceability: The existence of mechanisms to penalize misconduct or rectify institutional failures.
• Responsiveness: The capacity of institutions to adapt and respond to the evolving needs and feedback of the citizenry.

Importance of Accountability

• Fostering Public Trust: Accountability bridges the gap between the rulers and the ruled by ensuring honesty.
• E.g. The National Critical Mineral Mission (2025) includes transparency clauses to ensure public resources are managed without bias.
• Curbing Corruption: Constant scrutiny prevents the misuse of authority for personal gain.
• E.g. The 130th Constitution Amendment Bill (2025) proposes automatic removal of ministers detained for serious crimes to restore institutional ethics.
• Enhancing Service Delivery: It ensures that welfare benefits reach the intended beneficiaries without leakages.
• E.g. The use of social audits in MGNREGA has successfully identified and corrected irregularities in fund distribution at the grassroots level.
• Protecting Marginalized Voices: Accountable systems ensure that the last person in the social hierarchy is heard.
• E.g. In his CSPOC speech, Om Birla highlighted that inclusive deliberation is essential to prevent social polarization caused by digital misinformation.
• Upholding Rule of Law: It ensures that no individual, regardless of their status, is above the legal framework.
• E.g. The Supreme Court’s 2025 judgment on State Governors’ veto powers reaffirmed that constitutional heads are accountable to the legislative will.

Challenges to Accountability

• Misuse of Technology: The rise of AI and deepfakes can be used to manipulate public opinion and evade truth. E.g. Recent concerns over generative AI in political campaigns show how digital tools can blur the lines of responsibility.
• Opaque Decision Making: Excessive secrecy under the guise of national security can hinder public oversight. E.g. Delays in responding to RTI applications in sensitive sectors continue to be a significant barrier to administrative transparency.
• Erosion of Parliamentary Propriety: Frequent disruptions in the House reduce the time available for executive scrutiny. E.g. Recent sessions have seen record suspensions of members, which critics argue weakens the primary forum for horizontal accountability.
• Structural Delays: A slow judicial process prevents timely enforcement of accountability for misconduct. E.g. With over 5 crore cases pending in Indian courts as of 2025, the deterrent effect of legal sanctions is often diluted.
• Information Overload and Disinformation: Social media often prioritizes engagement over accuracy, making it harder for citizens to hold leaders accountable. E.g. The Voluntary Code of Ethics (2025) for social media platforms has struggled to keep pace with rapid misinformation.

Way Ahead

• Strengthening Standing Committees: These mini-parliaments must be empowered to scrutinize every major bill and budget.
• E.g. Speaker urged the revival of robust committee oversight to provide deep-dive technical scrutiny that the main House often lacks.
• Adopting Ethical AI Frameworks: Parliaments must establish clear guidelines for the responsible use of AI in legislative work.
• E.g. The proposed Unified Digital Platform for all Indian legislatures aims to set new benchmarks in digital transparency and paperless functioning.
• Institutionalizing Social Audits: Moving beyond individual schemes, social audits should be a mandatory feature for all public departments.
• E.g. Expanding the Citizen Charter model to include time-bound digital services can reduce bureaucratic red-tapism significantly.
• Judicial and Electoral Reforms: Ensuring faster disposal of cases involving public officials is vital for enforceability.
• E.g. The implementation of the preemptive removal process for detained ministers could act as a strong ethical deterrent against criminalization.
• Deepening Citizen Engagement: Governance must move beyond the five-year election cycle to include continuous participation.
• E.g. Platforms like MyGov should be further leveraged to invite direct feedback on draft policies before they are enacted into law.

Conclusion:

• True democracy is not just about the act of voting but the ongoing ethical conduct of those who are elected. As Speaker Om Birla noted, when institutions prioritize inclusivity and transparency, they strengthen the enduring bond between the citizen and the State. Ultimately, accountability transforms power into a public trust, ensuring that governance remains a service rather than a privilege.