UPSC Mains 2025 GS4 Q6b: model answer
India is an emerging economic power of the world as it has recently secured the status of fourth largest economy of the world as per IMF projection. However, it has been observed that in some sectors, allocated funds remain either under-utilised or misutilised. What specific measures would you recommend for ensuring accountability in this regard to stop leakages and gaining the status of third largest economy of the world in near future?
What the question wants
Practical accountability measures against under-utilisation and misuse of public funds.
How to structure it
Intro: Every rupee unspent or misspent delays roads. Body: (1) Why funds are under-used or misused; (2) Measures: Just-in-time release, Direct Benefit Transfer, Outcome budgeting, Transparent procurement. Conclusion: Honest and timely spending multiplies the value of public money.
- 1(1) Why funds are under-used or misused
- 2(2) Measures: Just-in-time release, Direct Benefit Transfer, Outcome budgeting, Transparent procurement
Model answer
Every rupee unspent or misspent delays roads, schools and hospitals. Accountability in public spending is therefore part of growth itself.
Why funds are under-used or misused
- Late release of funds, March rush in spending.
- Weak planning and staff shortages at the implementation level.
- Collusion in procurement; ghost beneficiaries.
Measures
- Just-in-time release: SNA-SPARSH system releases central funds only when needed, cutting idle balances.
- Direct Benefit Transfer: already removed crores of fake beneficiaries; extend to more schemes.
- Outcome budgeting: link money to measurable results, reviewed publicly.
- Transparent procurement: GeM and e-tendering for all purchases.
- Real-time monitoring: geo-tagged assets, PFMS tracking, dashboards like PRAGATI.
- Audit: timely CAG audits, social audits, follow-up on audit paras.
- Personal accountability: fix responsibility for delays and misuse; reward good performers.
- Capacity: train local bodies in planning and accounts.
Honest and timely spending multiplies the value of public money. That, more than higher budgets, will take India to the third rank.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
outcome budget SNA-SPARSH DBT GeM PFMS social audit
Where most answers lose marks
- Generic statements without mechanisms.
Fresh examples from current affairs
Supreme Court: no prior approval under Section 17A needed to probe a bribe demand
In a judgment of 16 October 2026, a Supreme Court Bench of Justices S.V.N. Bhatti and N.V. Anjaria held that investigating a bribe demand by a public servant does not need prior approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Asking for a bribe, the court said, is not part of discharging official duties.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Sections 7, 7A, 17A and 19 of the PC Act. · Mains GS-II/GS-IV: honest officers versus accountability.
19 Oct 2026Learn the concept
Question text as printed in the official UPSC question paper: https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/GENERAL-STUDIES-PAPER-IV-QP-CSM-25-010925.pdf The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.