Question
UPSC Prelims 2026 Question:
Mr. X, a senior officer, was overseeing a critical vaccination programme during a pandemic. He found that a private service provider responsible for vaccine distribution was compromising on quality to make profits. Despite immense pressure to manage the issue due to vested interests, he raised his voice based on the principles of public administration which he learnt during various training programmes attended across his career. He reported the issue to the appropriate vigilance authority and halted the contract to ensure citizen welfare.
Which one among the following principles of public administration was most strongly demonstrated by Mr. X's actions?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Detailed Solution
Answer: 3
Explanation:
- Mr X's defining action was reporting the wrongdoing to a vigilance authority and halting the contract despite pressure from vested interests. This is the textbook expression of accountability in public administration — the obligation of a public official to answer for the exercise of authority entrusted to them, and to ensure that those exercising delegated power (here, the private contractor) are also held answerable. He did not act for personal gain; he acted because he was responsible to the public for the outcome of the vaccination programme.
Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.
Last updated on Sep, 2026
