Discuss the role of Public Accounts Committee in establishing accountability of the government to the people. (Answer in 150 words)

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is Parliament’s principal post-facto financial oversight mechanism. It examines whether public money was spent legally, economically and for authorised purposes.

• It scrutinises Appropriation Accounts and Finance Accounts along with reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
• It tests excess expenditure, irregular reappropriation, losses, waste and failures of internal control.
• Its cross-party composition and ministerial non-membership support independent examination through departmental evidence.

PAC recommendations are advisory; delayed reports, incomplete compliance, limited research staff and executive evasiveness dilute impact. Strengthen the secretariat, set deadlines for Action Taken Notes, track recommendations digitally, empower follow-up hearings and refer persistent non-compliance to the House. Better outcome auditing would complement rule-based scrutiny.

Parliamentary accountability; CAG; appropriation; audit; legislative oversight; Action Taken Notes.