Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​Public accounts: On the newly constituted Public Accounts Committee

​Public accounts: On the newly constituted Public Accounts Committee

The PAC must assert (दावा करना, जोर देना) its role as an instrument (साधन, यंत्र) of parliamentary oversight

Over the last decade (दशक), the Central government, with a comfortable majority in Parliament, has evaded (टालना) meaningful (सार्थक) parliamentary accountability (जवाबदेही). Now, however, the BJP heads (नेतृत्व करना) a coalition (गठबंधन) that is dependent on allies, and the Opposition is stronger. The changed situation is an opportunity for the renewal of parliamentary oversight (निगरानी, पर्यवेक्षण) over the executive’s (कार्यपालिका) functioning (कार्यप्रणाली, संचालन). The proactive beginning of the newly constituted Public Accounts Committee (PAC)  (लोक लेखा समिति) is a case in point (example, instance, sample). On September 2, it notified 161 subjects it had picked for deliberations (विचार-विमर्श) during its term (tenure, period of/in office; period, time, stint, spell), most of them based on CAG reports. The panel has picked five subjects suo motu (Latin term means “on its own motion”. It is used where a government agency acts on its own knowledge) — reforms in the banking and insurance sectors; review of the implementation (imposition, enforcement, execution) of centrally sponsored welfare (a government program that provides (financial) assistance to individuals and families in need; social security, government/state benefit, public assistance) schemes; policy measures (action, step, move, procedure) underway (in progress, happening, occurring, taking place) for transition (change, shift, transformation, adaptation) in the energy sector; performance review of regulatory (relating to the control/supervision of an activity by a set of rules, laws, etc) bodies established (create, form, appoint, constitute, set up, initiate) by Acts (Act of Parliament, law, statute, fiat, dictum, ordinance, legislation, stipulation) of Parliament, and the levy (imposition, charging, collection (of a tax, fee, fine)) and regulation (supervision, overseeing, monitoring, inspection; control, direction, guidance) of fees, tariffs, user charges, on public (government) infrastructure (the basic physical or organisational structure or framework that a country or organization needs in order to function properly. For a whole nation, it includes all the physical systems such as buildings, roads & railways networks, utilities, etc) and other public utilities. The PAC, headed by Congress Member of Parliament K.C. Venugopal, has made use of the rule which clearly states that its functions can go “beyond the formality of expenditure to its wisdom (understanding, insight, perception, discernment, foresight, rationale, rationality), faithfulness (loyalty, devotion, dedication, commitment, allegiance, fidelity, fairness, adherence, truthfulness, reliability), and economy”. This rule has been used only rarely and to make a political point. Though the subjects picked by the PAC have political undertones (implication, hidden meaning, suggestion, atmosphere, connotation, undercurrent), the overarching (comprehensive, all-inclusive, across-the-board, all-embracing, all-encompassing, sweeping, extensive, broad) public interest (common concerns (in politics/business)) involved is unmistakable (indisputable, unquestionable, undeniable, incontrovertible, undebatable, inarguable, irrefutable).

The constitutional scheme envisages (visualize, imagine, envision) that Parliament controls the finances of the country. Any tax may be imposed only by passing legislation (body of laws, rules, regulations, statutes). All expenditure of the government needs prior sanction (approval, ratification, endorsement, authorization, permission, consent, approbation, acceptance, clearance) from Parliament through Appropriation Bills (supply bill, spending bill; a proposed law that authorizes the expenditure of government funds). The CAG is a constitutional office that examines and audits (inspect, examine, go through, scrutinize, vet, investigate) the financial functioning of all government departments. All its reports are sent to the PAC, one of the oldest and most significant parliamentary panels. Government measures that pick the winners of the economy have led to serious allegations (accusation, charge, indictment) of crony (a close friend or companion) capitalism in recent years. The government has refused to investigate the serious charges against SEBI Chairperson Madhabi P. Buch and the Adani Group, which controls seven Indian airports. Public sector banks (Public Sector Banks (PSBs) are those where the government, either at the state or central level, owns more than half of the stocks) and regulatory bodies have a lot to answer for. The BJP has already opposed any PAC investigation into these questions. The 22-member PAC has 13 members from the BJP-led NDA and nine Opposition MPs, including four from the Congress. The committee’s assertive (dominant, domineering, commanding, authoritative, forceful) posturing (position, approach, behavior, attitude, disposition, pose) could be undermined (weaken, subvert, sabotage, damage) by the ruling coalition’s majority. The PAC, and the Department Related Standing Committees, many of which are yet to be constituted, should assert their role as instruments of parliamentary authority (power, jurisdiction, sovereignty, supremacy, influence, sway, leverage, clout) and the enforcer (disciplinarian, task master, authoritarian) of the executive’s accountability to the people.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Public Accounts Committee (PAC) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - लोक लेखा समिति
English Meaning - a committee of selected members of parliament, constituted by the Parliament of India, for the purpose of auditing the revenue and the expenditure of the Government of India.

2.deliberation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विचार-विमर्श
English Meaning - careful discussion, discourse, debate, consideration, consultation.

3.constitute (verb)

Hindi Meaning - गठित करना
English Meaning - create, form, appoint, establish, set up, initiate.

4.assert (verb)

Hindi Meaning - दावा करना, जोर देना
English Meaning - stand up for, uphold, defend; contend, maintain, affirm, insist.

5.instrument (noun)

Hindi Meaning - साधन, यंत्र
English Meaning - apparatus, agency, medium, means, mechanism, channel, vehicle.

6.oversight (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निगरानी, पर्यवेक्षण
English Meaning - supervision, surveillance, inspection, management, handling.

7.decade (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दशक
English Meaning - a period of ten years.

8.evade (verb)

Hindi Meaning - टालना
English Meaning - avoid, sidestep, get past, bypass, dodge, circumvent, steer clear of, get round.

9.meaningful (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - सार्थक
English Meaning - significant, important, worthwhile, purposeful, serious, valid, telling.

10.accountability (noun)

Hindi Meaning - जवाबदेही
English Meaning - responsibility, liability, answerability.

11.head (verb)

Hindi Meaning - नेतृत्व करना
English Meaning - lead, be the leader of

12.coalition (noun)

Hindi Meaning - गठबंधन
English Meaning - alliance, association, union, partnership.

13.ally (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सहयोगी
English Meaning - partner.

14.the executive (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कार्यपालिका
English Meaning - the executive is a branch of government which enforces the law as written by the legislature and interpreted by the judiciary.

15.functioning (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कार्यप्रणाली, संचालन
English Meaning - performance, behavior, activity.

16.case in point (phrase)

English Meaning - example, instance, sample.

17.committee (noun)

English Meaning - panel, council, advisory group.

18.term (noun)

English Meaning - tenure, period of/in office; period, time, stint, spell.

19.Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India (noun)

English Meaning - it is empowered to audit all expenses from the combined fund of the union or state governments, whether incurred within India or outside.

20.suo motu (phrase)

English Meaning - Latin term means “on its own motion”. It is used where a government agency acts on its own knowledge.

21.implementation (noun)

English Meaning - imposition, enforcement, execution.

22.welfare (noun)

English Meaning - a government program that provides (financial) assistance to individuals and families in need; social security, government/state benefit, public assistance.

23.measure (noun)

English Meaning - action, step, move, procedure.

24.under way (phrase)

English Meaning - in progress, happening, occurring, taking place.

25.transition (noun)

English Meaning - change, shift, transformation, adaptation.

26.egulatory (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to the control/supervision of an activity by a set of rules, laws, etc.

27.regulatory agency (noun)

English Meaning - an independent governmental body established by legislative act in order to set standards in a specific field of activity, or operations, in the private sector of the economy and then to enforce those standards.

28.establish (verb)

English Meaning - create, form, appoint, constitute, set up, initiate.

29.Act (noun)

English Meaning - Act of Parliament, law, statute, fiat, dictum, ordinance, legislation, stipulation.

30.levy (noun)

English Meaning - imposition, charging, collection (of a tax, fee, fine).

31.regulation (noun)

English Meaning - supervision, overseeing, monitoring, inspection; control, direction, guidance.

32.public (adjective)

English Meaning - government.

33.infrastructure (noun)

English Meaning - the basic physical or organisational structure or framework that a country or organization needs in order to function properly. For a whole nation, it includes all the physical systems such as buildings, roads & railways networks, utilities, etc.

34.utility (noun)

English Meaning - service, benefit, assistance.

35.make use of (phrase)

English Meaning - use, utilize, employ, apply, exercise.

36.go beyond (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to be more than; exceed, surpass, transcend.

37.wisdom (noun)

English Meaning - understanding, insight, perception, discernment, foresight, rationale, rationality.

38.faithfulness (noun)

English Meaning - loyalty, devotion, dedication, commitment, allegiance, fidelity, fairness, adherence, truthfulness, reliability.

39.undertone (noun)

English Meaning - implication, hidden meaning, suggestion, atmosphere, connotation, undercurrent.

40.overarching (adjective)

English Meaning - comprehensive, all-inclusive, across-the-board, all-embracing, all-encompassing, sweeping, extensive, broad.

41.interest (noun)

English Meaning - common concerns (in politics/business).

42.unmistakable (adjective)

English Meaning - indisputable, unquestionable, undeniable, incontrovertible, undebatable, inarguable, irrefutable.

43.envisage (verb)

English Meaning - visualize, imagine, envision.

44.legislation (noun)

English Meaning - body of laws, rules, regulations, statutes.

45.sanction (noun)

English Meaning - approval, ratification, endorsement, authorization, permission, consent, approbation, acceptance, clearance.

46.appropriation bill (noun)

English Meaning - supply bill, spending bill; a proposed law that authorizes the expenditure of government funds.

47.appropriation (noun)

English Meaning - devotion, allocation, allotment (of money or assets to a special purpose).

48.audit (verb)

English Meaning - inspect, examine, go through, scrutinize, vet, investigate.

49.led to past & past participle of lead to (verb)

English Meaning - result in, cause, bring on, bring about, give rise to.

50.allegation (noun)

English Meaning - accusation, charge, indictment.

51.crony (noun)

English Meaning - a close friend or companion.

52.cronyism (noun)

English Meaning - favouritism, nepotism, patronage. Crony capitalism is a term describing an economy in which success in business depends on close relationships between business people and government officials.

53.Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) (noun)

English Meaning - It was established on April 12, 1992 in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992. It is the regulator of the securities and commodity market in India owned by the Government of India.

54.Public Sector Banks (PSBs) (noun)

English Meaning - Public Sector Banks (PSBs) are those where the government, either at the state or central level, owns more than half of the stocks.

55.assertive (adjective)

English Meaning - dominant, domineering, commanding, authoritative, forceful.

56.posturing (noun)

English Meaning - position, approach, behavior, attitude, disposition, pose.

57.undermine (verb)

English Meaning - weaken, subvert, sabotage, damage.

58.Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs) (noun)

English Meaning - DRSCs were constituted in 1993 to assist Parliament in scrutinising funds allocated to Ministries. They also examine Bills referred to them by Parliament and analyse other relevant policy issues. (DRSCs meet to examine the expenditure of all Ministries, Bills referred to them, and policies or issues selected by them.

59.authority (noun)

English Meaning - power, jurisdiction, sovereignty, supremacy, influence, sway, leverage, clout.

60.enforcer (noun)

English Meaning - disciplinarian, task master, authoritarian.