Om Birla Calls for Strict Accountability in Public Spending

GG News Bureau
Thiruvananthapuram, 3rd Nov: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday called for stronger public spending accountability, declaring that every rupee of taxpayers’ money must be properly accounted for and used for its sanctioned purpose. He urged parliamentary and state-level Public Accounts Committees (PACs) to strengthen financial oversight and ensure that government expenditure delivers tangible benefits to citizens.

Inaugurating the Conference of Chairpersons of Public Accounts Committees of Parliament and State Legislatures in Thiruvananthapuram, Birla said transparency and accountability were essential pillars of democracy.

Audit delays need urgent attention
Expressing concern over audit observations remaining unresolved for 10, 15 or even 20 years, Birla called for a systematic and time-bound action plan to clear pending cases.

He said Union and state governments must strengthen monitoring, review and follow-up mechanisms to ensure that accountability leads to corrective action rather than remaining limited to official records.

Birla emphasised that the PAC’s responsibility extends beyond examining accounts and audit reports. The committees must also assess whether public funds have achieved their intended objectives.

He highlighted the democratic convention of appointing a member of the Opposition as PAC chairperson, describing it as an example of India’s inclusive parliamentary system. He said members across political parties must work together to protect public money, irrespective of their ideological differences.

Focus on outcomes, not just expenditure
The Speaker said financial scrutiny should not remain confined to budget allocations, expenditure figures and utilisation certificates.

For infrastructure projects, PAC members should visit sites wherever necessary to assess construction quality, completion timelines and compliance with prescribed standards.

Similarly, welfare schemes should be evaluated on the basis of their actual impact on beneficiaries rather than simply the amount spent.

Birla also called for stronger scrutiny of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) findings, Action Taken Reports and recommendations. He said committees should identify systemic shortcomings and suggest corrective measures to prevent financial leakages and misuse.

AI and data analytics for stronger oversight
Calling for a future-ready approach to financial scrutiny, Birla urged PACs to make greater use of Artificial Intelligence, data analytics and responsible technology.

He said these tools could help committees examine large volumes of expenditure data, identify emerging patterns, detect possible irregularities and monitor pending audit observations more effectively.

He also encouraged states to share best practices in financial oversight and promote healthy competition to improve transparency and governance.

Birla said the principles guiding the PAC since its establishment must continue to shape its future priorities, particularly as public spending increasingly involves Centre-State partnerships and public-private partnership projects.

Venugopal calls for regular discussion of PAC reports
Delivering the welcome address, K.C. Venugopal, Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, stressed that legislative financial scrutiny must focus on outcomes, improved service delivery and tangible public benefits.

He proposed that at least one PAC report, along with the government’s Action Taken Report, should be discussed during every session of Parliament.

Venugopal also called for timely audits, balanced coverage of different sectors and closer scrutiny of flagship welfare schemes and major infrastructure projects.

The inaugural session was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh, Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan, Kerala Assembly Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, and other dignitaries, PAC chairpersons and members.

The Public Accounts Committee Conference Souvenir 2026 was also released during the event.

Birla expressed confidence that the deliberations would produce practical recommendations to strengthen financial discipline and ensure that public resources are used responsibly for the welfare of citizens.