All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

An independent and empowered social audit mechanism is an absolute must in every sphere of public service, including judiciary, to ensure performance, accountability and ethical conduct. Elaborate.

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CSE 2021 (Prelims) CSAT Previous Year Paper (10-Oct-2021)

An independent and empowered social audit mechanism is indeed an absolute must across every sphere of public service, including the judiciary. Traditional audits primarily focus on financial propriety and rule adherence, often missing broader citizen impact and ethical dimensions. Social audits, conversely, engage the community directly, assessing whether public services achieved their intended objectives, delivered quality outcomes, and operated ethically, from the beneficiaries' perspective.

In the executive, a social audit can expose gaps in welfare schemes, identify corrupt practices, or highlight unresponsive officials by gathering direct feedback. For instance, in an employment scheme, it verifies if wages were paid and work done, exposing fraud. Extending this to the judiciary, while complex, is vital for enhancing public trust. Social audits here could focus on procedural aspects like delays, accessibility for the poor, or treatment of litigants, without infringing on judicial pronouncements. An independent body, with legal backing and public participation, can truly enforce performance standards, ensure accountability, and foster ethical conduct, moving beyond mere compliance to real impact and justice.

Answered By:

Anushka Goel

Anushka Goel is a dynamic exam mentor who has cracked multiple competitive exams including CUET, NDA, IBPS Clerk, RRB Office Assistant and SSC CHSL. With a strong academic record and a strategic approach to exam preparation, she has mentored thousands of students in their early career journey. Anushka is known for curating smart, concept-driven MCQs and study resources that closely align with actual exam trends.

Was this answer helpful?

Similar Questions

  1. What are the options available with Rohit to cope with the situation?

  2. What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Rohit?

  3. Which of the options, do you think, would be more appropriate for Rohit to adopt and why?

  4. In the present situation, what are the extra precautionary measures to be taken by the police in dealing with women protesters?

  5. What should be Sneha's course of action?

  6. How would she justify what she chooses to do?

  7. In this case, how is medical ethics compromised with vested personal interest?

  8. Discuss all options available to the District Collector as a District Magistrate.

  9. What suitable actions can be taken in view of mutually compatible interests of the stakeholders?

  10. What are the potential administrative and ethical dilemmas for the District Collector?


Important Questions from GS4

  1. What are the options available with Rohit to cope with the situation?

  2. What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Rohit?

  3. Which of the options, do you think, would be more appropriate for Rohit to adopt and why?

  4. In the present situation, what are the extra precautionary measures to be taken by the police in dealing with women protesters?

  5. What should be Sneha's course of action?

Need Expert Advice?
Upcoming Exams
UPSC IFoS
November 22, 2026
UPSC SO Steno
December 12, 2026
Test Series
IAS img
UPSC
UPSC CSE (IAS) 2027 Prelims Mock Test Series
662 Tests 3 Tests Free
1476 Attempts
4.8(197)
English, Hindi
More Questions from IAS

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App