Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday urged Public Accounts Committees (PACs) to ensure that every rupee of public money is accounted for and used for its intended purpose, calling for time-bound action on pending audit observations and greater scrutiny of the outcomes of government spending.
Inaugurating the Conference of Chairpersons of Public Accounts Committees of Parliament and State and Union Territory Legislatures in Thiruvananthapuram, Lok Sabha Speaker Birla said transparency and accountability were cornerstones of democracy. Public expenditure, he said, should ultimately be judged by the difference it makes to citizens’ lives.
He said the committees’ responsibilities extended beyond examining accounts and audit findings to assessing whether expenditure had achieved its intended objectives.
Expressing concern over audit observations remaining unresolved for 10, 15 or even 20 years, Lok Sabha Speaker Birla called for a systematic, time-bound action plan to address the backlog. The Union and state governments must strengthen monitoring, review and follow-up mechanisms to ensure timely corrective action, he said.
Lok Sabha Speaker Birla highlighted the parliamentary convention of appointing an Opposition member as PAC chairperson, describing it as a reflection of the maturity and inclusiveness of India’s democracy.
Political differences must give way to a shared commitment to protecting public money, he said, urging committees to work through dialogue, cooperation and consensus. Their role was to prevent misuse, waste and financial irregularities while holding the Executive accountable.
The Lok Sabha Speaker said financial scrutiny should go beyond allocations, expenditure figures and utilisation certificates. For infrastructure projects, committees should, wherever appropriate, visit sites to examine construction quality, timely completion and compliance with prescribed standards.
Similarly, scrutiny of welfare schemes should assess their actual impact on beneficiaries rather than focus solely on the amount spent, he said.
Lok Sabha Speaker Birla described the examination of Comptroller and Auditor General audit findings, Action Taken Reports and follow-up on recommendations as integral to the PAC’s work. Where systemic shortcomings were identified, committees should recommend corrective measures, he added.
He encouraged participants to share experiences and best practices, saying stronger financial oversight and evaluation mechanisms adopted by individual states could offer lessons for others.
Calling for updated scrutiny methods, Lok Sabha Speaker Birla said artificial intelligence, data analytics and other technologies could help committees analyse large volumes of expenditure data, identify trends, detect potential irregularities and monitor pending audit observations.
He also stressed citizen participation and transparency in public spending as essential to strengthening confidence in democratic institutions.
Schemes implemented through Centre-state partnerships and public-private partnerships required effective scrutiny within the respective mandates of the committees, he said.
Delivering the welcome address, Lok Sabha PAC Chairman K. C. Venugopal called for outcome-oriented financial oversight that improved service delivery and delivered meaningful benefits to citizens.
He proposed that at least one PAC report, along with the government’s action taken on it, be discussed during every session of Parliament.
Venugopal also emphasised timely audits, balanced scrutiny across sectors and closer examination of flagship welfare programmes and major infrastructure projects.
Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Assembly Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and Assembly PAC Chairperson K. N. Balagopal addressed the inaugural session. PAC chairpersons and members from state legislatures also attended.
The Public Accounts Committee Conference Souvenir 2026 was also released on the occasion.
(PIB)
