Topic Details (Notes format)

Legislative Control over Administration

Subject: Polity

Book: Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth

Parliament and state legislatures monitor the executive through question hour, zero hour, debates, and committees. Ministers must answer queries about departmental performance or budget allocation. The Public Accounts Committee scrutinizes expenditure, while the Committee on Public Undertakings examines PSU operations. Censure motions, adjournment motions, and no-confidence motions can unseat governments. This accountability ensures transparency and checks bureaucratic excess. However, legislative oversight is sometimes weakened by party loyalties and insufficient time for debates. Strengthening committee systems and research support can enhance legislative control, guaranteeing that executive actions remain aligned with public welfare and constitutional mandates.