UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 2 : Questions on Public Accounts Committee and skill development (Week 65)

QUESTION 2

Discuss the role and significance of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the Indian parliamentary system.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

QUESTION 1: Examine how programmes for skill development have been successful in boosting the availability of human resources across industries.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— India’s greatest asset is its labour force. To benefit from the demographic dividend, we must increase labour force participation by raising labour force employability through widespread skill development. In addition, job possibilities for the young people who enter the workforce each year must be created.

— The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) provides skill, re-skill, and up-skill training through a wide network of skill development centres, colleges, and institutes under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to all segments of the nation’s society. These programs are administered by the Government of India’s Skill India Mission (SIM).

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

Skill development programmes

— The Skill India Mission aims to equip India’s young with future- and industry-ready skills. The training is also provided by the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs), and Training Centres registered on the Skill India Digital (SID) platform.

— Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana: This project provides skill development training through Short-Term Training (STT), as well as up-skilling and re-skilling through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), to youngsters across the country, including rural areas.

— National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme: This Scheme aims to promote apprenticeship training and increase apprentice involvement by providing financial assistance to industrial institutions that are implementing apprenticeship programmes under the Apprentices Act of 1961. Training is divided into two parts: basic training and on-the-job training or practical training at the workplace in the industry. Apprentices were hired by a total of 42453 organisations nationwide.

— The Craftsmen Training Scheme offers long-term training through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) around the country. The ITIs provide a variety of vocational/skill training courses in a wide range of economic areas with the goal of providing skilled labour to industry as well as self-employment for youth.

— Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS): The primary goal of the JSS is to teach vocational skills to non-literates, neo-literates, and people with a basic level of education, as well as school dropouts up to the 12th grade, between the ages of 15 and 45, with age relaxations for “Divyangjan” and other deserving cases. Women, SC, ST, OBC, and minorities receive priority in rural and low-income urban regions.

Conclusion:

— India has an average age of 29 years, while the average ages in the United States, China, France, Germany, and Japan are 38, 38, 42, 45, and 48 years, respectively. India, with its large population, is currently experiencing an increase in the working-age population while decreasing old-age dependency ratio.

— Most industrialised countries have been able to capitalise on their advantageous demographics to achieve higher growth and living standards. In Asia, China has already established itself as a superpower by capitalising on its demographic dividend from the early 1980s to 2008-2009. China’s early emphasis on labour-intensive manufacturing and subsequent structural restructuring resulted in a nearly 10% annual average growth rate across four decades, which is unprecedented.

(Source: How India can leverage its biggest strength by Pravakar Sahoo and Sweta Sen, pib.gov.in)

Points to Ponder

MSMEs

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana

Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)

Related Previous Year Questions

Skill development programmes have succeeded in increasing human resources supply to various sectors. In the context of the statement analyse the linkages between education, skill and employment. (2023)

Besides the welfare schemes, India needs deft management of inflation and unemployment to serve the poor and the underprivileged sections of the society. Discuss. (2022)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the role and significance of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the Indian parliamentary system.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— The Committee on Public Accounts was established in 1921 following the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms.

— The Public Accounts Committee is presently formed annually under Rule 308 of the Lok Sabha’s Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business. The Public Accounts Committee is made up of no more than 22 members, 15 of whom are elected by Lok Sabha every year using the proportional representation principle and a single transferable vote, and no more than 7 Rajya Sabha members who are elected in the same manner.

Note: Prior to 1954-55, the Committee was made up of 15 members elected by the Lok Sabha from among its members. Nevertheless, seven Rajya Sabha members became connected with the Committee as of 1954–1955.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

Role and significance of the Public Accounts Committee

— The Committee’s functions, as enshrined in Rule 308(1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, include the examination of accounts showing the appropriation of sums granted by Parliament for the expenditure of the Government of India, the annual finance accounts of the Government, and any other accounts laid before the House as the Committee deems appropriate.

— When reviewing the Government of India’s Appropriation Accounts and the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report on them, the Committee must satisfy:

(a) that the funds represented in the accounts as having been expended were lawfully available for and relevant to the service or purpose to which they had been applied or charged;

(b) that the spending complies with the authority that governs it;

(c) that each reappropriation was made in line with the requirements made in this regard under rules framed by the competent authority.

— It shall also be the duty of the Committee –

(a) analyse the statement of accounts indicating the state’s revenue and expenditure;

(b) analyse the statement of accounts indicating the income and expenditure of autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies;

(c) to review the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report in circumstances where the President may have directed him to audit receipts or check store and stock accounts.

Conclusion:

— An important function of the Committee is to ensure that money provided by Parliament is spent by the government “within the scope of the demand.”

— The Committee members’ terms of office are limited to one year at a time. A Minister is not elected as a member of the Committee, and if a member is made a Minister after being elected to the Committee, he no longer serves on the Committee as of the date of such appointment. The Speaker appoints the Committee’s Chairman from among its Lok Sabha members.

(Source: Process begins to reconstitute Parliamentary committees, Parliament Committees, their leaders, and their role in law-making, sansad.in)

Points to Ponder

Ad Hoc committee

Estimate and public undertaking committee

Related Previous Year Questions

Discuss the role of Presiding Officers of state legislatures in maintaining order and impartiality in conducting legislative work and in facilitating best democratic practices. (2023)

Explain the structure of the Parliamentary Committee system. How far have the financial committees helped in the institutionalisation of Indian Parliament? (2023)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 63)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 64)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 64)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 63)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 63)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 64)

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