IndiaPosted at: Nov 3 2026 2:44PM


Birla urges PACs to look beyond spending, focus on welfare outcomes and public impact

New Delhi, Nov 3 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday called for a more outcome-oriented approach to the functioning of Public Accounts Committees (PACs), emphasising that their role must go beyond scrutinising government expenditure to assessing whether public money is delivering tangible benefits to citizens and improving their lives.
Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day Conference of Chairpersons of Public Accounts Committees of Parliament and State and union Territory Legislatures in Thiruvananthapuram, Birla said the success of government welfare schemes should not be measured merely by budgetary allocations or the amount of money spent, but by their actual impact, particularly on the most disadvantaged sections of society.
"The real measure of success lies in the positive difference such expenditure makes in the lives of the most disadvantaged sections of society, the extent to which the intended beneficiaries receive the benefits and the degree to which the objectives of public welfare are meaningfully achieved," he said.
Highlighting the historically significant position of the PAC in India's parliamentary democracy, Birla recalled that the committee was established even before Independence and had since served as an important instrument of legislative oversight over public finances.
He also underscored the longstanding parliamentary convention of appointing a senior Opposition member as PAC chairperson, describing it as a reflection of the principle that accountability in public expenditure transcends political affiliations and is a collective responsibility.
"This enduring tradition embodies our shared commitment to parliamentary impartiality, transparency and accountability," he said, stressing that the committee must function above political considerations and in the larger public interest.
Birla pointed out that Parliament and State Legislatures discharge two fundamental responsibilities: enacting laws and approving budgets through which public funds are allocated for infrastructure development, welfare programmes and other initiatives aimed at improving people's lives. The PAC, he said, has a crucial responsibility to ensure that these funds are utilised judiciously, transparently and in accordance with their intended objectives.
He said members of the committee, irrespective of their political affiliations, must work towards strengthening accountability in governance, ensuring transparency in the functioning of the Executive and making certain that every rupee of taxpayers' money delivers meaningful results.
The Lok Sabha Speaker also stressed the need to harness emerging technologies to make legislative financial oversight more effective. He said data analytics and Artificial Intelligence could help committees examine large volumes of financial information, identify patterns in public expenditure, anticipate potential risks and detect and prevent financial irregularities in a timely manner.
However, he cautioned that technological advancements must be accompanied by human sensitivity, ethical responsibility and institutional accountability.
"Our objective should not merely be to monitor government expenditure, but to ensure that every scheme and every public investment becomes an instrument of inclusive welfare and brings about positive and lasting change in the lives of ordinary citizens," Birla said.
The conference, being held under the theme "Audit, Accountability and Good Governance – The Evolving Role of the PAC", has brought together chairpersons and members of Public Accounts Committees from Parliament and State and union Territory Legislatures to deliberate on strengthening legislative scrutiny of public expenditure and improving governance mechanisms.
Expressing confidence that the two-day deliberations would facilitate an exchange of experiences, ideas and institutional practices, Birla said the participating committees could learn from one another and adopt best practices to make their functioning more effective, modern and focused on measurable outcomes.
He said the recommendations emerging from the conference, along with the collective resolve of its participants, would help strengthen PACs and enhance their ability to discharge their constitutional and democratic responsibilities.
"Let us collectively strengthen this glorious tradition of parliamentary accountability so that every rupee of public expenditure is devoted to the cause of transparency, good governance and public welfare, while continuously deepening the people's trust in our democratic institutions," the Speaker said. UNI SKA AAB
Tags: #Birla urges PACs to look beyond spending# focus on welfare outcomes and public impact
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