Executive accountability

The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers carry out and enforce laws and run the government. And they are answerable to the Lok Sabha for how they do it.

The main tool is the Question Hour: usually the first hour of a sitting of Parliament, when MPs can ask ministers questions about government policies and actions.

'Accountable' has an exact meaning here, which the chapter spells out: the executive must justify all its actions and decisions.

Not just explain when it suits them: justify, in public, to people who can ask again. A question asked in the House is on the record, and so is the answer.

Special committees also hold meetings where ministries explain and answer questions about their policies. These committees can include MPs from different political parties, so checking the government does not stop at party lines.

The chapter then shows something easy to miss: Parliament is not always formal and serious.

Presenting the Union Budget for 2025–26, Nirmala Sitharaman recited a verse from the Tirukkural: "Just as living beings live expecting rains, citizens live expecting good governance", and members thumped their desks in appreciation.

And in a lively 2011 debate, Sushma Swaraj criticised the government in verse: "Don't change the topic, just say why the caravan was looted ... this is a question on your leadership". Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calmly replied with another verse: "I admit that I am not worthy of your sight; you should look at my zeal and my perseverance."