Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on 4 November 2026 called for robust legislative scrutiny of public expenditure and stricter accountability from governments, asserting that every rupee of public money must be spent transparently and in the larger public interest. He was addressing the concluding session of a two-day conference of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairpersons from Parliament and State Legislatures, held at the Kerala Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram.

Kerala Resolution and the PAC Framework

Birla noted that the conference had adopted the Kerala resolution, which is expected to serve as a guiding framework for strengthening the functioning of PACs across the country. Representatives from 27 states participated in the conference, sharing experiences and best practices. He said these practices should be exchanged and replicated across legislatures wherever applicable.

He emphasised that the Centre and state governments must collaborate to improve financial management, enforce discipline in public spending, and make governance more transparent. Political and ideological differences, he stressed, should not obstruct the shared goal of fiscal accountability.

Audit Pendency and CAG Oversight

Birla expressed concern that audit reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) frequently remain pending for extended periods without proper follow-up or remedial action. While the CAG conducts independent audits, he said, PACs bear the responsibility of examining those findings and driving timely action on recommendations — a duty that cannot be deferred indefinitely.

Budgetary allocations in sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, social welfare, and rural development are rising, he noted. It is therefore critical that allocated funds are deployed for their intended purposes and deliver measurable outcomes, rather than being absorbed into administrative processes without accountability.

Digital Platforms and Technology in Legislative Committees

The Lok Sabha Speaker called for wider adoption of technology to modernise the functioning of legislative committees. He suggested that state legislatures build digital audit monitoring platforms modelled on the system already available to parliamentary committees at the Centre. Officers of the CAG and PAC members, he added, should receive regular training to keep pace with evolving technological tools.

Legislators themselves must be equipped with the skills to use modern technology effectively, Birla said. However, he cautioned that technology should support human judgement — not replace it — and that the accuracy and impartiality of data used by committees must be rigorously ensured.

Acknowledgements and Context

Birla thanked Kerala Assembly Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, and others involved in organising the conference. He observed that Kerala's democratic traditions and its contributions to social reform, education, and healthcare made it a fitting venue for such a deliberation on public accountability.

The conference underscores a growing consensus among legislative bodies that audit follow-up mechanisms across India need structural upgrades — particularly as government scheme outlays continue to expand year on year.