Q. Mr. X, a senior officer, was overseeing a critical vaccination programme during a pandemic. He found that a private service provider responsible for vaccine distribution was compromising on quality to make profits. Despite immense pressure to manage the issue due to vested interests, he raised his voice based on the principles of public administration which he learnt during various training programmes attended across his career. He reported the issue to the appropriate vigilance authority and halted the contract to ensure citizen welfare.
Which one among the following principles of public administration. was most strongly demonstrated by Mr. X's actions?
(a) Esprit de corps
(b) Equity
(c) Accountability
(d) Delegation

Answer : C

Explanation:

Option (c) is correct: Mr. X demonstrated the principle of Accountability because he took responsibility for protecting public welfare and ensured that the private contractor was answerable for compromising vaccine quality. Despite pressure from vested interests, he reported corruption and negligence to the vigilance authority.

• Halted the contract to protect citizens.
• Acted transparently and ethically in the public interest.
• This reflects the core idea of public accountability, where public officials are answerable for their decisions and actions and must safeguard public trust.

Option (a) is not correct: Esprit de corps means promoting team spirit, harmony, and unity within an organization. Mr. X’s action mainly reflects ethical responsibility and answerability rather than team cohesion.
Option (b) is not correct: Equity refers to fairness and impartial treatment. Although citizen welfare was protected, the central principle highlighted is holding the system accountable for wrongdoing.
Option (d) is not correct: Delegation means transferring authority or responsibility to subordinates. No delegation of authority is discussed in the case.

Source: Ethics & Public Administration texts (Mohit Bhattacharya, Nicholas Henry)