2 hrs ago
India’s Public Failures Expose a Crisis of Accountability
The article says many Indians are paying for services that do not work properly.
It gives examples of roads and bridges breaking soon after they open.
It also describes unsafe food and fake or poor-quality products found by inspectors.
Parliament is criticized for meeting fewer days and spending too much time in disruptions.
This means important problems may not receive enough discussion.
Students were also upset when a major exam was cancelled after a paper leak.
The writer says government agencies, courts and Parliament are not holding officials accountable strongly enough.
When people cannot get problems fixed, they may protest.
The article argues that better accountability is needed at every level.
The article cites mismanagement at the February 2026 AI Summit and failures in major infrastructure projects.
It reports collapses and design or construction problems affecting highways, bridges and flyovers across India.
Food inspections reportedly found rotten meat, adulterated products and licensing violations at hotels, canteens and other suppliers.
Parliament has met fewer days, faced repeated disruptions and recorded only 19 per cent Lok Sabha productivity in the current session.
The writer argues that weak oversight and limited accountability are fueling public frustration and youth protests.
- Who
- Indian citizens, students, consumers, taxpayers, legislators and government agencies are the main groups discussed.
- What
- The article argues that infrastructure failures, unsafe food, weak parliamentary performance and examination problems show that Indians are being shortchanged.
- Where
- Across India, with examples from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
- When
- The examples span recent years, including the February 2026 AI Summit, the current financial year and the current parliamentary session.
- Why
- The writer attributes the problems primarily to weak accountability, ineffective oversight, political division and failures in administration.
Key facts
- AI Summit
- The February 2026 Delhi summit reportedly ended amid complaints about queues, theft and alleged misrepresentation of a Chinese robodog.
- Highway failures
- The Road Transport and Highways Minister reportedly cited 19 cases of collapse, structural failure or major deficiency on National Highway projects in the current financial year.
- Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway
- The 63-kilometre expressway reportedly cost Rs 4,200 crore, and part of it collapsed within 17 days of inauguration.
- Food safety
- Inspections in Mumbai and Bengaluru reportedly found rotten meat and chicken, mouldy vegetables, counterfeit paneer and other violations.
- Parliamentary sitting
- The Seventeenth Lok Sabha sat for 274 days, averaging 55 days per year, according to the article.
- Parliamentary suspensions
- The article says 206 MPs from both Houses were suspended during the Seventeenth Lok Sabha, including 146 during the Winter Session of 2023.
- Lok Sabha productivity
- The article states that Lok Sabha productivity was 19 per cent in the current parliamentary session.
Quotes
Acting Chief Justice-led Bombay High Court bench
A Bombay High Court bench commenting while quashing an order suspending a hotel’s licence after insects were found in its kitchen.
“We are in India. We have to take a realistic stand”
thestatesman.com
Brené Brown
An American academic whose remarks on accountability are cited by the article.
“When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated. This is why we sometimes attack who they are, which is far more hurtful than addressing a behaviour or a choice”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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