Accountability

noun (uncountable)

/əˌkaʊntəˈbɪlɪti/

The obligation of public officials and institutions to answer for their actions, accept responsibility for outcomes, and submit to external oversight.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

Institutions such as the Comptroller and Auditor-General and the Right to Information Act strengthen vertical and horizontal accountability, ensuring that those who exercise public power must answer for how they exercise it.

Synonyms

answerabilityresponsibilityliabilityculpabilityblameworthiness

Antonyms

impunityunaccountabilityirresponsibilityimmunity

🌱 Word Family

accountable (adj), unaccountable (adj), account (n/v), accountably (adv), accountableness (n)

🔡 Root

Latin ad- = to + computāre = to count → accomptāre; -able + -ity = state of being

📜 Etymology

From accountable + -ity; ultimately from Latin accomptāre, a combination of ad ("to") + computāre ("to count, calculate").

🧠 Memory Hook

ACCOUNT + ABILITY — the ability (and duty) to give an account of your actions; whoever keeps the account must answer for it.

📝 Seen in UPSC Question Papers

Mains 2024 · GS2 · 15 marks — Governance
Mains 2023 · GS2 · 10 marks — Governance
Mains 2021 · GS2 · 10 marks — Indian Polity
Mains 2021 · GS4 · 10 marks — Ethics in Public Administration

Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Accountability” — proof this word earns its place on your list.

🏛️ Governance 📖 Seen in: RTI, e-Governance & Service Delivery —...

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