With reference to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) audit of the Railways, consider the following statements: 1. The PAC criticized the Railways for culpable negligence regarding unspent grants. 2. A total of ₹11,478 crore in grants remained unspent over a five-year period. 3. Nearly ₹6,000 crore remained unutilised in the 2023-24 fiscal year alone. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

PAC slams Railways for "culpable negligence" as ₹11,478 crore in grants remain unspent

GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Transparency, accountability & RTI· Prelims + Mains· 5 November 2026

Parliamentary oversight and fiscal discipline: a key GS2 Governance and Public Accountability case study.

Why in news

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticized the Railways for 'culpable negligence' after an audit revealed ₹11,478 crore in grants remained unspent over five years.

Background

The PAC audit of 177 railway stations found that only 92 met minimum facility standards. Out of the total unspent amount, nearly ₹6,000 crore remained unutilised in the 2023-24 fiscal year alone.

Facts for Prelims

Fact₹11,478 crore: Total amount of railway grants remaining unspent over a five-year period.
Fact₹6,000 crore: Amount of unutilised railway funds specifically in the 2023-24 period.

Prelims practice question

With reference to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) audit of the Railways, consider the following statements:

The PAC criticized the Railways for culpable negligence regarding unspent grants.
A total of ₹11,478 crore in grants remained unspent over a five-year period.
Nearly ₹6,000 crore remained unutilised in the 2023-24 fiscal year alone.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)3 only
(c)1 and 2 only
(d)1, 2 and 3

Show answer

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3 — Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct.

For Mains

Q. Examine the role of the Public Accounts Committee in ensuring fiscal discipline and accountability in the execution of large-scale infrastructure projects in India.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Fiscal leakage: Inefficient fund absorption and 'parked' capital hindering infrastructure development
Accountability gap: Weak monitoring mechanisms leading to 'culpable negligence' in passenger amenity standards
Audit efficacy: Limitations in real-time oversight of railway expenditure versus post-facto audit

Keywords: Fiscal discipline · Parliamentary oversight · Public accountability · Fund utilization · Infrastructure governance

Read the full news →Report a mistake in this note How notes are made Source: The Hindu ↗Also: GS3 · Infrastructure (energy, ports, roads, railways)

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