Parliamentary committees serve as vital tools for legislative oversight, ensuring accountability and implementing financial accountability of the executive. Examine the role of the Public Accounts Committee in establishing financial accountability of the executive.

The public accounts committee is referred to as the 'guardian of the public purse'. Parliamentary committees: - As per departmental function committee - Standing committees - Function committees Role of Public Accounts Committee: 1. Legislative oversight - Analyzes the policies & acts that move a financial angle in them - Also questions expenditure of legislative 2. Accountability - Analyzes the report of CAG & says it in front of the Parliament 3. Transparency - It recommends the format in which accounts need to be submitted for better transparency However, there are challenges: 1. Called a Post mortem committee 2. Not all financial aspects are missed 3. Temporary body with 1-year term 4. Recommendations are not binding Hence, CAG acting as friend & predecessor of Public Accounts Committee is also used as the most important office by pt undertaken