Every rupee drawn from the public exchequer must be properly accounted for and utilised for its intended purpose, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said while inaugurating the Conference of Chairpersons of Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of Parliament and State Legislatures.
Addressing the delegates, the Speaker stressed that transparency and accountability remain the cornerstones of democracy, noting that the ultimate measure of public expenditure must be the positive difference it makes to citizens.
Birla expressed concern over audit observations remaining unresolved for up to 20 years, calling for a time-bound action plan across Union and State Governments to clear pendency. “Political differences must give way to a shared commitment to financial probity and national welfare,” he stated, adding that the democratic convention of appointing an Opposition member as PAC Chairperson reflects the maturity and inclusiveness of India’s parliamentary system.
To modernise oversight, Birla urged PACs to leverage Artificial Intelligence, data analytics, and digital tools to detect financial irregularities and process large expenditure datasets efficiently. He emphasised that financial assessment should extend beyond balance sheets to include physical site visits for infrastructure projects and direct impact evaluations of social welfare schemes.
Delivering the welcome address, Parliament PAC Chairman KC Venugopal called for an outcome-oriented approach to legislative scrutiny. Venugopal proposed that at least one PAC Report, alongside the Government’s Action Taken Report, be discussed during every parliamentary session.
The inaugural session was attended by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan, and Keralam Legislative Assembly
Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan. The PAC Conference Souvenir 2026 was also officially released on the occasion.