Mr. X, a senior officer, was overseeing a critical vaccination programme during a pandemic. He found that a private service provider responsible for vaccine distribution was compromising on quality to make profits. Despite immense pressure to manage the issue due to vested interests, he raised his voice based on the principles of public administration which he learnt during various training programmes attended across his career. He reported the issue to the appropriate vigilance authority and halted the contract to ensure citizen welfare. Which one among the following principles of public administration was most strongly demonstrated by Mr. X's actions?

Accountability in public administration refers to the obligation of public officials to answer for their actions and decisions, take responsibility for outcomes, and ensure that public resources and authority are used in the public interest. Mr. X demonstrated accountability most strongly by recognising the quality compromise, refusing to be swayed by vested interests, reporting the matter to the vigilance authority, and halting the contract to safeguard citizen welfare — thereby holding both himself and the service provider answerable. Esprit de corps refers to team spirit and unity among employees; equity refers to fair and impartial treatment; delegation refers to assignment of authority — none of these capture the essence of his conduct as fully as accountability does. Hence option (c) is correct.