Best Essays on – Corruption in India

Corruption in India

“Corruption is like a termite that leaves a country hollow inside.” However, India’s rank has improved from 80 to 78 this year on the “Global Watchdog Transparency International Index”. As an auspicious sign of improvement far better than China and other neighbouring countries, this has not happened in a One-day wonder but has come to us after blood, sweat and tears.

Generally, corruption is defined as unethical conduct with a position of authority often for self-benefits including activities like bribery and embezzlement. Corruption may lead to bureaucratic delay and inefficiency, eventually loss of our country’s credibility and economic growth.

Corruption in India is not only limited to high-level scams but also extended to the basic services and rights of people. This especially impacts the poor and marginalised, who are most dependent on public provisioning of rations, pensions, health and education.

The main causes of corruption in India are low wages, lack of strict laws and lopsided unity against corruption. However, transparency in government dealings and the freedom of independent agencies cannot be ignored.

For the past few years, the government is sensitive to this issue and revving up against it. The “Lokpal Law” was enacted to set up an independent and empowered anti-corruption ombudsman, who would work without fear or favour. Moreover, the Grievance redress Bill, RTI Act, and Money Laundering Act are playing big games. It is a naked truth that corruption is the enemy of development and good governance. It must get rid of. Both the government and the people at large must come together to achieve this national objective.

Total words count – 254 words

Corruption in Public Life

Just as it is impossible not to taste the honey on the tip of the tongue, so it is impossible for a government assistant not to eat up, at least, a bit of king’s revenue”. – Kautilya.
Corruption is dishonest behaviour by those in a position of power. It starts with the tendency to use public office for some personal benefit. Moreover, it is unfortunate that corruption has, for many, become a matter of habit. It is so deeply entrenched that corruption is now considered a social norm. Hence, corruption implies the failure of ethics. There are many forms of corruption – embezzlement, nepotism, lobbying, etc.- like different termites far and near, eating our nation from the inside and making it hollow. As explained in the above quote of Kautilya, human nature poses corruption. It is the human psyche.
The leading causes of corruption in India are – Chronic low salaries of government staff, corporate effects on politicians, unequal distribution of wealth, loopholes in the administration and judiciary system, lack of protection and rewards for non-corrupt officials and social issues like illiteracy, poverty and inability to speak against corruption. Also, due to increasing consumerism in the new middle class, bribery to get things done is accelerating.
Corruption in India is not limited to collusive high-level scams. Petty corruption, which affects delivering essential services and rights to people, is rampant. As per Global Civil Society Transparency International, India has the highest rate of bribery and use of personal links to access public services such as health care and education in Asia. India is in the 85th position among 180 countries in the corruption perception Index, 2022.
Corruption disproportionately impacts the poor and most vulnerable, increasing costs and reducing access to services, including health, education and justice. It encourages days functionality in government, perpetrates economic inefficiency and can severely threaten national security. With technological advancement, there are opportunities to prevent corruption, but also areas where corruption can be much more difficult to trace, particularly in fields like cryptocurrency. The root of corruption in India is very dominating. Its seeds were sown in ancient times in the form of gifts. East India Company enslaved us because of this corruption. Though there have been a decrease in direct bribe to officials in metropolitan cities in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, we can still acknowledge that we still hand over a bundle of notes to facilitate our work.
The government has taken initiatives against corruption in public life – special investigation team on black money, Black money (undisclosed foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act 2015, Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act 2016, prevention of corruption (Amendment) Act 2018, Right to information act 2005 to promote transparency and accountability in the working of public authorities whistle Blomers protection Act 2014 that protects whistleblowers (RTI is the twin sister of whistle-blowing), Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Amendment) Bill 2016 concerning the declaration of assets and liabilities by public servants.
There is a need for wind-face reforms in every section of the system to fight the menace. Mandatory education courses like anti-money laundering, efficient reporting, accountability, encouraging ethical culture by rewards and incentives, and senior employees to cultivate an open and transparent culture must be introduced. Hence, every aspect of governance must improve efficiency, economy and effectiveness. Integrity, transparency, and the fight against corruption must be part of the culture.

Total Words count – 563