A 2005 study on corruption in India revealed that the highest level of malpractice was in the police, revenue, lower judiciary, education and engineering departments. https://thewire.in/government/why-india-has-failed-to-curb-corruption
In 2023, India slipped 17 ranks below China on the corruption index. While every political party likes to claim that it has sharply reduced corruption, this assessment of India’s position has raised many questions.
Allegations of corruption against German defense minister and prince Bernhard of the Netherlands resulted in a huge setback to their political careers. Since then, many of these countries have brought safeguards to make their society cleaner.
First, a huge amount of money is being spent on elections. Political parties try to gain financial resources wherever they are in power. For the private sector to give money to politicians, a quid pro quo is required – contracts for large projects or policies that benefit them substantially.
Second, the variety of consumer goods has expanded phenomenally in the last two decades. Air conditioners and mobiles are not a luxury but a necessity for many families. There is a strong incentive for petty public officials to resort to corrupt means to extract money from the common public and meet some of these needs.
Third, the growth process requires large private investment. The regulatory authorities have increased in number and coverage of sectors. The functionaries of these authorities, as well as politicians, see an opportunity to make money for themselves.
12/12/2024