Corruption
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Corruption
Source: FE
Context: An IAS officer, Dhiman Chakma, was caught red-handed by Odisha Vigilance for accepting a ₹10 lakh bribe to allegedly prevent the closure of a business unit.
About Corruption:
What is Corruption?
Corruption is the misuse of public office or power for personal gain. It erodes trust in governance, distorts policymaking, and diverts resources away from essential services.
Types of Corruption:
• Bribery: Exchange of money or favours to influence a public official’s decision or action.
E.g. IAS officer in Odisha demanded ₹10 lakh to avoid shutting a business unit.
• Embezzlement: Misappropriation or theft of public funds by those in power.
E.g. Public servants divert government funds into private accounts.
• Nepotism: Favouritism towards relatives or close associates in appointments or contracts.
E.g. Civic tenders awarded to kin of local politicians without competitive bids.
• Collusive Corruption: A secret pact between public officials and private entities to mutually benefit.
E.g. Contractors colluding with officials to inflate costs in Smart City projects.
Reasons Behind Corruption in India:
• Election Expenditure Pressure: Huge campaign funding needs create a quid pro quo culture with businesses.
E.g. ₹1 lakh crore was reportedly spent in 2024 Lok Sabha elections (CMS data).
• Weak Institutional Checks: Lokpal and Lokayukta’s exist but remain ineffective in most states.
• Red Tape and Discretion: Overregulation and lack of standard timelines allow room for rent-seeking.
• Inequality and Rising Aspirations: Income disparity pushes officials to misuse power for a better lifestyle.
E.g. Low-paid officials seek bribes to afford expensive consumer goods.
• Lack of Public Awareness: Many citizens don’t use RTI or grievance portals to hold officials accountable.
Government Initiatives:
• Vigilance Raids: Anti-corruption agencies have intensified trap cases and cash recovery missions.
E.g. Odisha Vigilance arrested an IAS officer with ₹57 lakh unaccounted cash.
• Digital Systems: e-Tendering, PFMS, DBT reduce human discretion and payment leakage.
E.g. PDS benefits now go directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
• Whistleblower Act: Offers protection to those who report corruption in public interest.
• RTI Act: Ensures citizen access to government records, enhancing transparency.
• Mandatory Asset Declarations: Government officials are required to annually disclose their assets.
Way Ahead:
• Revive Lokpal and Lokayuktas: Empower these institutions with funding, independence, and oversight.
E.g. Mandatory reports and regular audits can boost their credibility and impact.
• Cap Political Funding: Introduce limits on campaign spending and regulate donations.
E.g. Ban cash contributions and disclose all electoral bond donors.
• Use AI Surveillance: Deploy AI to detect anomalies in tender approvals, property registrations, etc.
E.g. AI-based tracking of sand mining in Rajasthan flagged illegal operations.
• Guarantee Time-bound Services: Enforce service delivery laws with penalties for delays.
E.g. Delhi’s RTS Act levies fines on officers for exceeding delivery timelines.
• Empower Citizens: Strengthen online portals, social audits, and local watchdog committees.
E.g. Civic participation keeps street-level corruption under constant check.
Conclusion:
India’s battle against corruption is complex, requiring institutional overhaul and public vigilance. Technology and strong laws can deter wrongdoers, but citizen pressure is equally vital. A clean civic system rests on transparency, timely justice, and moral accountability.
• “Corruption is the manifestation of the failure of core values in the society.” In your opinion, what measures can be adopted to uplift the core values in the society? (UPSC-2023)