CORRUPTION - NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Tarun Paul Singh1

Corruption mostly defined as using power or authority to obtain advantage and using
public money for own interest i.e Bribery to request the financial resources to obtain
public money service such as traffic tickets removal, biddings that would favor a
particular company, tax exemption etc and to divert public money, destined to public
enterprises to those who are responsible for it. These major corruption are expanded to
everyday life practices and are so deeply incorporated into our country culture that it get
hard to identify them. There is common notion that Indians always finds a way to solve
everything and this way we find is most of the times some form of the corruption. Since
1991,economic liberalization in India has reduced the red tape and bureaucracy,
supported the transition towards market economy and transformed the economy with
higher growth rate.2 However the growth had been uneven across social and economic
groups and moreover poverty is still an issue. Endemic and deep rooted corruption is a a
major factor for most social and political ills. It is a serious threat that not just to
sustainable political growth , but also the social-political fabric of the country.3
No country in the world is immune from corruption. Even in the most perfect countries
with the very good scores in the corruption perception index or even the human
development index you can find corruption ,the reason being it is the part of human
1

Tarun Paul Singh,Student B.A;L.LB IV Year, Baba Farid Law College, Faridkot

Susan Rose Ackerman , Corruption A study in political Economy

Global Corruption and International Efforts in the Fight against Corruption

-Ajit Joy, Expert Crime Prevention

nature. There is a philosophy that human are greedy up to a lesser or great extent. We are
the human beings and therefore prone to the temptation, prone to competition and
jealousy.4 Living in developing countries there is a feeling that a corruption is like a
river. A river whose level rises and falls with the changes in season. Corruption is a more
or less like that. It goes up and down with the changes in the government policies and law
enforcement. In many years like some river dry up or change course, corruption may also
disappear in some areas or change course in others. But it takes a lot of effort and a lot of
smartness.

INDIA AND THE OTHER COUNTRIES

If we give a look to international scenario of corruption then actually we will find out that
corruption is more dangerous than a viral disease and spread in all the entire world. There
is different areas where corruption is existing in the different countries.
In U.S.A from penny pinching politicians to Big Bank blunders, corruption inputs of
possible 73 points for U.S.A( whereas 100 being perfectly pure and 0 being corrupt). It
also showed that U.S.A solidly above 50 points mark, meaning survey respondents
recently view U.S.A as the least corrupt than most countries in the world.5
Coming to UK, it is currently estimated that 38,000 people are involved in organized
crime , and mostly such activity cost the economy anywhere between 20 and 30
billion per year. In UK construction industry had also been affected.

Michael Johnston, Victor T. Levine , Political Corruption." Transaction Publishers

Transparency International 2014

Talking about China, it scores 40 the main type of corruption.In china there are tax
evasion , rent seeking behavior involvement in the underground economy, where the
management is legal, but the economy is illegal and the abuse of public investment and
public expenditure. Corruption is particularly egregious in the rail roads, aviation,
telecommunications and electricity production sectors. Other countries such as Brazil, the
Corruption occurs in all level of the society i.e from politicians to police officers. Then
the countries like Denmark, which ranks as one of the safest, most democratic and least
corrupt countries in the world.6
According to the UN's " My World" Survey, which aim to inform the post 2015
international development agenda shows the importance of honest and responsible
government and which is top concern, ranking above the issues you might expect to have
more traction among young respondents such as job opportunities, environment
protection and the climatic change.7

ROOT CAUSE OF CORRUPTION

Many of us think that the corruption is mainly caused by the politicians and govern
departments but it is quite difficult to decide who is responsible for corruption.No
country in the world is perfect, corruption is everywhere. Corruption has two forms,
corruption at top level and corruption at lower level. In the developed countries like USA
and UK corruption exists at top level as compare to the lower level. But in India
corruption
6

David Alan Stockman The Great Deformation - The Corruption Of Capitalism In

America"
7

www. Rbi. Org.in

prevails from top level to low level and the low level corruption is spoiling the country
economy badly. Indians perceived political parties to be most corrupt, ranking them 4.2
on a scale one to five. Police as 4.1, parliament/ legislature (4) and civil servants(3.5),
private sector, NGOs and judiciary are alls een to be similarly corrupt(3.1), with the
media(3.1), military(2.8) and religious bodies( 2.9) enjoy better public confidence.8
There is always a notion that corruption is always contextual and rooted in the counties
policies, bureaucratic traditions,political development, and its social and cultural history.
Still,corruption tends to flourish when the policies are complicated,their implementation
is weak and the general public has no redressal mechanism. There is one Klitgaard
dynamics of corruption(C)in the public sector in the following equation:
C = M+ D- A
It is a saying that tends to increase when an organization or person has monopoly(M)
power over a good or service, which generates income, has the the discretion (D) on its
allocation, and is not accountable(A). When the ruling elite fail to curb the activities of
the corrupt and the selfish within it, the governance begins to rot and the ordinary people
begin to loose faith in the ruling class. Such a society begins to decay and set itself on the
road to self destruction. A state of political corruption is known as kleptocracy, which
literally means "rule by thieves".9 India is the ninth most corrupt country in the world, in
a ranking of 86 countries, with 54% of the people had reported to paid a bribe. Iraq(56%),
Afghanistan(61%), Liberia(89%), Uganda(86%), Nigeria(63%),Sierra Leone (71%),
Sene-egal(56%) and Cambodia(84%) are the topmost country paying the bribe or are

Kimberly Corruption and Global Economy."

http://youthink.worldbank.org/issues/corruption

highly corrupted.10
The problem in India is that Government reeks of corruption. As per central Vigilance
commission(CVC) report some estimates shows that government loses about Rs 2 lakh
crores annually sue to tax evasion. There is also a fact that if there is no corruption in
India the pubic sector enterprises would have improved their profit margin by 20%.
According to the corruption economist if corruption in India is reduced to the level of the
Scandi-navian countries, the investment would rise by 12% and GDP would grow at an
additional 1.5% .11 There is Karl Marx execution of corruption that the executive of the
modern state, is merely a committee for managing the economic affairs of the bourgeoisie
. Further the legal institutions of the state are but superstructures giving expression to the
productive force of the economic system. We need not agree with Marx, but there is
indeed a lot of truth in what he says. The government in power need money to fight
elections .Money come from big business. Once elected, the government and the
legislature have the pact with the business to protect the interests. This is the story
actually of the new corruption which we can say as grand Corruption. Corruption in high
places is about which a common man does not even get to know. As all he sees is the
petty corruption by the minor bureaucrats.
EFFORTS IN REGARDING TO THE ERADICATION
If we really want to make a change, we should increase our efforts in eradicating this
menace from the society. The society as such should try to start to change their thinking

10

Sunil Kumar Ghosh , Laws relating to Bribery and Corruption In India 1971, eastern
law House
11

Parvinchandra C Parekh Tax Planning for Black Money , Secret Income - Tax
management of Black Money

because now corruption has become like classification trait for our country. Our efforts
should be reinforced with the efforts of some anti-corruption groups since there is very
little that our government can do about it as people who are entrusted with the making
laws, are themselves most likely the ones who have broken them. 12 Certain action can
bring a change ,but not as major as trying to fight this conflict out. The perpetrators deserve to be acknowledged for such lowly deeds, transitional justice need to be brought to
suffice the loss of the victims of these crimes- our whole nation. Actually the problem is
that we are encouraging it being bystanders of crime. Even if we cant bring change
individually we can support the social activities and anti-corruption activities to bring
justice to us. The scenario of a corruption society is worth envisioning because this can
mean success and progress of our nation. The following is important consideration for
our government to make all it concerns the future of not just us, but our society and
nation. The future of our country which has so much potential we cannot afford to just
stagnate its growth. The black money lying in the Swiss banks is the prominent example
of Corruption in India and India is ranked first in the case.13
According to the World bank estimates, between $1 trillion to $ 1.6 trillion are lost
globally to illegal activities each year. Corruption decreases the amount of wealth in a
country and lowers the standard of living.14 Corruption affects you even if you do not
come in direct contact like Corruption vitiates the business atmosphere and discourages
business from operating freely, reduces the amount of money government has and
12

David Alan Stockman The Great Deformation - The Corruption Of Capitalism In

America.
13

Sanjivi Guhaan , Paul Samuel , Corruption in India , Agenda For Action"Public Affairs
Centre
14

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/india-is-4thworst-bribe-paying-country/722460/0

degrades the quality of government services for example education, health care,
infrastructure, welfare, programs, police etc.15 Allowing such as money laundering,
extortion and drug trafficking to thrive. Allow those with money or connection to bend
the law or government rules in their favour. This is how rich businessmen and politician
are always hand in gloves and our society at backwardness.
In India ,various corruption laws has established like Public servants in India can be
penalized for corruption under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Prevention of Corruption
Act, 1988.,The Benami Transaction(Prohibition) Act, 1988. The Prevention of Money
Laundering Act, 2002 penalises public servants for the offence of money laundering and
many more but it is a correct saying the we have many laws but were is the
implementation .16 The Former President of India Late Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam once said
" If we cannot make India Corruption free, then the vision of making the nation develop
by 2020 would remain as a dream."
In other countries USA have settled their Swiss bank Account and their top Billionaires in
their countries paid to their country 50% of their money which includes Gates and
Bloomberg.17
ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEM
Administrative Corruption is at peak in India. Corruption is present in every department
though big or small or private on India. Nepotism and biasness are involved in the
appointment of the low paid peon to the highly salaried manager of a multinational
15

Edited By James Moore , John Smith Corruption in Urban Politics and Society
Britain 1780- 1950
16

17

David Alan Stockman The Great Deformation - The Corruption Of Capitalism In America.

http://accountabilityindia.blogspot.com/2010/03/indias-anti-corruption-agencyinglobal. html

company. The legal and judiciary system of a country is not efficient enough to quick
their working as in the case of the other countries. In the countries like USA , Finland all
the organizations though it be railways, courts, police, hospitals are so involved in their
duties that public need not to think of giving bribe to expedite their matters .Court give
their verdict timely and public need not to bribe judges or lawyers for quickening.
Railway organization is efficient that public always feel satisfied. The coming generation
will feel themselves to be in well of corruption. Due to corruption prevailing everywhere
the young generation wants to migrate to other countries where they find a good system
and can live a tension free life.18
Actually corruption is the hydra-headed monster and the government have to make efforts
to tackle it from all sides. Not at government level but at individual level also,a lot of
efforts need to be done. The only medicine to reduce the corruption drug is to change the
mindset of the people for their selfishness. To control corruption, we are the people of
nation should work together to fight against it. The election procedure should be
changed.19 The question being raised here is that how can we channel that energy into real
change. Although corruption has wide ranging deleterious effects on society and
governance but its most deadly impact is always on the poor. It undermines democracy,
hinders in the good governance and weakens the democratic institutions. It hampers the
economic growth and sustainable developments. Increase in corruption in any society is
inversely proportional to good governance.20

18

Paul Samuel , Corruption in India , Agenda For Action" Public Affairs Centre.

19

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town,
Singapore, So Paulo, Delhi
20

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2012804.ece

REMEDY
The only solution to a problem such as corruption, would be a reform of a national policy
by the judicial system of the nation which can also be known as the method of
reparations. Many people raised the question as to why the government in India does not
take efforts to fight corruption, but the trouble is that in truth their institutions in the
nation are the
Biggest body of corruption. Social Activists, whistle-blowers and even citizen are trying
to provoke the government to make changes to their policies.
However it is with the next generation that the hope rests of the sustainable change in
cultural norms. The appetite is for accountable and transparent governance is there, we
need to find effective ways to translate it into lasting action.

CONCLUSION
Corruption is a wide term and its causes also differ from country to country. India is
involved in corruption from root to fruit. All levels, all classes, all organization use
corrupted means. This is not a single man job to bring improvement to, but all need to
join hands. If the corruption is cured in India then India will become a super powerful
country in the world. It has resources, capable human power, big market but the need is to
be sincerity, integrity and a serious and negative attitude towards corruption is everyone.