Corruption Perceptions Index 2018 : Transparency International

• 30 Jan 2019

India has been ranked at 78^th place out of 180 countries in ‘Corruption Perception Index’ (CPI) released by Transparency International in 2018 against 2017’s 81^st, where it had slid from 79^th in 2016.

• The index ranks the countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and business people.
• It uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

Key Findings

• Continued failure of most countries to significantly control corruption is contributing to a crisis of democracy around the world.
• A general lack of political will, weak institutions and few political rights create an environment where corruption flourishes with little opposition.
• More than two-thirds of countries score below 50, with an average score of only 43.
• Denmark and New Zealand top the Index with 88 and 87 points, respectively. Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria are at the bottom of the index, with 10, 13 and 13 points, respectively.
• The highest scoring region is Western Europe and the European Union, with an average score of 66, while the lowest scoring regions are Sub-Saharan Africa (average score 32) and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (average score 35).
• With a score of 71, the United States lost four points since last year, dropping out of the top 20 countries on the CPI for the first time since 2011. The low score comes at a time when the US is experiencing threats to its system of checks and balances as well as an erosion of ethical norms at the highest levels of power.

Indian Scenario

• India marginally improved its score to 41 (from 40 in 2017).
• Massive public mobilisation against corruption and voter turnout resulted in new governments and anti-corruption reforms in India, Malaysia, the Maldives, and Pakistan.
• Despite these encouraging developments, these are yet to translate into solid action against corruption.

Way Forward

• To make real progress against corruption and strengthen democracy around the world, Transparency International calls on all governments to:
  • strengthen the institutions responsible for maintaining checks and balances over political power, and ensure their ability to operate without intimidation;
  • close the implementation gap between anti-corruption legislation, practice and enforcement;
  • support civil society organisations which enhance political engagement and public oversight over government spending, particularly at the local level;
  • support a free and independent media, and ensure the safety of journalists and their ability to work without intimidation or harassment.

Transparency International

• Transparency International, an international non-governmental organization which is based in Berlin, Germany was founded in 1993.
• Its nonprofit purpose is to take action to combat corruption and prevent criminal activities arising from corruption.
• It publishes various reports such as the Global Corruption Barometer and the Corruption Perceptions Index.