Corruption high in India's defence deals: Transparency International

LONDON: Defence procurement corruption in India has been accessed to be "high", with a large mass of its procurements shrouded in secrecy with low levels of accountability.

Corruption in defence procurement in three of its neighbours ­ China, Sri Lanka and Pakistan has been found to be "very high".

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The Global Defence Anti-Corruption Index to be announced by Transparency International on Wednesday revealed that the Chinese military spending has increased by 441 per cent in the last decade, India by 147 per cent, South Korea by 106 per cent, Pakistan by 107 per cent, Bangladesh by 202 per cent, and Sri Lanka by 197 per cent.

Within ASEAN, there have been huge increases as well: Indonesia by 189 per cent, Thailand by 207 per cent, Cambodia by 311 per cent, and the Philippines by 165 per cent. Accessing the Indian experience, the Index said the Indian army was found to be illegally running golf courses on government-owned land while the air force officials used defence land for unauthorised use, such as building of shopping malls and cinema halls. It also says that India's defence institutions have been found to be involved in exploitation of natural resources.

Citing an example, the report says awards for contracts by Riflex, the paramilitary force in north-east India, were essentially bought through personnel for kickbacks amounting to 35 per cent of the tender cost.

"India has no designated body tasked with responsibility over ethics or anti-corruption within the ministry of defence. There is no Inspector General position.The Public Accounts Committee, the CAG have held the MoD to account for the illegal use of land for private golf clubs," the report says.

According to the report "as the second largest military spender in the region, India distinguishes itself through independent institutions with clear mandates for overseeing defence agencies.The CAG along with the Public Accounts Committee have exercised active oversight".

The report also has praise or India. It says, "The use of integrity pacts have been a powerful binding instrument, involving independent monitoring by the Central Vigilance Commission."