Corruption in India increased in past 2 years, global study says

NEW DELHI: About three-fourth of Indians say corruption has increased in the past two years and an equal number term the phenomenon a problem, a global study by Transparency International said today.

Transparency International's Global Corruption Barometer 2013 report revealed that while 40 per cent of the respondents in India felt corruption has increased a lot, 31 per cent said that it has increased in the past two years.

Similarly, 47 per cent felt it is a serious problem, whereas 33 per cent said that corruption is a problem.

The Global Corruption Barometer 2013 is a survey of 114,000 people in 107 countries and it shows that corruption is widespread. The report surveyed 1,025 people in India between September 2012 and March 2013.

The report said 86 per cent of the respondents thought political parties were affected by corruption, while 65 per cent said parliament was also affected.

In the case of the judiciary, 45 per cent said they feel the institution is affected by corruption.

While 41 per cent of the people surveyed said the media is affected by the phenomenon, half of the respondents said businesses were also affected by corruption, the report added.

When it comes to the police, 75 per cent said it is affected by corruption and in the case of public officials and civil servants, 65 per cent felt they were affected, it said.

The report said 55 per cent of the respondents indicated that ordinary people can make a difference in the fight against corruption.

Globally, the situation is more distressing. More than one person in two thinks corruption has worsened in the past two years, Transparency International said.

Almost 9 out of 10 people surveyed said they would act against corruption and two-thirds of those who were asked to pay a bribe had refused, suggesting that governments, civil society and the business sector need to do more to engage people in thwarting corruption, it added.

"Bribe-paying levels remain very high worldwide, but people believe they have the power to stop corruption and the number of those willing to combat the abuse of power, secret dealings and bribery is significant," Chair of Transparency International Huguette Labelle said.

The police were viewed as the most corrupt in 36 countries, where an average of 53 per cent of people had been asked to pay a bribe to the police, the report said.

People in 20 countries viewed the judiciary as the most corrupt, with an average of 30 per cent of those who had come into contact with the judicial system having been asked to pay a bribe, it added.