Winning Bizness Desk

Mumbai. Transparency International released its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report on February 11, ranking 180 countries based on public sector corruption. India has fallen three places, ranking 96th in the 2024 list compared to 93rd in 2023, indicating a rise in corruption.

China, Pakistan, and Other Neighboring Countries' Rankings

China has maintained its 76th rank for two consecutive years, while Pakistan has slipped from 133rd to 135th place, indicating increased corruption. Sri Lanka stands at 121st position, and Bangladesh is ranked 149th.

Denmark continues to be the least corrupt country, securing the first position. Finland ranks second, followed by Singapore. On the other end, South Sudan ranks 180th, making it the most corrupt country. The ranking system indicates that lower numbers represent lower corruption levels, while higher ranks suggest higher corruption.

India's Corruption Score Declines

In the latest report, India’s corruption score has been set at 38, down from 39 in 2023 and 40 in 2022. This one-point drop has caused India to slip three ranks. The global average has remained stable at 43 for years, with over two-thirds of the countries scoring below 50.

Transparency International’s experts assess corruption in the public sector for each country and assign scores between 0 and 100. A lower score indicates higher corruption, determining the country's ranking in the index.

No Significant Improvement Under PM Modi’s Government

A comparison between the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government (2005-2013) and the current National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government shows no substantial improvement in corruption levels. India’s best ranking under NDA was in 2015 when it reached the 76th position. However, in the last few years, there has been no major progress.

During the UPA's final years, India’s ranking had slipped to 94th in 2013. Under NDA, India's best performance was in 2015, but since then, the country has not shown significant progress in tackling corruption.

Corruption in Asia: A Growing Concern

Over the past five years, Asia’s average CPI score has remained around 45, with this year’s score at 44. Only a few Asian countries have managed to reduce corruption, while most have seen a steady increase.

India and 71 other Asian countries scored below the region’s average of 45. The report claims that leaders in these countries have not taken corruption seriously, and attacks on independent press have further worsened corruption levels.

Corruption: A Major Threat to Climate Action

According to the CPI report, corruption remains a severe problem worldwide, posing a major threat to climate action. Research indicates that corruption hinders efforts to reduce emissions and mitigate global heating. Funds allocated for climate policies are often misused due to corruption, preventing crucial projects from being completed effectively.

Since 2012, 32 countries have significantly improved their corruption levels, but there is still a long way to go. Meanwhile, 148 countries have either remained stagnant or deteriorated in their rankings over the same period.