🗞️ Why in News Transparency International released the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025, in which India ranked 91st out of 182 countries with a score of 39/100 — a marginal improvement from 96th rank in 2024, but still below the global average of 42.
The Editorial Argument
The Hindu argues that India’s slight improvement in the CPI masks a deeper stagnation. While Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and e-governance have reduced petty “middleman” corruption in welfare delivery, the structural drivers of corruption — opaque political financing, weak whistleblower protections, and compromised institutional independence — remain largely unaddressed.
The Global Picture
The CPI 2025 presents a troubling global landscape:
- Global average: 42/100 — the lowest in over a decade
- Most countries score below 50, indicating pervasive corruption
- The link between weakening democratic oversight and rising corruption is now empirically established
- Countries with reduced civil liberties and compromised institutions show worsening governance outcomes
India’s Paradox
India’s score of 39 puts it below the global average despite being the world’s 5th largest economy. The editorial highlights several contradictions:
| Area | Progress | Persistent Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Welfare delivery | DBT, Aadhaar-linked transfers reduced leakage | Political financing remains opaque |
| E-governance | DigiLocker, UMANG, UPI reduced interface corruption | Whistleblower protection inadequate |
| Economic growth | 6.5-7% GDP growth | Estimated corruption cost: 0.5% of GDP directly, 1-1.5% with indirect effects |
| Institutional framework | Lokpal appointed in 2019 | CVC and CBI perceived as lacking operational independence |
Political Financing — The Elephant in the Room
The editorial argues that the electoral bond scheme (struck down by the Supreme Court in February 2024) exposed the scale of anonymous corporate donations to political parties. While the scheme was scrapped, no robust replacement ensuring transparency has been implemented. India spends an estimated $8-10 billion per general election — much of it unaccounted.
Whistleblower Protection
The Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2014 has never been operationalised with full rules. Meanwhile, RTI activists and corruption whistleblowers continue to face threats — at least 100 RTI activists have been killed since 2005 (according to advocacy groups). The CPI report specifically flagged India as “dangerous for journalists reporting on corruption.”
What India Can Learn
The editorial recommends:
- Full implementation of Whistleblowers Protection Act with an independent protection mechanism
- State funding of elections (as recommended by the Indrajit Gupta Committee, 1998)
- Strengthening CVC operational independence through fixed tenure and removal protections
- Real-time disclosure of political donations above a threshold
- Expanding DPI model — direct benefit transfers reduced leakage from 30%+ to under 5% in some schemes; this approach should extend to procurement and licensing
Constitutional and Institutional Framework
| Institution | Role | Issue |
|---|---|---|
| CVC | Apex vigilance institution | Advisory, not binding powers |
| CBI | Premier investigation agency | Requires state consent (General Consent) for investigation |
| Lokpal | Ombudsman for public servants | Established 2019; limited prosecutions so far |
| CAG | Audit of government expenditure | Reports often delayed; follow-up weak |
| RTI Act, 2005 | Citizen access to government information | Amendments in 2019 weakened CIC independence |
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: CPI 2025 (India rank 91, score 39), Transparency International (HQ: Berlin, est. 1993), CVC, Lokpal, RTI Act 2005, Whistleblowers Protection Act 2014
Mains GS-2: Anti-corruption institutions and their effectiveness; political financing transparency; role of RTI and whistleblower protection
Mains GS-4: Ethics in governance; conflict of interest; public service integrity
📌 Facts Corner — Knowledgepedia
CPI 2025:
- India rank: 91/182 (score: 39/100)
- Previous rank (2024): 96 (score: 38)
- Global average: 42 (lowest in decade)
- Top 3: Denmark, Finland, New Zealand
- Published by: Transparency International (HQ: Berlin, founded 1993)
- Scale: 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean)
India’s Anti-Corruption Framework:
- Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended 2018)
- Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (Lokpal appointed 2019)
- CVC: Central Vigilance Commission (statutory since 2003)
- Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2014
- RTI Act, 2005
- PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act), 2002
Other Relevant Facts:
- Electoral Bond Scheme: struck down by SC in February 2024
- Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998): recommended state funding of elections
- UNCAC: UN Convention Against Corruption (India ratified in 2011)
- Estimated corruption cost: 0.5-1.5% of GDP
- Over 90% of journalist killings in countries with CPI below 50
Sources: The Hindu, Transparency International