About the Index
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is published annually by Transparency International (TI), a Berlin-based anti-corruption NGO founded in 1993 by Peter Eigen. First released in 1995, the CPI ranks countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys.
Methodology
- Scale: 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean)
- Data sources: 13 surveys and expert assessments from 12 independent institutions, including the World Bank, World Economic Forum, and African Development Bank
- Minimum requirement: A country must have data from at least 3 sources to be included
- What it measures: Perceptions of corruption in the public sector only — it does not measure private sector corruption, money laundering, or illicit financial flows
India’s Performance
India scores 39 out of 100, ranking 91st among 182 countries in the CPI 2025. This is an improvement of 1 point (from 38) and 5 ranks (from 96th) compared to 2024.
Historical Trend
| Year | Score | Rank | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 40 | 86 | 180 |
| 2021 | 40 | 85 | 180 |
| 2022 | 40 | 85 | 180 |
| 2023 | 39 | 93 | 180 |
| 2024 | 38 | 96 | 180 |
| 2025 | 39 | 91 | 182 |
India’s score has remained stagnant in the 38-40 band over the past six years, indicating limited structural improvement in perceived public sector integrity.
Regional / BRICS Comparison
| Country | CPI Rank (2025) | CPI Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bhutan | 18 | 68 |
| China | 76 | ~41 |
| India | 91 | 39 |
| Brazil | ~104 | ~36 |
| South Africa | ~87 | ~40 |
| Pakistan | 136 | ~26 |
| Bangladesh | 150 | ~22 |
Key Highlights of Latest Edition
- Denmark retains the top position for the eighth consecutive year with a score of 89, followed by Finland (88) and Singapore (84)
- For the first time in over a decade, the global CPI average has dropped to 42/100, signalling a worldwide erosion of anti-corruption norms
- 122 out of 182 countries (67%) score below 50, indicating that a supermajority of nations have serious corruption challenges
- The bottom-ranked countries include South Sudan, Somalia, and Syria
- The report highlights that democratic backsliding and weakening of independent institutions are key drivers of increasing corruption perceptions globally
Key Anti-Corruption Bodies in India
| Body | Mandate |
|---|---|
| Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) | Apex anti-corruption body for Central Government |
| Lokpal | Anti-corruption ombudsman (Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013) |
| Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) | Investigation agency for corruption cases |
| Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 | Primary anti-corruption legislation (amended 2018) |
| Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2014 | Legal protection for corruption whistleblowers |
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: CPI score scale, India’s rank, top/bottom performers, Transparency International HQ (Berlin), founding year (1993) Mains GS-2: Anti-corruption institutional framework — Lokpal, CVC, CBI, RTI Act, digital governance Mains GS-4: Ethics in governance, corruption as an ethical issue, role of civil servants in maintaining integrity Interview: “India’s CPI score has stagnated around 39-40 for years — what structural reforms would move the needle?”
