Lok Sabha Question No. 2236 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: Corruption Perceptions Index
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy, Geetha Viswanath Vanga

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2236

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020)

## CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX

## 2236. SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY: SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India's ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CP-2019) has slipped from 78 to 80 compared to the earlier years due to unfair and opaque political financing in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details thereof and the steps being taken to correct the same in future and the action plan in this regard;
- (c) whether  the  steps  are  being  taken  to  restrict  the  unfair  and  opaque  political  financing, undue influence in decision-making and lobbying by powerful corporate interest groups which has resulted in stagnation or a decline in the control of corruption; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action plan prepared by the Union/State Governments to tackle this issue immediately?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (d):   No such Surveys were conducted by any agency at the behest of the Government of India. Further, the Government of India is not aware of the methodology adopted in preparation of such reports, if any.

Nonetheless,  the  Government  of  India,  in  pursuance  of  its  commitment  to  'Zero Tolerance  Against  Corruption'  has  taken  several  measures  to  combat  corruption  which, inter alia, include:

- i. Systemic improvements and reforms to provide transparent citizen-friendly  services and reduce corruption. These, inter alia,  include:
- a) Disbursement  of  welfare  benefits  directly  to  the  citizens  under  various schemes of the Government  in  a  transparent  manner  through  the  Direct Benefit Transfer initiative.

- b) Implementation of E-tendering in public procurements.
- c) Introduction of e-Governance and simplification of procedure and systems.
- d) Introduction of Government procurement through the Government eMarketplace (GeM).
- ii. Discontinuation of interviews in recruitment of Group 'B' (Non-Gazetted) and Group 'C' posts in Government of India.
- iii. Invocation  of  FR-56  (j)  and  AIS  (DCRB)  Rules,  1958  for  retiring  officials  from service in public interest whose performance has been reviewed and found unsatisfactory.
- iv. The All  India  Services  (Disciplinary  and  Appeal)  Rules  and  Central  Civil  Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules have been amended to provide for specific timelines in the procedure related to disciplinary proceedings.
- v. The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 has been amended on 26.07.2018.  It clearly criminalizes  the  act  of  giving  bribe  and  will  help  check  big  ticket  corruption  by creating a vicarious liability in  respect  of  senior  management  of  commercial organizations.
- vi. Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), through various orders and circulars recommended adoption of Integrity Pact to all the organizations in major procurement activities and to ensure effective and expeditious investigation wherever any irregularity/misconduct is noticed.
- vii. The institution  of  Lokpal  has  been  operationalised  by  appointment  of   Chairperson and  Members.  Lokpal  is  statutorily mandated  to  directly receive and  process complaints as regards alleged offences against public servants under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

In addition, the CVC as an apex integrity institution has adopted a multi-pronged strategy and  approach  to  combat  corruption,  which  encompasses  punitive,  preventive  and  participative vigilance.

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