Lok Sabha Question No. 1521 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Corruption Index
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: A. Ganeshamurthi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1521

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2021)

## CORRUPTION INDEX

## 1521. SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that India tops list of most corrupt countries in  Asia  as  per  the  poll  conducted  recently  by  the  Global  Corruption  Transparency International  in  17  Asian  countries  and  in  India  alone,  around  89  per  cent  say Government corruption is a major problem;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the action taken to abolish corruption in the country?

## 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) & (b):   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. However, even in the Corruption Perceptions Index Report (CPI) 2020 of Transparency International, India ranked better than several countries in Asia.

It has recently been decided to engage with the CPI related data source organizations for  identification  and  sharing  of  sub-index-wise  data-sets/information  through  an  appropriately designed  Dash-board;  for  identification  of  areas  where  information  exchange,  reforms  or amendment  may  lead  to  improvement  in  rankings;  and  for  preparation  eventually  of  a Compendium of Good Practices in various Departments/Organizations, for dissemination as part of an appropriate communication strategy.

(c): 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  e-  Marketplace (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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