Bribery Incidents in India Reduce by 10% Since 2018: Survey

Incidents of bribery in India has reduced by 10% since last year, according to a survey carried out in 20 states.

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Incidents of bribery in the country have reduced by 10 percent since last year, according to a survey carried out in 20 states.

People in Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, West Bengal, Kerala, Goa and Odisha reported low instances of corruption, while Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Punjab had higher occurrences of corruption, it stated.

The 'India Corruption Survey 2019', which received 1,90,000 responses from people in 248 districts, also stated that 51 percent Indians paid bribe in the last 12 months.

Transparency International India (TII) and LocalCircles conducted the survey.

India 78th Among 180 Nations

India's ranking in the Corruption Perception Index 2018, released by TII, has improved three places compared to last year and now, the country's standing is 78 among 180 nations, a statement issued by the organisation said.

Cash is still the primary mode to pay bribes, as per the survey.

Thirty-five percent of the respondents said they gave cash as bribe in the last 12 months to get their work done, it stated and added that 16 percent said they always managed to get their work done without paying bribes.

The survey shows that the top three corruption prone departments are property registration and land issues, police and municipal corporation.

Though CCTV cameras are a slight deterrent, bribery still continues in government offices despite major computerisation and agents continue to thrive, the survey found.

Highest Bribery Incidents in Property Registration

The highest number of incidents of bribery were in authorities involved in property registration and land issues. The finding was backed by votes of 26 percent of the respondents, it stated.

Only 12 percent citizens said bribery in property registration and land issues has reduced in the last 12 months.

Forty-nine percent said bribery is continuing like before and eight per cent said it has increased. Nine percent said they did not need to pay a bribe.

Seventeen percent citizens said bribery in matters related to taxation had reduced, the survey stated.

The government in the last six months has retired over 25 senior tax officials facing charges of corruption.

“When it came to demanding of bribes for work related to the municipality or local bodies, 10 per cent citizens said it has reduced while 44 per cent said it is continuing like before. Eleven per cent said bribery to police has reduced while an equal per cent of people said it has increased.”

Survey

It also shows that most state governments have been unable to take concrete and effective steps to reduce corruption.

The percentage of citizens who felt that no effective steps have been taken was 48 per cent, the survey stated.

TII is a non-political, independent, non-governmental anti-corruption organisation.

Giving a bribe is an offence with up to seven years of imprisonment or fine or both, according to the Prevention of Corruption Act 2018.

Twenty-four percent of the respondents admitted to giving bribes several times in the last 12 months and 27 percent admitted to paying bribes once or twice, the survey found.