Political corruption, the abuse of public power, office, or resources by government officials or employees for personal gain, e.g.

by extortion, soliciting or offering bribes[2] Police corruption, a specific form of police misconduct designed to obtain financial benefits, other personal gain, and/or career advancement for a police officer or officers in exchange for not pursuing, or selectively pursuing, an investigation or arrest

[edit] Institutions dealing with political corruption

Transparency International, a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development Global Witness, an international NGO established in 1993 that works to break the links between natural resource exploitation, conflict, poverty, corruption, and human rights abuses worldwide Group of States Against Corruption, a body established under the Council of Europe to monitor the implementation of instruments adopted by member states to combat political corruption Independent Commission Against Corruption (disambiguation) TrustLaw, a service of the Thomson Reuters Foundation is a global hub for free legal assistance and news and information on anti-corruption

[edit] History
The economy of India was under socialist-inspired policies for an entire generation from the 1950s until the late 1980s. The economy was subject to extensive regulation, protectionism, and public ownership, leading to pervasive corruption and slow growth.[22][23][24][25] License Raj was often at the core of corruption.
[edit] Land and property

Officials often steal state property. In cities and villages throughout India, Mafia Raj consisting of municipal and other government officials, elected politicians, judicial officers, real estate developers and law enforcement officials, acquire, develop and sell land in illegal ways.[28]
[edit] Medicine

In Government Hospitals, corruption is associated with non availability of medicines (or duplicate/fake medicines), getting admission, consultations with doctors and availing diagnostic services.[2] There have been cases of diversion of medical supplies from government hospitals and clinics[citation needed] as well as supply and distribution of medicines of inferior quality[citation needed]

[edit] Income tax

There have been several cases of collusion of officials of the income tax department of India for a favorable tax treatment in return for bribes[31][32]
[edit] Preferential award of public resources See also: Illegal mining in India

As detailed earlier, land in areas with short supply is relatively common with government entities awarding public land to private concerns at negligible rates. Other examples include the award of mining leases to private companies without a levy of taxes that is proportionate to the market value of the ore[citation needed].

[edit] Judiciary
According to Transparency International, judicial corruption in India is attributable to factors such as "delays in the disposal of cases, shortage of judges and complex procedures, all of which are exacerbated by a preponderance of new laws".[33]

[edit] Media
See also: Indian media bias in politics

The role of media in systemic corruption can not be undermined at it shows it involvement through paid news and sometimes unethical support to corrupt.

[edit] Right to information act

Main article: Right to Information Act

The Right to Information Act (2005) and equivalent acts in the states, that require government officials to furnish information requested by citizens or face punitive action, computerization of services and various central and state government acts that established vigilance commissions have considerably reduced corruption or at least have opened up avenues to redress grievances.[2][38] The 2006 report by Transparency International puts India at the 70th place and states that significant improvements were made by India in reducing corruption.[39][40]

[edit] Whistleblowers
See also: Whistleblower protection in India and Whistleblower protection act (India)

Whistleblowers play a major role in the fight against corruption. India currently does not have a law to protect whistleblowers, which was highlighted by the assassination of Satyendra Dubey. Indian courts are regularly ordering probe in cases of murders or so-called suicide of several whistle blowers. One of the latest case of such murder is of V Sasindran Company Secretary of Palakkad based Malabar Cement Limited, a Government company in

Kerala and his two minor children, Kerala High Court ordered CBI probe on 18 February 2011. Initially, CBI showed its unwillingness for probing into such cases citing over-burden as a reason.

[edit] Anti-corruption police and courts

The income tax department of India, Central Vigilance Commission and Central Bureau of Investigation all deal with anti-corruption initiatives. There have been calls for the Indian government to create an anti-theft law enforcement agency that investigates and prosecutes corruption in government at national, state and local levels.[citation needed] Special courts that are more efficient than the traditional Indian courts with traveling judges and law enforcement agents are being proposed.[citation needed] The proposal has not yet been acted upon by the Indian government.[citation needed] Certain states such as Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Pradesh Anti-corruption Bureau) and Karnataka (Lokayukta) have similar agencies and courts.[45][41]

[edit] Anti-corruption organizations

A variety of organizations have been created in India to actively fight against corrupt government and business practices. Notable organizations include:

5th Pillar is most known for the creation of the zero rupee note, a valueless note designed to be given to corrupt officials when they request bribes. India Against Corruption is a movement created by a citizens from a variety of professions and statuses to work against corruption in India. It is currently headed by Anna Hazare.[46] Jaago Re! One Billion Votes is an organization originally founded by Tata Tea and Janaagraha to increase youth voter registration.[47] They have since expanded their work to include other social issues, including corruption.[48] Association for Social Transparency, Rights And Action (ASTRA) is an NGO focused on grassroots work to fight corruption in Karnataka.

One organization, the Lok Satta Movement, has transformed itself from a civil organization to a full-fledged political party, the Lok Satta Party. The party has fielded candidates in Andrha Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Bangalore. In 2008, it obtained its first elected post, when Jayaprakash Narayan won the election for the Kukatpally Assembly Constituency in Andrha Pradesh.

[edit] Effects of corruption

According to a report by KPMG, "high-level corruption and scams are now threatening to derail the country's credibility and [its] economic boom".[49]
Corruption affects all regions of the world and all levels of society, but the impact is greatest in developing countries. Every year, developing countries lose USD 50 million to 100 million through corrupt acts (World Bank estimate, 2004). Corruption undermines political, social and economic stability and damages trust in institutions and authorities. It also fuels transnational crime. Terrorists and organized

criminals are aided in their illegal activities by the complicity of corrupt public officials. Corruption is of particular concern for the worlds police and judicial systems, as corruption in one country can compromise an entire international investigation. There is clear recognition by the international community that further work to enhance co-operation between law enforcement authorities is needed in order to co-ordinate global action against corruption.

Executive, Legislature and Judiciary Political Parties and Electoral Commissions Supreme Audit Institution Public Sector institutions like Police and Prosecutors, Ombudsmen, Anti-corruption agencies Public Procurement Media Civil Society Private Sector Regional and Local Government International Institutions

U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre

Countering the global problem of corruption Every year, over US$ 1 trillion is paid in bribes around the world, enriching the corrupt and robbing generations of a future.
Corruption is a global phenomenon that causes poverty, obstructs development and drives away investment. It also debilitates the judicial and political systems that should be working for the public good. Not surprisingly, as the rule of law is weakened and the voice of the people remains unheard, citizens' trust in government officials and national institutions dwindles. "Corrupt societies are unable to support their citizens," says Stuart Gilman, head of the UNODC Anti-Corruption Unit. "They starve their children, not only of food but of education and health care. They're ongoing nightmares." Wherever it is present, this scourge involves public officials, business managers and private citizens, who engage in such illegal acts as embezzlement of public funds, trade in influence and bribery. Scandalous examples include cases of public officials who steal billions of dollars from their national coffers and of multinational companies that pay hefty bribes to secure lucrative public contracts. Although petty corruption does not make the headlines, its cost is arguably greater than that of large-scale corruption. "It happens in nickels and dimes, in pounds and euros, in single denominations, but it happens over and over again, tens of thousands of times," says Mr. Gilman. Many people pay bribes in cash or gifts to get an education and proper health care, to speed up administrative procedures, or to avoid paying a fine. But what they simply see as a way to get things done is in fact a crime. In turn, corruption facilitates human trafficking, organized crime and terrorism. The good news is that, as daunting as the task might seem, corruption can be stopped. The United Nations Convention against Corruption provides a global legal framework to do so. This international instrument, which entered into force on 14 December 2005, has been ratified by 37 countries and signed by 137. As Mr. Gilman explains, "The Convention takes the best practices from throughout the world and begins holding countries that have ratified it accountable to those standards."

States parties to this Convention are expected to cooperate with one another in every aspect of the fight against corruption, including prevention, investigation, asset recovery and the prosecution of offenders. They are also required to take action in the private and public sectors and to promote the work of civil society in this area. Both civil society and the private sector should join governments in taking a stand against corruption. There is no doubt that non-govermental organizations (NGOs) can make a difference by raising public awareness, lobbying for the introduction of effective reforms, and exposing the wrongdoings of financial and political leaders. The reports of courageous individuals and organizations around the world have led to the resignation, indictment or conviction of those implicated. The private sector must also take steps to curb corruption within its ranks. Certain national and multinational companies have, in fact, implemented initiatives to enhance corporate transparency and integrity. The United Nations Global Compact, for example, brings together over 2,000 private companies, United Nations agencies, and labour and civil society organizations to uphold human rights, labour, environmental protection and anti-corruption principles. Whether working independently or together, governments, the private sector and civil society can play a key role in the effort to stop corruption. Individuals, too, can help counter this global problem by refusing to engage in criminal activities that can have devastating effects on their society and country.

Can we solve the problem of corruption in India?

By Rakesh Kapoor, Ph.D.
India is growing at an annual rate of 8% but the corruption is growing more than 100% every year. These days even the smallest corruption figure is in couple of thousands of millions. If it continues like that, all the gains of growth will go to drain and will make the life of a common man even more miserable than before. Every one wonders how to get rid of this menace. Recently many intellectuals, ex-IAS/IPS and social activists etc., have come together and formed a forum called India against corruption. It is heartening to know that this forum is growing every hour, which shows a strong desire on the part of people to get rid of corruption or at least minimize it to the possible minimum level. There are suggestions to plug holes in the system and one of the suggestions is the Jan Lokpal Bill. However, the fundamental question is, will just making of new laws solve the problem? Obviously answer is no, even to pass these bills or make new rules we need the help of the political class sitting in the parliament or assemblies. We all know it well that the majority of political representatives have no political will to clean this system. In other words, majority of our elected representatives are insensitive to issues concerning to common man. Therefore, our fundamental problem is how to make majority of political representatives, sensitive to these issues (such as corruption)? Most of us may think that we should change the present political parties with new group of people who believe in changing the system or may think that a new party can emerge from this new forum. However, let me tell you that any kind of new group or new political party is not going to solve these problems. Since 1977 onward, we have seen that making new groups or parties is not a working solution (Most of the present leadership at one point or the other was equally enthusiastic to change the system for good). We should ask, why this fails repeatedly? An obvious answer is wrong persons are elected again and again. Most of these problems can be significantly reduced or totally eradicated if right kinds of persons are elected to our parliament and assemblies. I have no doubt that people of India are quite capable of doing that. Now the immediate question is why electorates of India are not electing proper candidates. To my mind, the answer is present political parties do not give proper choice of candidates to the people of India. In any group or political party, a coterie or a single individual ultimately becomes responsible for selection of candidates. Now the question is how to solve this problem? Answer is by introducing primary election system for candidate selection (One similar to US style system). I believe that present situation is most conducive to bring that change in the system. Presently there is a strong upsurge against corruption in public life and my suggestion is to channelize this upsurge in creating public awareness and strong pressure on existing political parties and force them to adopt primary election system for candidate selection. No system can be foolproof but in my opinion, this transparent democratic way of candidate selection can go a long way in providing people of India a better choice of candidates. Such system is even capable of providing new leadership too. Another advantage of such system will be reduction of political groups, as the politicians can hope for fair selection process in the existing political parties. Unless we do that, I do not see how we can get better candidates elected to our parliament or assemblies. Let the people know that the parties that do not choose or select their candidates by transparent primary system of voting are the breeding grounds of corruption. Let us work for this small fundamental change. Unless we identify and make fundamental changes in the system, other options will not work very effectively. One bad fundament rule can kill a well-planned system as a minor defect in one of our gene can cause incurable disease.