India tops in bribery rate among 16 Asia-Pacific nations: Transparency International

According to recent survey released by Transparency International (TI), India had highest bribery rate among the 16 Asia-Pacific countries surveyed between July 2015 and January 2017.
The survey was conducted among more than 21,000 people in the region. It revealed that more than one in four people, when accessing basic services like medicine, education or water.

Key Highlights of the Survey

• Countries having highest incidence of bribery: 69% of the study group in India said that they have paid a bribe, done a favour or given a gift to receive services.
• Vietnam follows this suit with 65%, Thailand 41% and Pakistan 40%. China reported a much lower 26%.
• Countries having lowest incidence of bribery: Japan had the lowest incidence of bribery at 0.2% followed by South Korea and Australia recorded 3% each, Hong Kong 2% and Taiwan 6%.
• India related facts: Nearly seven in 10 people who had accessed public services in the country have payed bribe.
• 46% to 60% of Indians said they have paid bribes for various public services, including in public schools and hospitals, getting IDs, voter cards and permits and accessing utilities and police and court services as well.
• Institution wise facts: Police, a key law and order institution suffer most from corruption. Nearly two in five people in the region mentioned the police were mostly or entirely corrupt (39%).
• They also perceived political decision-makers at both the national and local level to be highly corrupt. Legislative representatives, officials and local councillors were also highly corrupt (from 35 to 37%).
• Religious leaders were seen as far cleaner, with fewer than one in five were highly corrupt (18%).

About Transparency International (TI)

TI is an international non-governmental organization based in Berlin, Germany. Its purpose is to take action to combat corruption and prevent criminal activities arising from corruption. It publishes annually Corruption Perceptions Index and Global Corruption Barometer

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2017