The Transparency International (TI)’s corruption perception index (CPI) was recently released for 2020.

Another set of useful data in news to be noted by aspirants. Such data are essential and need to be memorized. One must note here. Such data recur every year. So it is not a big task to deal with such numbers along with other critical indices.

About the Corruption Perception Index

• The index ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption.
• It uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

Global prospects

• Denmark and New Zealand top the index, with 88 points. Syria, Somalia and South Sudan come last, with 14, 12 and 12 points, respectively.
• Nearly half of countries have been stagnant on the index for almost a decade, indicating stalled government efforts to tackle the root causes of corruption.
• More than two-thirds score below 50.

India’s performance

• The CPI score for India is constant this year as well as the previous year’s score.
• India’s rank is 86 out of 180 nations with a score of 40.
• It was ranked at 80th position out of 180 countries in 2019 with a score of 41.

A comparison with neighbours

• At 40, India’s score is below the average score of the Asia-Pacific region (31 countries) and global average, the CPI 2020 report stated.
• India’s overall score is also two points less than that of China, which docked at 78^th position, with a score of 42.
• Pakistan, however, scored just 31 points, falling at the 144^th position on the index.

What does it mean for India?

• India is still very low on corruption Index, the report said, noting that experts feel the CPI does not reflect the actual corruption level in any country.
• The integrity score determines the corruption situation of a country.

Recommendations made by TI

To reduce corruption and better respond to future crises, Transparency International recommends that all governments:

• Strengthen oversight institutions to ensure resources reach those most in need. Anti-corruption authorities and oversight institutions must have sufficient funds, resources and independence to perform their duties.
• Ensure open and transparent contracting to combat wrong-doing, identify conflicts of interest and ensure fair pricing.
• Defend democracy and promote civic space to create the enabling conditions to hold governments accountable.
• Publish relevant data and guarantee access to information to ensure the public receives easy, accessible, timely and meaningful information.

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