India the most corrupt nation in Asia - Forbes

[Abdul]

From South Korea’s presidential scandal to Malaysia’s 1MDB fund, not many Asian countries have been able to avoid the smear of corruption. But just how pervasive is the problem across the continent?

An 18-month long survey by Transparency International reveals there is much work to be done. After talking to more than 20,000 people in 16 countries, regions and territories in Asia Pacific, the report found more than one in four people have paid a bribe when using a public service.

While that statistic looks at the entire region, the numbers for some individual countries are staggering—and suggest corruption is deeply-rooted in everyday life.

Here are the five most corrupt countries by bribery rates, according to Transparency International.


5. Myanmar: 40% bribery rate

Despite a 2013 Anti-Corruption Law, about half of the respondents believe that most or all police are corrupt, and 40% believe the judiciary is corrupt. But things might be getting better—at least in the eyes of the people. Less than a fourth believe corruption has increased over the last year.


4. Pakistan: 40% bribery rate

In Pakistan, about three-fourths of respondents perceive most or all of the police to be corrupt. Of the people who encountered either the police or the courts, nearly 7 in 10 had to pay a bribe. Sadly, people don’t feel things can change—only a third think ordinary people can make a difference.


3. Thailand: 41% bribery rate

Thailand has struggled with corruption charges at all levels—even government officials—leading the current ruling military junta to tighten the Anti-Corruption Act in 2015. But the Thai people seem optimistic. Just 14% feel corruption had increased in last 12 months, and nearly 72% think the government is handling the fight against corruption fairly or very well.


2. Vietnam: 65% bribery rate

Vietnamese view corruption as endemic. Of all 16 countries surveyed, people in Vietnam (and Malaysia) were the most negative about the situation in their country. About 60% felt their government is doing a poor job of combatting corruption.


1. India: 69% bribery rate

In five of the six public services—schools, hospitals, ID documents, police, and utility services—more than half the respondents have had to pay a bribe. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fight against corruption has made a mark: 53% of the people think he is going it fairly or very well. And it has led to people feeling empowered, as 63% believe ordinary people can make a difference.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tanvigupta/2017/03/13/asias-five-most-corrupt-countries/#414995ef6a98

 

[MenInG]

Bad and good news above it seems for India and Pakistan

 

[DW44]

And yet India, Thailand and Vietnam's economies have been doing significantly better than ours with Vietnam in particular having very good long term prospects (as opposed to Thailand which has been in a middle income trap for years and India who will find itself in one soon).

I have always maintained that our poor economic fortunes have less to do with corruption and more with our poorly drafted economic policies which favor consumers over producers and unproductive sectors over productive ones.

 

[SandyB]

The corruption culture of India is such that here bribes are given for getting things done at all, instead of having to bribe to get illegal/shady things. So the bribe , more or less is a service charge !

So if you go to a government village/muncipal office for example, like my dad, a few months back, wanted to get the old version of the title deed to our ancestral plot. The "saab" at the relevant department said, "sir these are very old files. There is too much backlog. Will take atleast 1-2 months to find out if it even exists or not.. !

He argued with him for maybe 15-20 mins and left. Later he obtained a number of one of the clerks who work in the same section and told him , "sir i'll pay you 4-5 K INR , but I need the file urgently .!" The very next day evening the same guy called and said 'Hi, we've found the file" .

This culture is so deeply entrenched in our society that people set aside bribe amounts for each function just like you'd set aside for taxes, service charges etc.

 

[Tera Gawaandi]

The corruption culture of India is such that here bribes are given for getting things done at all, instead of having to bribe to get illegal/shady things. So the bribe , more or less is a service charge !

So if you go to a government village/muncipal office for example, like my dad, a few months back, wanted to get the old version of the title deed to our ancestral plot. The "saab" at the relevant department said, "sir these are very old files. There is too much backlog. Will take atleast 1-2 months to find out if it even exists or not.. !

He argued with him for maybe 15-20 mins and left. Later he obtained a number of one of the clerks who work in the same section and told him , "sir i'll pay you 4-5 K INR , but I need the file urgently .!" The very next day evening the same guy called and said 'Hi, we've found the file" .

This culture is so deeply entrenched in our society that people set aside bribe amounts for each function just like you'd set aside for taxes, service charges etc.

Its norm, Patwari's are used to cash bribe and imported whiskey bottle in North India.

 

[Slog]

im really curious to what methodology was used to arrive to thesefigures

 

[Romali_rotti]

I bet out of the 69 percent bribery rate in India, more than half of that is contributed by my own home state Kerala. Land of corrupt and home of the frauds, God's own country MY FOOT!!!!!

 

[Zak_Fan]

Imagine the potential in this country. Most corrupt, yet the fastest growing major economy.

 

[Hornbill]

I bet out of the 69 percent bribery rate in India, more than half of that is contributed by my own home state Kerala. Land of corrupt and home of the frauds, God's own country MY FOOT!!!!!

Kerala found to be one of the least corrupt among Indian states

http://www.timesofindia.com/city/ko...-among-indian-states/articleshow/58432659.cms

 

[big_gamer007]

I bet out of the 69 percent bribery rate in India, more than half of that is contributed by my own home state Kerala. Land of corrupt and home of the frauds, God's own country MY FOOT!!!!!

Lol you haven't been to UP, Bihar? Most of India and Indians are corrupt mate Kerala is no exception..

 

[Romali_rotti]

Lol you haven't been to UP, Bihar? Most of India and Indians are corrupt mate Kerala is no exception..

Well my opinion due to my life long dealings with the Malayalee community, majority cant be trusted.............. Just my opinion on my experience.......

 

[big_gamer007]

Well my opinion due to my life long dealings with the Malayalee community, majority cant be trusted.............. Just my opinion on my experience.......

I understand mate I have not been to Kerala much so haven't witnessed corruption there but having spent most of my life in UP/Delhi I can say if Kerala is worse in corruption than UP then it is probably the most corrupt place on the planet..

 

[Black Zero]

And yet India, Thailand and Vietnam's economies have been doing significantly better than ours with Vietnam in particular having very good long term prospects (as opposed to Thailand which has been in a middle income trap for years and India who will find itself in one soon).

I have always maintained that our poor economic fortunes have less to do with corruption and more with our poorly drafted economic policies which favor consumers over producers and unproductive sectors over productive ones.

Hint: Corruption is just one of many factors which can influence economy.

 

[Moiza]

Imagine the potential in this country. Most corrupt, yet the fastest growing major economy.

Well as long as the money isn't funneled out of the country then these small money bribes don't affect the economy as much, they surely cause inefficiency, but the overall impact isn't as bad as one would expect. The person taking the bribe buy things from the money and soon enough the money is back in the circulation. The real problem arises when large amounts of money are funneled out of the country or large amount of money are stored in cash.

 

[Moiza]

Pakistan has its fair share of corruption and the government is corrupt but you can still get a lot of stuff done without a bribe. Half the people in Pakistan bribe because they're too big to wait and get things done through the normal way so bribes speed things up.

When I went to get my NIC made I came across 5 people who either offered money or used their influence to skip the queue which would have otherwise taken up 2 hours of their valuable time.

 

[Specialisttailender]

The corruption culture of India is such that here bribes are given for getting things done at all, instead of having to bribe to get illegal/shady things. So the bribe , more or less is a service charge !

You said it best. Some government employees make more per day illegally than they make per month through salary.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Imagine the potential in this country. Most corrupt, yet the fastest growing major economy.

Also still one of the poorest where vast swathes of the population still live in slums. But it's growing so fast yaar so it doesn't matter. Now let's break out into a Bollywood song and dance routine.

 

[Saeed]

Also still one of the poorest where vast swathes of the population still live in slums. But it's growing so fast yaar so it doesn't matter. Now let's break out into a Bollywood song and dance routine.

That "India in 2030" video would be more appropriate in this situation. We will be superpower by 2030 if economic growth continues at current rate.

 

[troodon]

Corruption is like paying a huge TIP every time you interact with a Govt official in India.

In US, people pay tips when they go to restaurants or vacations or deliveries. They don't tip Govt officials.

In India, people pay tips to Govt officials and do not pay any tip at Restaurants or at vacations etc..

A Tip is a bribe.

 

[Zak_Fan]

Also still one of the poorest where vast swathes of the population still live in slums. But it's growing so fast yaar so it doesn't matter. Now let's break out into a Bollywood song and dance routine.

Growth isn't an indicator of your affluence, but it tells you how well you are doing today compared to what you were in the past.

I know you have a reputation to maintain, but you can easily do your thing without faking ignorance.

 

[dauntless]

These numbers are fake 69%is not correct it's more like 89%.

 

[Black Zero]

Corruption is like paying a huge TIP every time you interact with a Govt official in India.

In US, people pay tips when they go to restaurants or vacations or deliveries. They don't tip Govt officials.

In India, people pay tips to Govt officials and do not pay any tip at Restaurants or at vacations etc..

A Tip is a bribe.

Totally agree.
I would go one step further, that if someone does not give tip (bribe), he/she should be severely punished.
Society cannot accept such immoral customers.

 

[CricketCartoons]

In Govt jobs, people don't work for their salaries, which they will get anyway. They work for extra money. So it makes sense to grease their palm to get work done.

 

[DW44]

Hint: Corruption is just one of many factors which can influence economy.

That's a given but my point is that it's a relatively minor issue in the grand scheme of things if the basics are being done right. For a poor country with it's sights set on going up the economic ladder, the importance of industrial policy completely overshadows all other factors to the point where corruption would have a minuscule impact if you have good policies. Just so we're clear though, corruption and incompetence are two different things.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Pakistan is easily the most corrupt nation in Asia and there's no shame in accepting that. To fix a problem, the problem needs to be identified first. Nepotism is as bad as it has ever been and even an honest Govt. officer is forced to making unlawful decisions because of political involvement.

 

[DW44]

Pakistan is easily the most corrupt nation in Asia and there's no shame in accepting that. To fix a problem, the problem needs to be identified first. Nepotism is as bad as it has ever been and even an honest Govt. officer is forced to making unlawful decisions because of political involvement.

And you base that assertion on what? Just because you're not aware of something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. As corrupt as Pakistan is, it's not even on the same pedestal as several other nations. The 1MDB scandal, mentioned in the article in OP, makes the Sharifs and Zardaris' shenanigans look like child's play, India is just as corrupt if not more so than Pakistan and the likes of Burma, Cambodia and especially Vietnam are all more corrupt. The problem with Pakistanis is that they look to find an easy explanation for their failures and corruption is as easy as they come since its all around us but the issue is that the same people don't know about the scale on which it happens elsewhere so they parrot the same old corruption in Pakistan is on a different level even compared to other corrupt countries narrative, something that doesn't really hold up to even the most cursory scrutiny.

Pakistan is about as corrupt as any other country at a similar level of development and less so than many countries far more developed than Pakistan - Brazil for instance - but accepting that fact means having to look elsewhere for the cause of our failures and engaging in introspection, both of which are things Pakistanis are not very good at since it involves asking difficult questions and whatever else this nation is, it is not a nation of people who ask questions.

 

[moghul]

But our PM is way ahead of India's in this regard, not even close.

 

[adit_sh]

Agreed to the stats here. India has to be one of the most corrupt societies. Someone told me that it is embedded in the minds of people here. People including me takes shorter route to escape harassment ( kind of no option but to bloody bribe and get the work done which is supposed to be done any way)

 

[uberkoen]

Pakistan is easily the most corrupt nation in Asia and there's no shame in accepting that. To fix a problem, the problem needs to be identified first. Nepotism is as bad as it has ever been and even an honest Govt. officer is forced to making unlawful decisions because of political involvement.

This happens all over the world.

Every single country.

 

[Mian]

India & Pakistan in Top 4 most corrupt Asian Countries!

But hey wait let's go for a nuclear war instead of starting a war against corruption and making life better for poor people of the country.

Forbes: Asia's Five Most Corrupt Countries

1. India: 69% bribery rate
2. Vietnam: 65% bribery rate
3. Thailand: 41% bribery rate
4. Pakistan: 40% bribery rate

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tanvigupta/2017/03/13/asias-five-most-corrupt-countries/#d0d5b9d6a985

 

[Mian]

Now Pakistanis will say at least we are doing better than indians!

 

[Syed1]

This was an open secret. Can't get any work done without greasing a few palms. No wonder we keep electing the likes of Nawaz and Zardari because the nation itself is like that. Very less chance of a clean person like IK ever being PM.

 

[ManFan]

Pakistan is lower? Only 40! There is definitely something wrong with the data. Sad that it is somewhat of a celebration if there is ONLY a 40% bribery rate. It should be 0%.

 

[waleed88]

But hey wait let's go for a nuclear war instead of starting a war against corruption and making life better for poor people of the country.

Forbes: Asia's Five Most Corrupt Countries

1. India: 69% bribery rate
2. Vietnam: 65% bribery rate
3. Thailand: 41% bribery rate
4. Pakistan: 40% bribery rate

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tanvigupta/2017/03/13/asias-five-most-corrupt-countries/#d0d5b9d6a985

Our country is less corrupt than India (statistically), yet democracy is only derailed in Pakistan because of 'corruption' charges on every government since 1970s..

 

[WebGuru]

Our country is less corrupt than India (statistically), yet democracy is only derailed in Pakistan because of 'corruption' charges on every government since 1970s..

For the first time democracy isn't derailed and some of the biggest crooks of our country are facing the music

 

[waleed88]

For the first time democracy isn't derailed and some of the biggest crooks of our country are facing the music

Has been the case since 1970s, eventually military dictator comes in to rid the country of this menace and ends up making an alliance with those same crooks

 

[WebGuru]

Has been the case since 1970s, eventually military dictator comes in to rid the country of this menace and ends up making an alliance with those same crooks

Not really this time it's totally opposite if we look at our history.

 

[Yossarian]

im really curious to what methodology was used to arrive to thesefigures

Those doing the survey were bribed.

The Pakistanis paid bigger bribes than their Indian counterparts. Hence India's corruption rate figures were only decreased by 31%, from 100% to 69%, whilst Pakistan's were decreased by 60%, from 100% to 40%.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Those doing the survey were bribed.

The Pakistanis paid bigger bribes than their Indian counterparts. Hence India's corruption rate figures were only decreased by 31%, from 100% to 69%, whilst Pakistan's were decreased by 60%, from 100% to 40%.

I have a friend who works for income tax department. She says corruption has reduced after Modi came over. And only corruption at very high positions exists.

 

[Yossarian]

I have a friend who works for income tax department. She says corruption has reduced after Modi came over. And only corruption at very high positions exists.

So how much is she paid to say that whenever anyone asks?

 

[waleed88]

Not really this time it's totally opposite if we look at our history.

Yes all PTI supporters will call this 'new beginning' whereas its an established fact that every new beginning is a trojan horse in this country..

 

[big_gamer007]

I have a friend who works for income tax department. She says corruption has reduced after Modi came over. And only corruption at very high positions exists.

Don't see any difference in day to day life tbf, still in police, government patwari offices you stil have to bribe.. We have been used to it now so people pay to get their work done and don't report..

Maybe at mid level corruption has decreased or it has decreased in tenders and contracts awarding but in normal day to day for a person I don't see much difference..

 

[Pakistanian]

Our country is less corrupt than India (statistically), yet democracy is only derailed in Pakistan because of 'corruption' charges on every government since 1970s..

There hasn't been a coup in almost 20 years, so quit you're whining.

 

[moghul]

Generally Pakistan is way up there in corruption particularly Punjab. The stats are bit better due to KP, where corruption in government offices and courts is getting harder and harder to commit. People are not happy from Imran Khan as their "business" is ruined by him. No such problem in Punjab, from top to bottom, you spend some money and you will get everything done. And, I'm a Punjabi, who spent two weeks in KP recently.

 

[Syed1]

Generally Pakistan is way up there in corruption particularly Punjab. The stats are bit better due to KP, where corruption in government offices and courts is getting harder and harder to commit. People are not happy from Imran Khan as their "business" is ruined by him. No such problem in Punjab, from top to bottom, you spend some money and you will get everything done. And, I'm a Punjabi, who spent two weeks in KP recently.

If you think Punjab is bad wait till to hear about Karachi/Sindh

 

[waleed88]

There hasn't been a coup in almost 20 years, so quit you're whining.

Why is your knickers getting twisted if I'm criticizing the army? You remember 9/11? You remember Pakistan's policies after that? Well Pakistan harboring terrorists was in direct conflict with US post that era and we as a country have been harboring those terrorists that have directly been affecting our country, a result of previous two martial laws that we still continue today.
Musharraf never fully continued an operation and called these terrorists our allies, those same terrorists with different named outfits are still the problem in Pakistan today and our responsible for major attacks in the country. Which is why Bin Laden was found in Pakistan. His era was bad in terms of attacks and it got worst in PPP era, all the time we kept differentiating good and bad taliban.
All thanks to policies of our army.

 

[Snak3eye5]

Why is your knickers getting twisted if I'm criticizing the army? You remember 9/11? You remember Pakistan's policies after that? Well Pakistan harboring terrorists was in direct conflict with US post that era and we as a country have been harboring those terrorists that have directly been affecting our country, a result of previous two martial laws that we still continue today.
Musharraf never fully continued an operation and called these terrorists our allies, those same terrorists with different named outfits are still the problem in Pakistan today and our responsible for major attacks in the country. Which is why Bin Laden was found in Pakistan. His era was bad in terms of attacks and it got worst in PPP era, all the time we kept differentiating good and bad taliban.
All thanks to policies of our army.

Completely agree with this post. You hit the nail on the head. Some folks can't seem to get past the holier than thou army that has never really served anything other than their own selfish reasons let alone Pakistans well being . This is why with successful elections where there will be more accountable leaders in Pakistan is the only solution to keep the army in check.