Corruption, Transparency and Institutional Gaps
India’s fight against Corruption has intensified after the NEET paper leak and revived the India Against Corruption movement. Experts Shailesh Gandhi and Anjali Bhardwaj discuss why digital tools and laws like the RTI Act have not delivered the promised transparency.
Key Developments
- Digitalisation has created a new middle‑man layer: poor citizens must pay private cafés to file online forms.
- The DPDP Act weakens the RTI by allowing denial of personal information, even when it reveals corruption.
- Section 17A (2018) of the Prevention of Corruption Act now requires government permission before investigating corruption charges.
- Institutions like the Lokpal and Lokayukta remain under‑funded and ineffective.
- Despite filing six million RTI requests annually, agencies such as the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Lokpal are perceived as compromised.
Important Facts
The RTI is the world’s most used information‑access law, yet major scams like Vyapam, Adarsh Housing Society and the electoral bond scheme were exposed only because of it. The Lokpal reportedly burns ₹50‑₹60 crore a year without delivering outcomes. India ranks 79th in the Rule of Law Index, reflecting weak enforcement and prolonged judicial delays – the average trial time for corruption cases exceeds seven years.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the gap between law‑making and implementation is crucial for GS‑2 (Polity) and GS‑3 (Economy). Aspirants should analyse how the RTI Act empowers citizens, while the DPDP Act creates new opacity. The effectiveness of anti‑corruption bodies (Lokpal, Lokayukta, CBI, ED) tests the strength of India’s institutional framework, a frequent essay topic.
Way Forward
1. Enact a dedicated grievance redressal law with time‑bound investigation and disposal (target <1 year).
2. Restore the independence of Information Commissioners by transparent appointments.
3. Amend the DPDP Act to prevent blanket denial of personal data under RTI.
4. Strengthen the Prevention of Corruption Act by removing the need for prior government sanction before prosecution.
5. Enhance capacity and accountability of the CBI, ED and Lokpal through performance audits and public reporting.
Addressing these gaps can shift corruption from being an “all‑profit, negligible‑risk” activity to a punishable offence, thereby improving India’s rule‑of‑law standing and service delivery.