India has been ranked 96th out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2024, as per a report released by Transparency International. The country’s overall score dropped to 38, compared to 39 in 2023 and 40 in 2022, reflecting a decline in perceived public sector integrity. In the previous year, India ranked 93rd.
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Global and Regional Rankings
The CPI ranks nations based on perceived corruption levels in the public sector, using a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 indicates high corruption and 100 signifies a clean system.
Among India’s neighboring countries:
- Pakistan ranked 135th
- Sri Lanka secured the 121st spot
- Bangladesh ranked 149th
- China stood at 76th
On a global scale, Denmark emerged as the least corrupt nation, followed by Finland and Singapore.
Corruption’s Impact on Climate Action
The CPI 2024 highlights corruption as a significant global challenge, hindering governance, economic growth, and development. A key concern is its negative impact on climate action, obstructing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. The report states that corruption diverts climate funds, influences policy-making, and causes environmental degradation.
Global Corruption Trends
Since 2012, only 32 countries have significantly improved their corruption levels, while 148 nations have either stagnated or worsened. The global average CPI score remains at 43, with over two-thirds of countries scoring below 50. This indicates that corruption continues to undermine human rights, governance, and economic stability worldwide.
The report also highlights how wealthy nations with high CPI scores have the power to combat global corruption but often prioritize the interests of fossil fuel industries. Additionally, these countries act as financial hubs for illicit funds, enabling corruption, environmental exploitation, and criminal activities on an international scale.
Call for Urgent Action
The Transparency International report warns that corruption is more than just an economic or governance issue—it is a key driver of democratic decline, instability, and human rights violations. The organization urges governments, global institutions, and civil society to make anti-corruption measures a top priority to promote transparency, accountability, and sustainable governance.
“Addressing corruption is essential to countering authoritarianism and ensuring a peaceful, free, and sustainable future. The trends revealed in the 2024 CPI emphasize the urgent need for decisive global action to combat corruption,” the report concludes.
