Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 10: India has been ranked 91st out of 182 countries and territories in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025, with a score of 39, according to a report released by Transparency International on Tuesday.
The ranking places India below the global average, highlighting persistent concerns over corruption in the public sector despite marginal improvements in recent years. The CPI assesses perceived levels of public sector corruption based on evaluations by experts and business leaders, with scores ranging from zero, indicating high corruption, to 100, reflecting a clean system.
India’s score suggests that corruption continues to be viewed as a structural issue impacting governance, transparency and accountability, rather than isolated incidents. Compared to previous years, the country’s position has seen little movement, underlining the slow pace of change in public perception.
Transparency International noted that while measures such as digitalisation, policy reforms and enforcement actions may have prevented a sharper decline, they have not resulted in a significant improvement in India’s standing. Challenges such as bureaucratic opacity, political influence, weak oversight and uneven enforcement of laws remain major concerns.
The 2025 index presents a worrying global trend, with many countries either stagnating or slipping further. Corruption, the organisation warned, continues to undermine economic growth, democratic accountability and public trust worldwide.
For India, the ranking has implications beyond governance. Perceptions of corruption influence investor confidence, regulatory risk assessments and ease of doing business, potentially affecting foreign investment and international credibility.
Domestically, the index has renewed debate on the effectiveness of India’s anti-corruption framework, with critics pointing to inconsistent enforcement, transparency gaps in public procurement, limited whistleblower protection and questions over the independence of oversight institutions.
India’s position in the index underscores the need for sustained institutional reforms, stronger accountability mechanisms and greater transparency in public decision-making to achieve meaningful improvement in future rankings.