Corruption and black money

Corruption/”>Challenges of corruption

Corruption is an age old phenomenon and can be seen everywhere now a days. It is like a cancer in public life, which has not become to rampant and perpetuated overnight, but is course of time. The word corruption means destruction, ruining or spoiling a Society or nation. A corrupt society is characterized by immorality and lack of fear or respect for the law. It is the abuse of public power for private gain. Corruption comes under many different guises like bribery, extortion, fraud, embezzlement. misappropriations of public goods, Nepotism (favoring family members for jobs and contracts) cronyism and influence pending. Corruption has been defined in many different ways, each lacking in some aspect. A few years ago, the question of definition absorbed a large praportion of the time spent on discussion of corruption at conferences and feelings. However like a elephant, even though it may be difficult to describe, it is generally not difficult to recognize when observeed. Unfortunately, the behaviour is often difficult to observe directly because, typically acts of corruption do no t takes place in broad day Light.

Corruption is widespread in India. India has been ranked 79th out of 176 countries in Transparency International’s 2012 corruption perception index (CPI). Corruption has taken the role of a pervasive aspect of Indian Politics and Bureaucracy. The economy of India was under socialist. Inspired policies for an entire generation from the 1950s until the 1980s. The economy was shackled by extensive regulation protectionism and public ownership, leading to pervasive corruption and slow Growth. Since 1991, economic Liberalization-2/”>Liberalization in India has reduced red type and bureaucracy, supported the transition towards a market economy and transformed the economy with high growth rate. However, although the Indian economy has become the 4th largest in the world, the growth has been uneven across social and economic groups and POVERTY is still on issue. Endemic and deep rooted corruption is a major factor for most social and political ills. It is a serious threat not just to sustainable economic growth, but also to the sociopolitical fabric of the country.

In Indian civilization, corruption have caused maximum suffering to the humankind. In ancient Indian history the great Indian philosopher Kautilya says “just as it is not possible, not to taste honey or poison put on the surface of the tongue, so it is not possible for the government servant dealing with Money not to taste it in however small a quantity.” On the difficulties of corruption detection Kautilya says “just as a fish moving under water cannot possibly be found out either as drinking or not drinking water, so government servant employed in the government works cannot be found out taking money.”

After the independence corruption is widespread in Indian bureaucratic and political system fill lust small point to apex. According to an international report, the much amount of Indian black money deposited in Tax Heaven Foreign Banks, if which is come out in India. Then the annual budget of India can be made without tax lies to next 30 years. It is surmisal that the is how much widespread in present India after independence probably that high profile scandal was the jeep scam in 1948, when jeeps were required for the army operation in Kashmir. Other notable scandals includes the Mudgal case (1951), Mundra case (1957 – 58), Malviya – Sirajuddin Scandal (1963).

The governing Climate in those days can be gauged from the many observations . A.D. Gorwala committee, set up to suggest ways to improve the system of governance. The Santhanam committee (1962) examine the problem of corruption observed in 1964 that “there is widespread impression that failure of Integrity is not uncommon among ministers and that some ministers, who have held office during the last sixteen years have enriched themselves illegitimately, obtained good jobs for their sons and relations through nepotism and have reaped other advantages inconsistent with any notion of purity in public life.” In later years corruption will be gradually widespread in Indian Society and no effective measures have yet been installed that curb the menace. The lokpal bill could not be passed in last decades, it speaks for the utter lack of political will in the country.

In recent years so many major scandals involving high level public officials have shaken the Indian public Services. These scandals suggests corruption has become a pervasive aspect of Indian political and bureaucratic system. Some of them major scams are following:

Coal Allotment Scam (Cost – 186000 Crores)
2 G Spectrum Scam (Cost – 176000 Crores)
Commonwealth Games (CWG) Scam (Cost – 70000 Crores)
Mega black money laundering Scam (Cost – 70000 Crores)

Nature of corruption in India

Under the Indian constitution, the government consists of three branches : the legislative, the executive and the judiciary with clear mandate for independent functioning of each branch. For the Good Governance it is compulsory that each of these units must function with integrity and efficiency. The legislators are elected representatives of the peoples and responsible for making laws. The executive branch consisting of ministers, bureaucrats and whole government machinery, which is responsible for the implementation of laws made up by legislative assemblies. The judiciary, acts as an impartial watchdog to see if the people are governed as per the law. It lakes the power to frame any law, it can only interpret the laws passed by the law makers under the constitutional framework and give its verdicts. But when corruption invades, governance begins to degrade implying loss of integrity and efficiency both. Now – a – days corruption is widespread in every segment of Indian government system and politics.

The behaviour of India legislators both at the union and in the state leaves a lot to be desired. Every time they act motivated by personal gain. Corruption in the assemblies as seen from this perspective implies floor crossing, case for vote taking money or other benefits to ask questions, framing rules under the influence of big corporate houses at the cost of common people. Criminalization of politics is yet another fact of corruption in the current parliament. These are over a quarter MPs with criminal records. Many with serious charges against them. It also highlights an area where Electoral reforms is urgently needed so that criminals don’t enter in the parliament or state assemblies.

In the executive branch, ministers are placed at top of the hierarchy. They are responsible for the making policies for the public because the public trust on them and elected by votes to making government. In recent analysis we seen that the level of corruption in ministers is highest. 2G spectrum scam, coal allotment scam, commonwealth games scam, fodder scam etc. are the best examples of it.

In Indian Parliamentary System, the responsibility of execution of the policies making by government at ground level is taking hand over to the bureaucracy. But the report card of the Indian bureaucracy is also not very flattering. Bureaucratic corruption in India thrives on red tape, complicated procedures and discretionary power. Governance in India is characterized by the lack of transparency in rules. Complicated procedures and a bureaucracy that enjoys broad discretionary power. According to a recent analysis of reports of bribery demands.

in India conducted by trace international was published in January 2009, 90% demand for bribe came from government officials of which over 65% for avoiding harassment, 50% bribery was for timely delivery of services to which the individuals were already entitled, about 10% were meant to provide any advantage. Bureaucratic corruption pervades the Indian administration system with widespread practices of bribery, nepotism and misuse of official positions and Resources.

Causes Of Corruption In India

Emergence of a political elite which believes in interest oriented rather than nation oriented programmes and policies.
Artificial scarcity created by people with malevolent intention wrecks the fabrics of the economy.
Corruption is caused as well as increased because of the change in the value system and ethical qualities of men who administer. The old ideals of morality, services and honesty are regarded as anachronistic.
Tolerance of people towards corruption, complete lack of intense public outcry against corruption and the absence of a strong public forum to oppose corruption allow corruption to reign our people.
Vast size of Population coupled with widespread illiteracy and the poor economic Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE lead to endemic corruption in public life.
In a highly inflationary economy, low salaries of government officials compel them to resort to corruption. Graduates from Indian institutes of management with no experience draw a far handsome salary than what government secretaries draw.
Complex laws and procedures deter common people from seeking help from the government.
Elution time is a time when corruption is at its peak. Big industrialists fund politicians to meet high cost of election and ultimately to seek personal favour. Bribery to politicians buys influences and bribery by politicians buys votes. In order to get elected, politicians bribe poor, illiterate people.

Recommandations to fight corruption

Foolproof laws should be made so that there is no room for discretion for politicians and bureaucrats. The role of the politician should be minimized. Application of the evolved policies should be left in the hands of an independent commission or authority in each area of public interest. The decision of the commission or authority should be challenged only in the courts.
Cooperation of the people has to be obtained for successfully containing corruption. People should have a right to recall the elected representatives if they see them becoming indifferent to the electorate.
Public awareness is must to combat corruption in India, for this it should be must to improve our Education system because education is the best mean to understand Fundamental Rights and Right – Wrong conversation.
Corruption can be remed if people can understand and start to believe the value of ethics and morality in their life.
Funding of Elections is at the core of political corruption. Electoral reforms are crucial in this regard. Several reforms like state funding of election expenses for candidates, strict enforcement of statutory requirements like holding in-party elections, making Political Parties get their accounts audited regularly and filing income-tax returns, denying persons with criminal records a chance to contest elections, should be brought in. Responsiveness, accountability and transparency are a must for a clean system. Bureaucracy, the backbone of good governance, should be made more citizen-friendly, accountable, ethical and transparent.
The prosecution of corruption cases should be conducted by a panel of lawyers prepared by the Attorney General or the Advocate General in consultation with Rashtriya Lokayukta-2/”>Lokayukta or Lokayukta as the case may be.

Black money is defined as assets or resources that have neither been reported to the public authorities at the time of their generation nor disclosed at any point of time during the possession. The problem with black money is huge . It has serious socio-political and economic implications. According to sources the estimate of GDP is to the extent of 60% of GDP.

The implications of Black money are:

Political:

Black money infusion into the economy lead to the weakening of institutions. The trust on the institution decreases. Transnational crimes increases as they act as a source of terror funding and antinational activities. Black money also affects the elections. Especially in a country like India, it infuses money power. Money power does not allow genuine candidates to compete in the election.

Economic
- Corruption raises its ugly head. Black money also lead to inflationary tendencies in the market. It also effect the transmission of Monetary Policies. It also demoralised the genuine tax payer. Loss of tax revenue is also its serious implication. It brings inefficiency in the economic architecture.
Social
- Black money lead to widening of inequality. Concentration of wealth in the few increases. So it destroyed the work ethics.

Thus Black money is a menace to society its implication does not restrict to economy but it has wider connotation.

Corruption and black money are two of the most pressing problems facing India today. Corruption is a form of dishonesty or criminal activity undertaken by a person or organization entrusted with a position of authority, often to acquire personal benefit. Black money is money that is earned, exchanged, or stored illegally. It is often used to fund criminal activity or to evade taxes.

Corruption and black money have a number of negative effects on India. They can lead to a loss of public trust in government, a decrease in Investment, and an increase in inequality. Corruption can also make it difficult to provide basic services to citizens, such as education and healthcare. Black money can be used to fund criminal activity, such as terrorism and drug trafficking. It can also be used to evade taxes, which means that the government loses out on revenue that could be used to fund development projects.

There are a number of measures that can be taken to combat corruption and black money in India. These include:

Increasing Transparency and Accountability in government: This can be done by making government data more accessible to the public and by strengthening anti-corruption laws.
Strengthening Tax Laws: This can be done by making it more difficult to evade taxes and by increasing the penalties for Tax Evasion.
Cracking down on money laundering: This can be done by strengthening financial regulations and by increasing cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
Increasing transparency in the financial system: This can be done by requiring banks and other financial institutions to report suspicious transactions.
Providing incentives for people to declare their black money: This can be done by offering amnesty programs or by reducing the penalties for tax evasion.

There are also a number of international efforts to combat corruption and black money. These include the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Anti-Bribery Convention, and the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering.

Despite these efforts, corruption and black money remain major problems in India. There is a need for greater political will to combat these problems, and for more effective implementation of anti-corruption measures. The government also needs to do more to educate the public about the dangers of corruption and black money. With greater public awareness and support, it will be possible to make progress in combating these problems.

In addition to the measures mentioned above, there are a number of other things that can be done to combat corruption and black money in India. These include:

Strengthening the judiciary: The judiciary plays a vital role in ensuring that corruption is punished and that black money is recovered. The government needs to ensure that the judiciary is independent and that it has the resources it needs to carry out its work effectively.
Promoting good governance: Good governance is essential for preventing corruption. The government needs to take steps to improve transparency and accountability in government, and to make it easier for citizens to access information and services.
Empowering citizens: Citizens need to be empowered to fight corruption. The government needs to provide citizens with the information and resources they need to hold their leaders accountable, and to report corruption.
Building a culture of integrity: A culture of integrity is essential for combating corruption. The government needs to promote values such as honesty, transparency, and accountability, and to create an Environment in which corruption is not tolerated.

Combating corruption and black money is a complex and challenging task. However, it is essential for India to achieve its development goals. By taking the necessary measures, the government can make progress in this area and improve the lives of all Indians.

Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about the topic of Corruption.

What is corruption?
Corruption is the abuse of power for personal gain. It can take many forms, such as bribery, extortion, nepotism, and cronyism.
What are the causes of corruption?
Corruption can be caused by a number of factors, including poverty, inequality, lack of transparency, and weak institutions.
What are the effects of corruption?
Corruption can have a number of negative effects, such as economic stagnation, social unrest, and political instability.
What are the solutions to corruption?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to corruption, but some effective strategies include strengthening institutions, promoting transparency, and fighting poverty.

Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about the topic of Black Money.

What is black money?
Black money is money that is earned or obtained illegally and is not reported to the government. It can be hidden in various ways, such as through shell companies, offshore accounts, and real estate.
What are the causes of black money?
There are a number of factors that contribute to the generation of black money, such as tax evasion, bribery, and corruption.
What are the effects of black money?
Black money can have a number of negative effects on the economy, such as reducing tax revenue, distorting the market, and fuelling Inflation.
What are the solutions to black money?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the problem of black money, but some effective strategies include strengthening the tax system, improving transparency, and fighting corruption.

Sure, here are some MCQs without mentioning the topic Corruption and black money:

Which of the following is not a type of corruption?
(A) Bribery
(B) Embezzlement
(C) Nepotism
(D) Black money
Which of the following is not a way to reduce corruption?
(A) Increasing transparency
(B) Strengthening law enforcement
(C) Reducing poverty
(D) Increasing education
Which of the following is not a consequence of corruption?
(A) Economic inequality
(B) Social unrest
(C) Political instability
(D) Black money
Which of the following is not a way to detect corruption?
(A) Auditing
(B) Monitoring
(C) Whistleblowing
(D) Black money
Which of the following is not a way to punish corruption?
(A) Imprisonment
(B) Fines
(C) Confiscation of assets
(D) Black money
Which of the following is not a way to prevent corruption?
(A) Creating a culture of integrity
(B) Strengthening institutions
(C) Reducing opportunities for corruption
(D) Black money
Which of the following is not a way to educate people about corruption?
(A) Public awareness campaigns
(B) School curricula
(C) Media coverage
(D) Black money
Which of the following is not a way to involve citizens in the fight against corruption?
(A) Anti-corruption hotlines
(B) Citizen oversight bodies
(C) Participatory BUDGETING
(D) Black money
Which of the following is not a way to promote transparency and accountability?
(A) Freedom of information laws
(B) Open government data initiatives
(C) Public sector audits
(D) Black money
Which of the following is not a way to strengthen law enforcement?
(A) Increasing the number of law enforcement officers
(B) Providing better training for law enforcement officers
(C) Increasing the resources available to law enforcement
(D) Black money

I hope these MCQs are helpful. Please let me know if you have any other questions.