Corruption in India: Political Apathy and Systemic Decay | S N Tripathy

Backdrop:

Corruption in India remains a deeply entrenched and multidimensional problem that continues to undermine democratic governance, economic efficiency, and social justice. Defined broadly as the misuse of public power for private gain, corruption manifests in administrative inefficiency, political patronage, and a culture of impunity that spans from local bureaucracies to the highest levels of power. Despite a long-standing legal and institutional framework, including the Prevention of Corruption Act (1988), Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), and Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act (2013), the lack of genuine political will has rendered these mechanisms largely ineffective. The persistence of corruption is not merely due to weak laws or bureaucratic inertia, but to an entrenched political ecosystem that thrives on rent-seeking, patronage, and quid pro quo arrangements.

Corruption in India thrives at the intersection of politics and administration. It is both a cause and a consequence of weak governance. The absence of political will to enforce anti-corruption norms is reflected in selective investigations, delayed prosecutions, and the protection extended to politically connected individuals. Electoral politics often fuels these dynamic politicians depend on opaque campaign financing, corporate donations, and