There has been a marginal improvement in India’s ranking on the corruption perception index (CPI), Transparency International, the Berlin-based global graft monitoring body, has pointed out. India has been ranked as the 72nd most corrupt country among 180 countries. Last year, it stood at 72 but that was in a pool of 163 countries.

Its integrity index has advanced from 3.3 on a scale of 10 in 2006 to 3.5 this year. This means that we are a wee bit less corrupt than we were last year. While any change for the better is welcome, the improvement is far too marginal to provide reason for celebration.

Of course, there will be many in India who will draw solace from the fact that India’s situation is far better than that of rival Pakistan, which has been ranked as the 138th most corrupt country. India appears to be doing well compared to its other rival China too. The two countries have the same integrity index but India unlike China has shown some improvement over the past few years.

Much of the corruption in India takes place in government procurements. Graft in purchase of wheat or weapons and purchase of materials by public sector undertakings almost always involves payment of bribes to get the deal. India is in the process of modernising its armed forces and much greasing of palms can be expected in the process of finalising deals.

There is, for instance, a deal worth US $10 billion for purchase of 126 combat aircraft that is in the process of being negotiated. Rules are in place to smoothen the defence procurement process. But can deals for procurement be finalised without involving sweeteners?

Rampant corruption stands in the way of India addressing its problems or achieving the global stature it so desperately craves for. Corruption in defence deals has compromised the security of the country. Poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition remain massive problems because funds for projects to address them have failed to reach the intended beneficiaries.

Funds are siphoned off to personal pockets. Palms have to be greased for every service in this country. There is a need for legislation providing for protection for whistle-blowers. Such protection will encourage more people to reveal corruption in their organisations. The Right to Information (RTI) Act has gone a long way in empowering the ordinary Indian. Corruption can be tackled if the public exercise this right judiciously.