This document outlines India's strategy to combat corruption in public services. It discusses that corruption is a major impediment to good governance. The strategy involves establishing institutional restraints like an independent judiciary, increasing political accountability through transparency laws, encouraging civil society participation through right to information acts, promoting a competitive private sector through economic reforms, and improving public service management. It details India's legal and institutional frameworks against corruption and its action plan to prevent, detect, and punish corruption through methods like citizens' charters, empowering civil servants, and the right to information act.

1. Government of India
COMBATING
CORRUPTION IN
PUBLIC SERVICES

2. India Overview
 World’s largest and a vibrant democracy
 Rule of law enshrined in Constitution
 Separation of Powers (Legislature, Executive and
Judiciary)
 Right to Equality and Equality of opportunity
 Affirmative action for disadvantaged.
 Independent and Proactive Judiciary
 Free Press & Media
 Liberalised Economy

3. Corruption
 Pernicious and Visible impediment to
good governance
 India 47th
most corrupt country – China
31st
(World Bank, 2006)
 India 70th in Corruption Perception Index
(T I 2006)
 Incidence widely known but impact little
realized

4. POLICY
ZERO TOLERANCE
AGAINST CORRUPTION

5. Strategy
Combating Corruption
Institutional
Restraints
Civil Society
Participation
Public Service
Management
Competitive
Private Sector
Political
Accountability
ANTI -
CORRUPTION
(Anti-corruption in Transition – World Bank 2000)(Anti-corruption in Transition – World Bank 2000)

6. Strategy
1) Institutional Restraints
- Independent and proactive judiciary
- Legislative oversight
- Independent prosecution, Enforcement
2) Political Accountability
- Political competition –Multi Parties
- Transparency in party financing
- Disclosure of voting
- Asset declaration, office of profit act

7. Strategy
3) Civil Society Participation
- Right to Information Act
- Public hearings
- Role for media/NGOs
4) Competitive Private Sector
- Economic Reforms
- Competitive restructuring of monopolies
- Regulatory simplification and standards
- Transparency in corporate governance
- Collective business associations

8. Strategy
5) Public Service Management
- Meritocratic civil service, adequate
pay
- Budget management
- Tax and customs administration
- Enhancing public service delivery
- Decentralization with accountability

9. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
 CENTRAL VIGILANCE COMMISSION
 CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
 ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
 COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR
GENERAL OF INDIA

10. LEGAL FRAMEWORK
 The Prevention of Corruption Act,
1988
 The Central Vigilance Commission Act,
2003
 Delhi Special Police Establishment
Act, 1946
 Prevention of Money Laundering Act,
2002
 Extradition Act, 1962
 The Representation of Peoples Act,

11. Action Plan against Corruption
Preventive Vigilance
• Conduct Rules – Sanctions for
violations
• Elaborate procedures
• Principles of Natural Justice
• Vigilance Clearance for Appointments
• Systemic Reforms
Surveillance and Detection
• Inspection / Pre-audit

Identifying suspect corrupt elements.

List of Officers of Doubtful Integrity.
Property Returns

12. Action Plan Continued
Deterrent Punitive Action
 Sanctions under All India Services Conduct Rules
 Sanctions for criminal misconduct and other acts

Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988

Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Penal Code
 Close Monitoring

13. Citizens’ Charter
 Citizens’ Charters publicize services to members of
the public, commitment of the organization, expected
standards of service delivery, timeframe, grievance
redressal mechanism.
 Are a tool of public scrutiny to ensure accountability.
 35 Central Government Ministries and Departments
have formulated 127 Citizens’ Charters.
 683 Citizens’ Charters have been brought out by 24
State Governments/Union Territories.

14. Empowering the Civil Services
 Stability of Tenure
 Performance Appraisal System
 Mid–Career Training Programme
 Protection for bona fide actions
taken by Civil Servants.
 Public Services Bill

15. Public Services Bill
Objective:
To formulate Code of Ethics & Public service Management
Code
To provide a statutory basis for regulation of Public
Services under Article 309
Components:
Public Service Values
Code of Ethics
Public Service Management Code
Performance Management System and Accountability
Public Service Authority

16. PM’s Award for Excellence in Public
Administration
 Scheme to acknowledge outstanding performance of civil
servants; focus on innovations, efficient service delivery,
crisis management, leadership qualities etc.
 Officers of Central and State Governments eligible.
 Award to comprise of a medal, a scroll and cash amount
to be given by the Prime Minister on January 26 every
year.
 Nominations to be made by Government Departments,
NGOs and other stakeholders.
 Selection Process made rigorous and transparent -
Committee chaired by Cabinet Secretary with persons
from outside the government.

17. Right to Information
 To ensure availability & accessibility to
information and bring out transparency in
Government.
 Right to Information Act applicable from
October 2005.
 Empowers the citizen to seek information
from Public Authorities.
 22 States have constituted Information
Commissions under Section 15 of the Act.

18. FINAL WORD
1. Out of Box Approach
 Inculcate culture of performance: appreciate/ recognize
positives
 Focus on outputs and outcomes
 Reengineer business processes and leverage technology for
eliminating public interface
 Provide sharing platforms for replication of best practices
 Make islands of integrity grow beyond influence of individuals:
systemic reforms
 Create Research & Development Cells
2. Paradigm Shift

19. PARADIGM SHIFT
 Hit & miss
 Uniformity
 Provision
 Producers
 Inputs
 “Received wisdom”
 Regulation
 Demarcation
 Look up
 Universal high standards
 Diversity
 Choice
 Customers/citizens
 Outcomes
 Data and best practice
 Incentives
 Flexibility
 Look outwards
Comfortable Demanding

20. Last Thought
Ah! but a man’s reach should exceed
his grasp.
Or what’s heaven for?
-Robert Browning