Topic: GS-2: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
GS-4: challenges of corruption.
3. “Corruption undermines the credibility of the public sector, erodes trust in governments and their ability to steer a country to achieve high economic growth and shared prosperity, In this context discuss how India can make progress in the fight against corruption. (250 words)
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took everyone by surprise recently when he declared that all State government officials and functionaries of the Biju Janata Dal, including himself, would henceforth be mandatorily required to file their property returns with the Lok Ayukta at the end of every year.
Key Demand of the question:
The answer is about the fight against corruption in India.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Best way to address such questions is by quoting some stunning fact/data related to corruption.
Body:
First discuss the evils of corruption and its historical presence in India.
Explain that tackling corruption and abuse of the system is vital to restoring people’s trust and recovering from the current economic crisis. Public sector corruption results in poorer public services, while in the private sector the cost is passed on to consumers who end up paying more for their goods and services.
Then explain the existing methods to fight against corruption.
Suggest that Public declaration of assets of all political and bureaucratic functionaries from the Panchayat to the party president level makes sense because this fundamentally seeks to promote transparency between the citizens and those in power at every level by reducing the information asymmetry.
Discuss more measures.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
