Topic: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act
Q3. “The problem of political corruption in India has evolved from individual misconduct to systemic distortion.” Examine this shift. Analyse the structural drivers behind it. Propose reforms aimed at systemic correction rather than episodic enforcement. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: TH
Why the question
Growing evidence that political corruption in India is no longer confined to individual ethical lapses but is increasingly embedded in institutional structures, electoral processes, and governance incentives, affecting the quality of democracy.Key Demand of the question
The question requires explaining how political corruption has shifted from individual misconduct to systemic distortion, identifying the structural drivers responsible for this change, and suggesting reform approaches that focus on institutional correction rather than episodic enforcement.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Set the context by briefly indicating the evolution of political corruption from isolated wrongdoing to a systemic challenge with implications for democratic accountability.Body
- Explain the nature of the shift from individual misconduct to systemic distortion.
- Analyse the structural drivers such as electoral finance, institutional incentives, and accountability mechanisms that sustain systemic corruption.
- Suggest reforms aimed at long-term systemic correction through institutional redesign and preventive governance.
Conclusion
Emphasise that sustainable control of political corruption requires structural reforms that address underlying incentives rather than relying only on punitive action.
