Bangladesh (149) emerges from the status of the least developed country (LDC), with economic growth aiding poverty reduction. However, an ongoing crackdown on the press hinders the flow of information on the public sector…reports Asian Lite News
India secured the 93rd position out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2023, as reported by Transparency International. The CPI assesses public sector corruption perceptions using a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 indicates high corruption and 100 represents a very clean system. India’s overall score in 2023 stood at 39, a marginal decrease from 40 in 2022, where it held the 85th rank.
The report notes that India’s score fluctuations are minimal, making it challenging to draw firm conclusions about significant changes. However, concerns arise as the country experiences a further constriction of civic space, particularly with the passage of a telecommunication bill, raising alarms about potential threats to fundamental rights, especially in the context of upcoming elections.
In South Asia, both Pakistan (133) and Sri Lanka (115) grapple with economic challenges and political instability. Despite these issues, strong judicial oversight in both countries helps keep the government in check. The report highlights Pakistan’s Supreme Court strengthening citizens’ right to information, expanding it under Article 19A of the Constitution to include previously restricted institutions.
Bangladesh (149) emerges from the status of the least developed country (LDC), with economic growth aiding poverty reduction. However, an ongoing crackdown on the press hinders the flow of information on the public sector.
China (76) makes headlines with its aggressive anti-corruption measures, punishing over 3.7 million public officials for corruption in the last decade. Yet, the report questions the long-term effectiveness of China’s approach, citing a reliance on punishment rather than institutional checks on power.
The Asia Pacific region, facing major elections in 2024 across Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Solomon Islands, South Korea, and Taiwan, experiences little progress in curbing corruption, maintaining an average CPI score of 45 for the fifth consecutive year. Weak scores in the region reflect the failure of elected officials to deliver on anti-corruption agendas and crackdowns on civil society.
High-scoring countries such as New Zealand (3) and Singapore (5) maintain their global positions, followed by others with robust corruption control mechanisms like Australia (14), Hong Kong (14), Japan (16), Bhutan (26), Taiwan (28), and South Korea (32). At the bottom of the index are fragile states with authoritarian regimes, including North Korea (172) and Myanmar (162). Afghanistan (162) continues to grapple with one of the worst humanitarian crises in history.
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