Bribe Country

In India, getting things done often has little to do with qualifications or merit; it’s about who people know and how much they are willing to pay. Whether it’s moving files in government departments, securing a passport, or even clinching multi-billion-dollar defence contracts, bribes grease the wheels of bureaucracy and business alike. A staggering 66 per cent of Indians have admitted to paying bribes, with the majority of them doing so not out of choice, but necessity.

For the common man, it’s the price of getting property papers cleared or obtaining a driving license. For large corporations, it’s about sealing massive deals that fuel the nation’s economy. But these actions have become deeply entrenched in India’s system, and the price that the nation is paying and will eventually cough up for corruption that is so pervasive is an algorithm still being worked on.

Redoubtable Accolades: 86^th Out of 180 Nations

In 2022, Transparency International released a report that highlighted India’s struggle with corruption. India ranks 86th out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index, a score that indicates widespread bribery across multiple levels of government and business. A recent survey by the Centre for Media Studies revealed an even starker picture—66 per cent of Indians admitted to paying bribes to get things done. Of those, 54 per cent said they were forced to pay bribes, while 46 per cent willingly handed over money as part of the ‘cost of being in India”. It’s as though the practice is institutionalized, with people budgeting for the ‘non-refundable deposit’ that is required to access basic services.

The survey also pointed to the fact that most bribes are given to secure essential services, such as obtaining licenses, approvals and certifications. These aren’t luxuries or ‘extra perks’—they are fundamental requirements for people to simply live their lives. And it’s not just the common man who falls prey to this system. Big corporations routinely grease the palms of officials to secure contracts, sway decisions and sidestep red tape. The AgustaWestland helicopter deal, the Bofors gun deal, the Fodder Scam and the Sand Mafia are just a few examples of how bribes and kickbacks have permeated the highest echelons of both business and government.

From the Small Man to the Big Tycoon

For the average Indian citizen, bribery is an everyday occurrence. Consider the plight of someone trying to obtain a passport or get a driving license. A few hundred rupees here and there often make the difference between quick approval and a never-ending bureaucratic nightmare. Ramesh Kumar, a middle-class resident of Delhi, shares his experience: “I had to pay a bribe to get property documents cleared. It was frustrating, but it was the only way to get the paperwork done in a reasonable amount of time. I had even budgeted for it because I knew it would be part of the process.”

This is not an isolated incident. In India, it is now the norm. According to a 2019 study by the Public Affairs Centre (PAC), India ranks third in terms of the frequency of paying bribes in Asia, following only China and Indonesia. The report found that the bribe rates in sectors like police, land records and healthcare are alarmingly high. In rural India, bribery is a way of life for obtaining even simple documents such as caste certificates, ration cards or birth certificates. Without these, an individual’s life is at a standstill, with the bribe being the only possible gateway to a future.

The story doesn’t end with the common man. Large corporations and business moguls have their own tales to tell. Take the infamous AgustaWestland scam, for example. The multi-million-dollar deal to supply helicopters to the Indian Air Force involved allegations of bribery at the highest levels of government. Similarly, the Bofors scandal, which revolved around the purchase of artillery guns, saw accusations of massive kickbacks being paid to middlemen in exchange for the contract. These cases show that bribery isn’t just about small amounts or mundane tasks—it is also about billions of dollars in kickbacks and commissions that fuel corruption at the highest levels of power.

The Systemic Damage Caused by Bribery

The consequences of widespread bribery in India are damaging. First and foremost, it undermines the very foundation of the country’s democracy and legal system. When public officials are more focused on lining their pockets than serving the people, the integrity of government institutions erodes. This perpetuates inequality, especially as those with money are able to navigate the system with ease, while the poor are left to languish in a quagmire of bureaucracy.

Economically, bribery stifles innovation and entrepreneurship. New ventures and start-ups, especially those in the small and medium sectors, are burdened by the ‘cost of getting things done’. Regulatory hurdles become difficult to navigate when every step requires a payout. The nation’s economy suffers from inefficiency and a lack of competitiveness.

A study by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) has found that corruption costs the Indian economy billions of dollars each year in lost productivity, inefficiency and unaccounted-for funds. Instead of fostering a level playing field, bribery entrenches a system where only the well-connected and wealthy can succeed.

What Can Be Done in This Fight Against Corruption?

Admittedly, there have been efforts to curb bribery in India. The passage of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in 2005 was a significant step toward transparency, allowing citizens to question government actions and demand accountability. The creation of an anti-corruption watchdog, the Lokpal, has also aimed to tackle corruption at the highest levels of government. Interestingly, the primary target of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) introduced by the Narendra Modi government was to streamline the tax system and reduce the scope for corruption in indirect taxation. That it has turned out quite different on the ground is another matter.

These measures are yet to make a noticeable dent in the system. Analysts argue it will take more than just policies to combat India’s deeply-ingrained culture of bribery. A change in mindset, along with strict enforcement of anti-corruption laws, is essential.

KC Chakrabarty, former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, said: “If we want to change the situation, we need to work on eliminating the culture of impunity and create a real deterrent for those who indulge in corruption.” Until such reforms are implemented effectively, bribery will continue to thrive as our nation’s unofficial currency.

Wake-up Time: Bribery is a National Norm

India may be a growing economic powerhouse, but it is also a nation held back by its ingrained culture of bribery. While ordinary citizens pay bribes for everyday services, the elite use ‘greasing’ to smoothen their trot to unimaginable power and wealth. This vicious cycle is reinforced by a system where corruption is not just tolerated, but even expected. In a country where bribery has become a part of life, the question remains: Can India break free from the stranglehold of corruption, or will it remain the land where bribes are the price of progress?

Until then, India will deserve to be known as ‘Bribe Country’.

— The writer is a veteran journalist and communications specialist.