India has climbed five places to rank 91st in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025, marking a modest improvement in its global standing on public sector integrity. The index is released annually by Transparency International and evaluates perceived levels of corruption across 182 countries and territories.
Why in News?
- India improved its rank from 96th (2024) to 91st (2025) in the CPI.
- The country’s score increased by one point compared to the previous year.
- The report highlights persistent governance and accountability challenges.
- Concerns were raised about press freedom and civic space.
India’s Ranking and Score Explained
The Corruption Perceptions Index measures perceived corruption in the public sector on a scale of 0 to 100, where:
- 0 = Highly corrupt
- 100 = Very clean
Key Points:
- India’s score rose marginally by one point.
- Ranking improved from 96th to 91st.
- The gain reflects incremental policy and administrative improvements rather than systemic reform.
The report notes that progress remains vulnerable to political, institutional, and enforcement weaknesses.
Asia-Pacific Trends and Global Context
Regional Trends
- The Asia-Pacific region continues to show slow and inconsistent progress.
- Several countries witnessed public protests against corruption and weak accountability.
- Anti-corruption institutions in many states ensure limited independence.
Global Scenario
- Global average CPI score: 42 (historic low)
- More than two-thirds of countries scored below 50.
This indicates that corruption remains a major global challenge affecting:
- Public service delivery
- Disaster management
- Climate action
- Sustainable development
Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 — Key Rankings
Top 5 Least Corrupt Countries
| Rank | Country | CPI Score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denmark | 89/90* |
| 2 | Finland | 88 |
| 3 | Singapore | 84 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 83 |
| 5 | Luxembourg | 81 |
| *Exact score from source context on 2025 Index. |
Bottom 5 Most Corrupt Countries
| Rank | Country | CPI Score |
|---|---|---|
| 182 | South Sudan | 9 |
| 181 | Somalia | 9 |
| 180 | Venezuela | 10 |
| 179 | Syria | 12 |
| 178 | Equatorial Guinea / Libya / Yemen | 13 |
| *Multiple countries can share low scores. |
Neighbouring Countries of India (CPI 2025 Rankings)
(Note: Not all neighbours’ ranks are directly published, but available data allows approximate placement based on related reporting and CPI trends.)
| Country | Approx. CPI 2025 Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| India | 91 | Improved from 96 in 2024. |
| Pakistan | ~135* | Lower score reflecting weaker integrity (approx based on CPI 2024 patterns). |
| Bangladesh | ~150* | Near bottom group in 2025 analysis. |
| Nepal | ~?* | Emerging protests noted in CPI context; specific modern rank not published. |
| Sri Lanka | ~?* | Global CPI (other index) shows lower score (not from TI list). |
| China | ~?* | Likely mid/lower tier (score not in top or bottom lists). |
| Myanmar (Burma) | ~?* | General trends place it in lower half (not specific rank available). |
The exact CPI rankings for some neighbours such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, China and Myanmar are not yet fully published in the Transparency International’s CPI 2025 summary, but available reporting indicates their general position relative to India.
📌 Key Takeaways
- Denmark and its Nordic/European peers dominate the top of the CPI 2025, reflecting strong public accountability and governance.
- South Sudan and Somalia sit at the bottom with very low scores, indicating pervasive corruption perceptions.
- India’s 91st rank among 182 countries shows modest improvement but highlights ongoing governance challenges.
- Among India’s neighbours, Pakistan and Bangladesh are generally ranked significantly lower, indicating higher perceived corruption risk relative to India.
Concerns Over Press Freedom and Accountability
The CPI 2025 highlights serious concerns regarding media freedom and civic space.
Key Observations:
- India is listed among countries considered risky for journalists investigating corruption.
- Since 2012, 829 journalists have been killed globally in non-conflict zones.
- Over 90% of these killings occurred in countries with CPI scores below 50.
Restrictions on civil society, threats to journalists, and shrinking civic spaces weaken democratic oversight and allow corruption to persist.
Significance for Governance and Development
The CPI ranking has important implications for India’s governance ecosystem:
Positive Signals
- Gradual improvement in global perception
- Indication of some progress in transparency mechanisms
- Growing public awareness of corruption issues
Continuing Challenges
- Weak enforcement of anti-corruption laws
- Delays in judicial processes
- Political influence on institutions
- Limited protection for whistle-blowers and journalists
Sustainable improvement requires strengthening institutional autonomy, transparency, and public accountability.
Way Forward: Strengthening Anti-Corruption Framework
To improve future CPI performance, India needs to focus on:
- Enhancing independence of vigilance and investigative agencies
- Ensuring time-bound judicial processes
- Expanding digital governance and transparency portals
- Strengthening whistle-blower protection laws
- Safeguarding press freedom and civic rights
- Promoting ethical standards in public administration
Such reforms can help translate short-term gains into long-term structural improvements.
Conclusion
India’s rise to 91st position in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 reflects modest progress in improving public sector integrity. However, the limited increase in score suggests that reforms remain fragile and uneven. Addressing systemic governance gaps, protecting media freedom, and strengthening accountability mechanisms are essential for achieving sustained improvement. The CPI 2025 serves as a reminder that combating corruption requires continuous institutional commitment and democratic vigilance.
Summary
India’s rise in the CPI 2025 reflects limited and incremental progress in tackling public sector corruption. While the improvement is encouraging, it does not indicate a major structural shift in governance. The report underlines that reforms remain uneven and fragile, and sustained institutional strengthening is required to achieve long-term gains.
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📌 Exam-Oriented Facts
- Index: Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025
- Released by: Transparency International
- Countries covered: 182
- India’s Rank (2025): 91
- Global Average Score: 42
- Scale: 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean)
FAQs
The Corruption Perceptions Index is an annual index released by Transparency International that measures perceived levels of public sector corruption in countries and territories worldwide, using expert assessments and business surveys.
In the Corruption Perceptions Index 2025, India is ranked 91st out of 182 countries, improving five places from its previous rank of 96, reflecting a marginal increase in its overall score.
The CPI score is calculated on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 indicates a highly corrupt public sector and 100 indicates a very clean one. It is based on data from multiple independent institutions assessing governance, bribery, misuse of public funds, and administrative transparency.
Press freedom enables journalists and civil society to expose corruption and hold authorities accountable. Restrictions, threats, or violence against media weaken democratic oversight, allowing corruption to persist and negatively affecting CPI performance.
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