Corruption in India: An Enduring Threat

The self-styled Gandhian social activist Kisan Baburao “Anna” Hazare catalyzed a national anticorruption movement with his hunger strike to induce the Indian Parliament to pass a particular piece of anticorruption legislation known as the Jan Lokpal (or Citizen’s Ombudsman’s) Bill. The presence of freedom-of-information laws, effective anticorruption agencies, and a working and independent judicial system can promote transparency and accountability. These may in turn help to restore a modicum of faith that India’s democracy, rather than being a playground for corruption, can be counted on to work for and not against the interests of India’s citizens.