Is corruption the biggest threat to India’s future?
The article discusses the pervasive nature of corruption in India, from petty bribes to large-scale scams, and questions whether the country has become less corrupt despite digitalization and the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Experts Shailesh Gandhi and Anjali Bhardwaj argue that digitalization alone is insufficient, often creating new barriers for the marginalized. They highlight how the RTI Act, once a powerful tool for transparency, has been systematically weakened by Supreme Court judgments (e.g., Girish Ramchandra Deshpande, Puttaswamy) and the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, making it harder to uncover corruption. The discussion also points to the ineffectiveness and alleged compromise of key accountability institutions like the Lokpal, Lokayukta, CBI, and ED, as well as the challenges posed by judicial delays and non-transparent appointments of Information Commissioners. The authors conclude that weak implementation of laws and a 'negligible-risk' environment for corruption pose a significant threat to India's future and its development aspirations.
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