Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index places India at 91st out of 182 nations, prompting fresh debate over anti-corruption claims and ground realities.

New Delhi: India has moved up five places to rank 91st out of 182 countries in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International, compared to 96th position last year. The annual index reflects expert assessments and business perceptions of corruption in the public sector.

While the modest rise has been cited by some as evidence of gradual improvement since Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to curb corruption in 2014, critics argue the change is marginal and does not represent a structural shift. Legal activist Prashant Bhushan described the ranking as a sign of stagnation rather than progress, noting that India had previously ranked higher in earlier years.

India’s score remains below the global average of 42, underscoring persistent concerns around transparency and governance. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has previously downplayed alarm over such rankings, pointing out that many countries continue to perform worse.

Transparency International also observed that India remains a challenging environment for journalists reporting on corruption. The report warned that when investigative voices face pressure or legal action, corruption may become less visible rather than less prevalent.

Over the past decade, the government has introduced measures such as expanded digital payments and streamlined service delivery to reduce discretionary transactions. Yet high-profile allegations and enforcement controversies continue to shape public perception.

Analysis: The CPI measures perception, not prosecution rates or conviction data—making it as much about trust as about statistics. A small climb in rankings may offer political talking points, but sustained credibility will likely depend on institutional safeguards and freedom of oversight. This assessment reflects analytical opinion; all factual details above are drawn from the original content.