2014 · GS Paper 4 · Q5(b) · 10 marks
It is often said that poverty leads to corruption. However, there is no dearth of instances where affluent and powerful people indulge in corruption in a big way. What are the basic causes of corruption among people? Support your answer with examples.
In short
Corruption among people stems mainly from greed, unchecked discretion, weak accountability and social tolerance, with poverty explaining only petty, need-based bribery. The Satyam fraud of 2009, where promoter B. Ramalinga Raju confessed to inflating accounts by about ₹7,000 crore, shows the affluent corrupt from greed, not want.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 276 words
Need at the bottom
Low pay and insecurity can push a clerk or constable to take small bribes, the coercive corruption the Second ARC (2007) described.
Greed at the top
In the Satyam fraud (2009), founder B. Ramalinga Raju, a celebrated and wealthy promoter, confessed to inflating accounts by about ₹7,000 crore.
Power multiplies scale
In 2014 the Supreme Court cancelled 214 coal blocks allotted since 1993 as arbitrary, a sign of elite capture.
Greed and materialism
A culture that measures worth by wealth drives the rich to chase more, as Nirav Modi's PNB fraud (2018) showed.
Opportunity and discretion
The Santhanam Committee (1964) blamed excessive discretion, delays and cumbersome procedures, which Klitgaard sums up as an equation.
Low risk of punishment
Slow trials breed impunity; the fodder scam surfaced in 1996 but Lalu Prasad was convicted only in 2013.
Social tolerance
When society honours wealth without asking its source and graft is excused because "everyone does it", the normalisation of graft silences conscience.
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This chapter in the exam
Challenges of corruption6 questions
Asked in 5 of 14 sittings since 2013
- 2022Whistle-blower, who reports corruption and illegal activities, wrongdoing and misconduct to the concerned authorities, runs the risk of being exposed to grave danger, physical harm and victimization by the vested interests, accused persons and his team. What policy measures would you suggest to strengthen protection mechanism to safeguard the whistle-blower?
- 2019"Non-performance of duty by a public servant is a form of corruption". Do you agree with this view? Justify your answer.
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Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2014 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.