Today we find that in spite of various measures like prescribing codes of conduct, setting up vigilance cells/commissions, RTI, active media and strengthening of legal mechanisms, corrupt practices are not coming under control. Suggest more effective strategies to tackle this menace.

Remove the middleman

Direct Benefit Transfer saved an estimated ₹3.48 lakh crore up to March 2023, and faceless tax assessment (2020) and GeM cut discretion in taxation and procurement.

Time-bound services

Right to Services laws, from Madhya Pradesh's 2010 Act, fine officials for delay and end "speed money".

Regular social audit

The CAG's 2024 report found Andhra Pradesh audited only 5,956 of 13,428 gram panchayats once in 2021-22, so audits must be periodic.

Clean political finance

After electoral bonds were struck down in 2024, partial state funding, as the Indrajit Gupta Committee proposed, would cut the demand for illicit money at its source.

Lost gains

Special courts and confiscation, as under the Bihar Special Courts Act, 2009, which turned seized houses of corrupt officials into schools, make corruption a losing bet.

Autonomous investigators

A fully staffed Lokpal prosecution wing and a statutory CBI, with Section 17A approvals decided on time, would end executive dependence.

Protected insiders and ethics

Notifying the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014 and enacting the ethics code the Second ARC urged would build moral courage.