corruption index for india way below pakistan

Hi All,

Taking a cue from Gautu's missive, I came across this interesting data regarding the corruption index of various countries. I expected to see India among the top ten. But guess what? I had difficulty in locating it, as it was ranked way down at #47( Pakistan is #37). Have a look at the table below (for more details and other interesting statistics, visit http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/gov_cor )

Though I was initially surprised at this welcome demotion of India, on second thoughts, it occurred to me that corruption had in fact reduced dramatically in the last ten years, in my day to day experiences with the government. Some examples:

  a.. getting a phone connection doesn’t need a smarty politico as a friend and / or done.

  b..  No permit to buy a car

  c.. no influence required to get a gas connection

  d.. or a Bajaj scooter

  e.. no manufacturing licence for almost anything

  f.. no import licence for ditto

  g.. No influence to get an air booking

  h.. Almost unlimited foreign exchange for travel overseas

  i.. I can walk through the green channel on return without fear I am sure you can add to this list.

I am sure things should get even better in the next few years.

Rgds,

Tilly

Map & Graph: Government: Corruption

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     Country Description

     Definition: Relates to perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by business people, academics and risk analysts, and ranges between 0 (highly clean) and 10 (highly corrupt). Includes police corruption, business corruption, political corruption, etc. Data for 2003.

     Amount

      1. Bangladesh 8.7

      2. Nigeria 8.6

      3. Haiti 8.5

      4. Burma 8.4

      5. Paraguay 8.4

      6. Azerbaijan 8.2

      7. Cameroon 8.2

      8. Tajikistan 8.2

      9. Angola 8.2

      10. Georgia 8.2

      11. Indonesia 8.1

      12. Kenya 8.1

      13. Papua New Guinea 7.9

      14. Kyrgyzstan 7.9

      15. Libya 7.9

      16. Iraq 7.8

      17. Congo, Republic of the 7.8

      18. Ecuador 7.8

      19. Sierra Leone 7.8

      20. Uganda 7.8