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2022 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

15. Corruption and National Security: Insights from the Indian Experience

Author : Niranjan Sahoo

Published in: Varying Dimensions of India’s National Security

Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore

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Abstract

Arguably the most insidious threat to national security arises from corruption. India knows this phenomenon so intimately. In fact, Transparency International (TI) has consistently ranked India very high in the global corruption index. High-value corruption and big-ticket scams have taken the limelight in the country for too long, at times bringing down governments. However, less is known how national security is deeply linked to corruption in India. This chapter uncovers some of the close links between the graft and various dimensions of security threats to the nation and what measures India has taken to curb the dangerous trends of increasing graft and institutional decay. The chapter argues that national security imperatives demand comprehensive political reforms involving political and radical reform of justice apart from making institutional innovations like Lokpal and RTI to attack corruption from its roots.

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In 2011, a large-scale anti-corruption movement emerged in India in response to a series of scandals during the Congress led United Progressive Alliance government that have been exposed by the media since 2010. These scandals led to a massive public agitation led by the charismatic, septuagenarian rural leader and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare demanding the passing of a law that would institute an ombudsman to investigate corruption charges against public officials. Agitation ultimately led to passage of Lokpal Bill in 2014.

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Title: Corruption and National Security: Insights from the Indian Experience
Author: Niranjan Sahoo
Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore
Book: Varying Dimensions of India’s National Security
Print ISBN: 978-981-16-7592-8

Electronic ISBN: 978-981-16-7593-5

Copyright Year: 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7593-5_16