Denmark Tops Corruption Index; India Ranks 96th in 2024 Report
Denmark is identified as the least corrupt country according to the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, while India drops to 96th place. The index reveals widespread corruption across numerous nations, impacting governance and climate initiatives. Transparency International urges immediate action to combat corruption to safeguard democracy and human rights.
Denmark ranks as the least corrupt nation in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published by Transparency International, followed closely by Finland, Singapore, and New Zealand. In contrast, India has fallen to the 96th position, a decline of three spots from the previous year, indicating persistent challenges in its public sector integrity. The CPI evaluates corruption in 180 countries and territories based on expert assessments, assigning scores on a scale from zero to 100, where zero indicates high corruption and 100 signifies cleanliness.
India’s CPI score now stands at 38, down from 39 in 2023 and 40 in 2022, reflecting a concerning trend in its corruption levels. Among its regional counterparts, Pakistan ranks 135th, Sri Lanka at 121st, while Bangladesh lags further behind at 149th. China holds a relatively better position at 76th. The index reveals a broader issue, with significant declines in many countries’ rankings, including notable nations like the United States, France, and Germany.
The United States saw its score drop from 69 to 65, leading to a fall from 24th to 28th place. France’s score decreased by four points to 67, dropping it five positions to 25th, while Germany fell to 15th after losing three points. Mexico’s situation worsened due to judicial inaction against corruption, landing an even lower score with a drop of five points. Russia continues to disappoint with a significant score reduction to 22 amid ongoing conflict-related challenges.
Conversely, countries like South Sudan have fallen to the bottom of the CPI with a meager score of eight, overtaking Somalia, which scored nine. Venezuela and Syria follow with scores of ten and twelve, respectively. Transparency International emphasizes that despite some countries improving their situations, global corruption remains alarmingly pervasive, with the efforts to combat it seeming to stagnate.
The report further discusses the adverse impacts of corruption on climate efforts, highlighting how a lack of transparency can lead to the misappropriation of climate funds. This misconduct directly undermines initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as private sector influences often hinder pertinent policy developments. Protecting these vital climate initiatives from corruption is deemed essential for effective intervention and support for vulnerable populations worldwide.
Transparency International warns that the prevalence of illicit financial activities in high-CPI nations poses a notable corruption challenge, perpetuating environmental degradation and crime. Ultimately, the organization stresses that combating corruption is critical to promoting democracy, stability, and human rights globally. Each nation must prioritize this issue to counteract rising authoritarianism and strive for a secure and sustainable future.
The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index reveals significant issues in global corruption rankings, with Denmark leading while India falls to 96th. The report highlights the severe consequences of corruption, including setbacks in climate action and governance. Despite some improvement in select countries, the overall situation remains alarming, underscoring the urgent need for collective action to address corruption-related challenges worldwide.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
