India Rises To 91st Spot In Corruption Perceptions Index 2025

VoM News Desk | February 11, 2026 | 10:21 AM IST | Breaking News, India | Follow on Google News

India Rises To 91st Spot In Corruption Perceptions Index 2025

India has climbed five places to rank 91st out of 182 countries and territories in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025 released on Tuesday by Transparency International.

The country’s score improved by one point compared to last year, moving it up from the 96th position, according to the Berlin-based anti-corruption watchdog. The CPI measures perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

Despite India’s modest improvement, the report paints a sobering global picture. Corruption continues to pose a serious challenge worldwide, with only limited signs of progress.

“The 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index shows that corruption remains a serious threat in every part of the world,” the report said. It called on leaders to address abuses of power and reverse what it described as the erosion of democratic checks and balances and attacks on independent civil society.

Asia Pacific Sees Slow Progress

The report noted that anti-corruption efforts in the Asia-Pacific region have moved slowly, with several countries witnessing public anger and anti-government protests over the past year.

“Anti-government protests in many parts of the world show that people are fed up with unaccountable leadership and are demanding reform,” it said.

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Globally, the average CPI score has fallen to a new low of 42. More than two-thirds of the countries assessed scored below 50, underscoring what Transparency International described as a widespread governance crisis.

While 31 countries have significantly reduced corruption levels since 2012, most have either stagnated or deteriorated during the same period.

“Corruption leads to under-funded hospitals, unbuilt flood defences and blights the hopes and dreams of young people,” the report observed.

Concerns Over Safety Of Journalists

India was also listed among countries considered dangerous for journalists investigating corruption. The report highlighted that attacks on journalists weaken accountability and allow corruption to thrive.

Since 2012, 829 journalists have been killed in non-conflict zones worldwide. Over 90 per cent of these killings occurred in countries with CPI scores below 50, including Brazil (35), India (39), Mexico (27), Pakistan (28) and Iraq (28).

“When journalists are attacked or killed for investigating corruption, power cannot be held to account effectively, and corruption tends to worsen,” the report stated.

Global Rankings

Denmark retained the top spot with 89 points, followed by Finland and Singapore. At the bottom of the index were South Sudan and Somalia, each scoring nine points, with Venezuela close behind. South Sudan’s one-point improvement brought it level with Somalia this year.

Among major Western democracies, the United States ranked 29th, while the United Kingdom secured the 20th position. The report warned that even established democracies are witnessing a decline in anti-corruption performance.

“We are seeing a concerning picture of long-term decline in leadership to tackle corruption,” it said. “The absence of bold leadership is leading to weaker standards and enforcement, lowering ambition on anti-corruption efforts around the world.”

Transparency International also cautioned that shrinking civic space in many countries is making it increasingly difficult for citizens, NGOs and journalists to hold those in power accountable — a trend it warned could further entrench corruption globally.

VoM News Desk

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