Anti-Corruption Measures in India Upsc

Anti-corruption measures

Anti-corruption measures include a protocol that gives a set of preventive mechanisms that includes the development of codes of conduct for Government officials, transparency in the government’s procurement of goods and services, access to public information, safeguarding the whistleblowers, and also establishment of anti-corruption agencies.

Anti-corruption laws in India

Public servants in India can be imprisoned for several years and penalized for corruption under the:

  • Prosecution section of Income Tax Act, 1961
  • The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
  • The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988 to prohibit benami transactions.
  • Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002

Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002

This Act prevents money laundering and provides for confiscation of property derived from, or involved in, money laundering and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The political declaration and global programme of action, annexed to resolution S-17/2 were adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations at its 17th special session on the 23rd February 1990.

AND WHEREAS the Political Declaration adopted by the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly held on 8th to 10th June 1998 calls upon the Member States to adopt national money-laundering legislation and programme;

AND WHEREAS it is considered necessary to implement the aforesaid resolution and the Declaration. BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fifty-third Year of the Republic of India.

The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988

This Act prohibits Benami transactions and the right to recover properly held Benami and for matters corrected therewith or incidental thereto.

Prosecution section of Income Tax Act, 1961

The Section 276C of provides for prosecution, if wilfully attempted to evade the imposition of tax, penalty or interest or has wilfully attempted to evade the payment of tax, penalty or interest.

Prevention of corruption act 1988

It is an act of the Parliament of India, that is enacted to fight corruption in government agencies and public sectors in India. This act provides for penalties for public servants in relation to corruption.

This act by the amendment of 2018, criminalised both bribe-taking by public servants and also bribe giving by any person.

Anti-corruption police and courts

The Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation, Central Vigilance Commission, and Central Bureau of Investigation all deal with anti-corruption initiatives. Certain states such as Andhra Pradesh (Anti-Corruption Bureau, Andhra Pradesh) and Karnataka (Lokayukta) also have their own anti-corruption agencies and courts.

References

  • https://dea.gov.in/sites/default/files/Benami%20Transaction_Prohibition_%20Act1988.pdf
  • https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/2036/1/A2003-15.pdf
* * All the Notes in this blog, are referred from Tamil Nadu State Board Books and Samacheer Kalvi Books. Kindly check with the original Tamil Nadu state board books and Ncert Books.
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