In the integrity index of Transparency International, India stands very low. Discuss briefly the legal, political, social and cultural factors that have caused the decline of public morality in India.

Theme

T104 Transparency, accountability & anti-corruption: RTI, whistleblowers, Lokpal, corporate governance

What UPSC asks in this theme

UPSC asks whether transparency is really about building trust through rule of law and participation, impact of RTI amendments on Information Commission autonomy, causes of decline in public morality, corporate governance after Satyam, whistleblower protection dilution, and limits of Lokpal against immorality.

What to cover

• RTI Act 2005 and 2019 amendment (tenure and salary of commissioners)
• Whistleblowers Protection Act 2014 and the pending amendment
• Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013: structure, working, limits
• Corporate governance: Companies Act 2013, SEBI LODR, independent directors, audit reforms after Satyam
• Factors behind low integrity index: legal, political, social, cultural
• Trust-based governance: transparency as participation, not only anti-corruption

Writing the answer

• Link institutional fixes with GS4 ethics (probity, integrity)
• End with a reform agenda: institutions + culture + technology

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 6 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.