The BRICS nations, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, represent five of the largest emerging economies. However, corruption is a primary concern in these nations, which bogs down development. While all five face challenges, some have made progress in improving governance and reducing corruption in their public sectors.
Among the BRICS five, Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks China and India as less corrupt than the others, although both still face considerable roadblocks.
At 76th on the CPI, China emerges the cleanest in the BRICS bloc. India occupies the 96th spot, while Russia, Brazil and South Africa clock in at 107th, 154th and 82nd, respectively.
While China faces corruption issues, particularly within its vast state-owned enterprises and public sector, the government has taken steps to curb the issue. Under President Xi Jinping, a large-scale anti-corruption campaign was launched, targeting both high-ranking officials and lower-level bureaucrats. This has led to the conviction of numerous individuals, with the aim of restoring public trust in the Communist Party and improving governance.
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Despite these efforts, China continues to grapple with issues like lack of transparency in decision-making, especially concerning its political system, which remains tightly controlled by the Communist Party. Corruption in state-owned enterprises and local government remains pervasive, and many citizens view bribery and favouritism as an entrenched aspect of daily life.
Moreover, the lack of an independent judiciary and an active civil society make it difficult to implement comprehensive anti-corruption reforms. Despite all this, there has been some improvemens in governance, which has helped it retain the distinction of being the least-corrupt BRICS country.
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India occupies the 96th spot on the CPI Index, indicating moderate corruption levels within government institutions. As the world’s largest democracy, India faces unique challenges in addressing corruption, which range from complex bureaucratic systems to political patronage and lack of accountability. However, New Delhi has made significant strides in anti-corruption reforms in recent years. Legislative action, such as the Right to Information Act and the goods and services tax (GST) have promoted greater transparency in public services and governance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has initiated a series of reforms aimed at reducing corruption. The demonetisation of 2016, though controversial, was part of a larger effort to curb black money and reduce corruption. The establishment of independent agencies such as the Central Vigilance Commission and the Lokpal (anti-corruption ombudsman) has been vital in addressing corruption at various levels.
However, corruption continues to be a significant issue especially in certain sectors, where permissions are necessary from bureaucrats particularly in lower levels of government and law enforcement.
The political system in India is frequently seen as prone to corruption, with vote-buying, bribery, and the influence of money in politics being widespread problems. While there is growing public awareness and activism against corruption, the effectiveness of these reforms is hampered by inefficiencies within the system and institutional resistance to change.
Although China and India are ranked among the least corrupt BRICS nations, both continue to face substantial challenges, as do Russia, South Africa and Brazil. As these countries continue to develop, addressing corruption becomes all the more vital to stronger institutions and sustainable growth.
