Corruption represents a systemic erosion of core societal values and when these values are compromised at personal, institutional, and structural levels, corruption becomes normalized. It reflects not merely administrative weakness but a deeper ethical and cultural decay.

Core Values Whose Failure Breeds Corruption

• Erosion of Integrity: Leads to lack of consistency between words and actions enables unethical shortcuts.

  Example: In the Vyapam Scam (Madhya Pradesh), senior officials colluded in manipulating entrance exams for medical colleges.

• Lack of Accountability: It weakens accountability mechanisms allowing evasion of responsibility.

  Example: The collapse of the Morbi bridge (Gujarat, 2022) saw a lack of accountability from local civic bodies, contractors, and auditors.

• Lack of Transparency: It promotes Opacity in governance fuels bribe-seeking behavior.

  Example: The Electoral Bonds Scheme has been heavily criticized for lacking transparency and increasing the potential for quid-pro-quo corruption.

• Absence of Empathy and Public Service Orientation: It leads to self-serving motives and hinders constitutional ideals of social justice.

  Example: The ration scam in Jharkhand where food meant for poor families was siphoned off

• Justice and Fairness: Ignoring equitable access creates fertile ground for bribery.

  Example: The cash-for-job scam in Assam police recruitment (2020) involved selling question papers and seats, denying fair opportunity to deserving candidates.

Measures to Uplift Core Values in Society

• Value-Based Education from Early Childhood: It ensures early sensitization nurtures moral compasses and reduces future ethical breaches.

  Example: The NEP 2020 emphasizes ethical reasoning, empathy, and civic consciousness from foundational levels.

• Reinforcement Through Civil Services and Public Institutions: Mandatory ethics training and performance evaluation based on integrity indicators can reinforce probity.

  Example: Mission Karmayogi focuses on capacity-building in civil servants with an ethical orientation.

• Promoting Transparency and Accountability: It Minimizes human interface and thus, opportunities for petty corruption.

  Example: The implementation of the Digital India initiative (e.g., DBT, e-Governance) reduces discretion and increases transparency.

• Role of Civil Society and Media: Encouraging investigative journalism and RTI activism creates a culture of vigilance.

  Example: The exposé of irregularities in COVID-19 fund distribution by local media in several states brought in corrective action.

• Recognition and Reward of Ethical Behavior: Instituting awards for ethical public servants (e.g., Integrity Icon by Accountability Lab) promotes ethical leadership.

• Legal and Structural Reforms: Implementation of Lokpal, strengthening of the Whistleblower Protection Act, and fast-track courts for corruption cases.

Corruption is not just a legal offense, it is a moral and civic failure. While punitive laws are essential, they are insufficient without internalization of core values in citizens and institutions. A value-driven society, backed by ethical leadership, education, and civic participation, can truly uproot corruption.