CONTROLLING CORRUPTION IN INDIA: Various Approaches and their Efficacy Special issue of the Indian Journal of Public Administration

When corruption becomes deep-rooted, it undermines prevailing political, economic and social systems. Systemic corruption, in the longer run, unavoidably causes outrage against the political and administrative structureand eventually leads to distrust in the entire government. This cynicism does not bode well either for a democracy or a society. As a system degeneration, corruption indicates attrition and erosion of ethical, moral and social values. Butthe strategy to control it can not be based upon an abstract and intangible approach. It has to emanate from astute, well thought out and judicious policies andactions. It is essential to acknowledge the social, political and structural realities that are pulling down the system and leading the administration to a near collapse. Diverse strategies have to be mounted for tackling corruption in different quarters. Meeting corruption head on needs a strong legal, administrative, judicial and social approach with appropriate policy framework, administrativeaction and legislative innovativeness. The biggest challenge today seems to becrisis of faith in governance and the first and foremost requisite for the government is to command public confidence in its honesty and integrity. Corruption in public life, economic and business activities, socio-cultural organizations, processional conduct and services, politics, administration, electoral process, judiciary and bureaucracy requires transparent, strong, unbiased and deterrent punitive measures. These measures have to counter the prevailing skepticism that corruption is all-pervasive and beyond control. A series of steps and approaches have been adopted since Independence to tame the menace of corruption. This issue of the journal aims at gauging worth and effectivenessof these endeavours and evolving plausible and pragmatic strategies for future. We request the contributors to confine their views to evaluating the approaches and their efficacy to combat corruption. The article shouldbe written in approximately 2500-3000 words. A broad classification of articlescan be on the following lines:The Institutional Framework Role of Central Vigilance CommissionRole of Election CommissionRole of Comptroller and Auditor GeneralRole of Central Bureau of Investigation The Legal Framework The Efficacy of Money Laundering ActThe Efficacy of Benami Properties ActProtection of Whistleblowers Criminal justice systemCivil Society InitiativesRole of Medi