India’s bureaucracy is often accused of corruption, but there are officers who have shown that it is possible to challenge the system from within. Tukaram Mundhe, the Maharashtra FDA Commissioner, has emerged as a hero for his efforts to crack down on food adulteration and violations of compliance norms. However, his story raises questions about why not all bureaucrats are like him.
Ashok Khemka, a former Haryana-cadre IAS officer, is another example of an upright bureaucrat who faced 57 transfers in his career spanning over 33 years. He was known for taking on the system and challenging corrupt practices. But despite their efforts, corruption remains a pervasive problem in India’s bureaucracy.
Where does corruption begin?
According to serving and retired bureaucrats, corruption can begin with small accommodations and social pressure. Satyakam Kumar, a 31-year-old Bihar Administrative Service (BAS) officer, recalls how people he didn’t know started gifting him mobile phones and smartwatches after his name appeared on the merit list. While there was no explicit demand, Kumar knew that these gifts came with expectations.
Corruption can also start with lifestyle expectations and aspirations. Sunil Kumar Rai, a 2005-batch Indian Postal Service officer, notes that ethical compromises often begin with seemingly ordinary personal aspirations. For example, an officer might receive a House Rent Allowance of Rs 50,000, but they might aspire to live in a house costing Rs 1 lakh. When greed exceeds legitimate means of earning, the possibility of compromising one’s principles increases.
Pressure from politicians and seniors
Bureaucrats also face pressure from politicians and seniors to compromise on their integrity. A Mumbai-based Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer recalls being offered Rs 80 crore to back off from a raid on a local politician. Another officer, Sheo Narayan Singh, a retired Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, recalls receiving a below-par Annual Confidential Report after resisting or questioning his first boss’s wrong moves.
Quantifying corruption across India’s enormous bureaucracy is nearly impossible. However, former IRS officer Sheo Narayan Singh notes that there are fewer people who follow honesty and moral values. A Mumbai-based IRS officer, who has been in service for less than a decade, says that she has seen corruption in every department she has worked in.
How does a bureaucrat get corrupted?
There is no single method of corruption. Cash, gold, and land are common ways of bribing officers. However, corruption can also travel through subtler channels, such as messages and pressure conveyed through intermediaries. Even family members of the officer can be approached to influence their decisions.
The IRS officer recalls how a businessman’s people visited her parents after her department raided his premises. The message was clear: convince your daughter to back off, and we can work out a deal. In another case, the IRS officer was offered Rs 80 crore to back off from a raid on a local politician.
Despite these challenges, there are still officers like Tukaram Mundhe and Ashok Khemka who are challenging the system from within. Their stories serve as a reminder that it is possible to maintain integrity and honesty in the face of corruption and pressure.
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