January 26: The corruption index of Nepal has not decreased, shows a report. The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report released by Transparency International (TI) on Tuesday shows that Nepal is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. 

Nepal was ranked 117th out of 180 countries last year. This year too, Nepal is in the same position. 

According to the report, out of 180 countries, Denmark, Finland and New Zealand are the least corrupt with 88 points out of 100. South Sudan is ranked as the most corrupt country with 11 points. 

TI has been publishing this list every year since 1995 where Nepal has been included since 2004. The report states that Nepal received 33 point (117th) in the last one year (2020/21), based on a survey conducted by six organizations including the World Bank, World Economic Forum, Global Insight, Bertelsmann Foundation, World Justice Project and VDEM, Nepal was ranked in the same position in the last year as well. 

The survey shows that there exists corruption and abuse of power in the public sector, bribery in business, lack of action, lack of access to information, and lack of control over political corruption. 

Transparency International has also raised questions about public officials and suggested ways to control trans-national corruption, control power, and increase transparency in government spending. The CPI has informed that human rights and democracy are at stake due to laxity in anti-corruption efforts around the world. 

Corruption has not decreased worldwide and 86 percent of the countries have not made any progress in a decade. The CPI also informed that human rights are being violated, democratic rights are declining, authoritarianism and corruption are on the rise in countries where civil rights are weak.