Govt’s technological interventions curbing corruption and bringing efficiency & accountability

In recent years, India has witnessed several high profile corruption cases like 2G scam, fodder scam, coal scam, Commonwealth games scam, Satyam scam etc, which often hound our minds. Moreover, petty corruption cases are galore in number which slowly eats away at the system day by day. And immense leakages in the system make it tough to take the developmental and welfare programmes to the targeted people. Corruption also negatively affects economic development, democratic processes, rule of law and governance, sometimes forcing us to feel that very little is possible to tackle corrupt practices.

Epoch-making technological initiatives

However, the recent technological interventions anchored by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government at the Centre, has given us a new hope. The Centre has endeavoured much to remove corruption in every form with technology being one of the most enabling tools in the process. Utilising advancements in technology, the government is following a multi-pronged strategy to tackle the problem in an effective manner. This campaign also encourages citizens to join the Government in the fight against corruption.

Changing narratives about India

Now, technologies are fast altering the way things were done earlier, also changing the age-old narratives about India, which Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship explicitly highlighted in a recent function in Bengaluru.

Technological framework created

MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar, in his address on the topic, ‘Latest Technology in Dispensation of Justice to the legal professionals at High Court’, Bengaluru, precisely pointed out, saying democracies may imply leakiness and leaky governments, however, over the last six years present government at the Centre, has created a framework purely on the back of technology that allows every penny that is released on beneficiary’s name, reaches his account directly without any delay or without any leakage. Direct money transfer was possible because a framework was created through opening bank accounts of those crores of people who earlier, could hardly think of having an account in banks.

Democracies can be leak-free and corruption-free

‘Technological interventions have proved that democracies can be leak-free and corruption-free. India, governed by Rule of law – as defined comprehensively in the longest written constitution of the world, the dispensation of Justice is a long process and I think because of that the phrase ‘Justice delayed is Justice denied’’ is coined, Chandrasekhar said, furthering how the single biggest reform in the history of indirect taxes – GST has resulted in shattering another age old narrative that revenues from taxes in India can’t go up due to black economy. The recent figures show a 34% hike in GST collection (27 lac crore ) in 2021-22 over (22 lac crore ) collected in 2020-21.

AI, machine learning and blockchain being considered

The latest emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain technology are being considered to make the system even more efficient, transparent and leak free. These technologies can tremendously help curb corruption at all levels. They could also be leveraged to expedite the disbursal of court cases & bring down the pendency of court cases besides expediting the judicial processes also. The timely use and adoption of technology by way of swiftly switching to virtual hearings to ensure dispensation of justice amidst crises has been appreciated by all. During the pandemic, the judiciary has adopted the technology and has comprehensively used it in the process of delivering justice.

The utilization of the latest technologies and digitalization of the libraries are going to help millions of people who need them. Latest information about developments in technology and its intersection with Law could also be made readily available, which may facilitate an early disposal of court cases pending in lakhs.

Eliminating information asymmetry

Moreover, it is widely believed that petty corruption happens more often because people, in general, are not aware of the things and processes. Bereft of complete information always leads people to misleading and fraud. Taking this into account, the Modi government has assigned different institutions the responsibility to eliminate information asymmetry. Different technologies are helping in this pursuit, which is resulting in creating transparency and leaving little scope of being duped. The information dissemination is based on the fact that if citizens are aware of the required or complete information of things they require, they can also hold the concerned institutions responsible. The Right to Information Act is helping people in the process.

Technology cuts the red tap and brings accountability

Technology also helps cut red tape, resulting in curbing corruption as it becomes easier to fix the accountability of the concerned authorities and institutions. Introducing digital processes in tax filing has also helped reduce tax evasion which was rampant earlier. GST related filings are done electronically which makes the process easier and transparent also.

Covid-19 pandemic has also helped people go for digital technology. Now majority of the transactions are done digitally, leaving little scope for any fraudulent activity. Digital literacy programmes like the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) is further being ramped up in order to create greater transparency, which often result in curbing corruption.