Tags: New Delhi

New Delhi, June 3 : Politicians are perceived to be the most corrupt, followed by civil servants, said a recent survey of the Berlin-based organisation Transparency International (TI).

"Political parties are perceived to be the most corrupt institution by the Indians," said the 2009 Global Corruption Barometer, released by Anupama Jha, executive director of Transparency International India, here today.

About 58 per cent of the Indian respondents identified politicians to be the most corrupt individuals, she said, pointing out that "45 per cent of the people sampled feel that the government is ineffective in addressing corruption in the country".

Nine ministers in the present central government have criminal cases pending against them, said S K Agarwal, vice-chairman of TI India, adding the number of MPs in the new Lok Sabha with a similar background has gone up to 152 from about 125 in the earlier House.

When asked about the basis of the information, he added, "It is based on the affidavits" filed by contestants at the time of the elections.

Civil servants and public officials, Jha said, "were rated by 13 per cent of the respondents as the second-most corruption institution in the country". (MORE)

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