Kerala Ranked Least Corrupt State in India: VIT Chancellor

Rapid Summary

• G. Viswanathan, founder and chancellor of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), stated that Kerala is the least corrupt state in India with a corruption rate of 20%, according to Clarity International.
• Transparency International data indicates Tamil Nadu has a corruption rate of approximately 62%.
• India’s global ranking by least corrupt countries has dropped, from 80th place around 15 years ago to 96th in recent years.
• Kerala ranks highly on economic indicators:

– Among the top three states for remittances, alongside Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
– Second-highest remittance inflow per capita despite a modest population.
– Highest per capita income among southern states at $4,700 (national average: $2,900).

• Kerala leads in the Human Progress Index (HDI) nationwide, excelling in education, economy, life expectancy, and overall quality of life.
• concerns raised about lack of job opportunities for educated youth as most remittance funds are spent on non-investment activities like housing or gold purchases.
• The event celebrating Onam was also attended by actor ramya Nambeesan and writer Pushpa Kurup.

Indian Opinion Analysis

Kerala’s distinction as India’s least corrupt state while also leading across key indicators such as per capita income and HDI highlights its unique socio-economic model. Strong economic factors such as robust remittances have played an instrumental role; however, concerns about translating these inflows into sustainable developmental investments remain valid. This raises questions about leveraging systemic advantages to create novel ventures that can address unemployment issues among educated youth.

On a national level, the Transparency International report underscores increasing concerns regarding corruption trends. While India’s global decline may reflect general governance challenges or policy execution issues across states over time, it emphasizes an urgent need for structural attention towards transparency mechanisms nationally. Simultaneously occurring, Kerala serves as a model not merely due to statistical achievements but through its balanced approach toward human development priorities.

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