New Delhi, July 22, 2025 – Source: National Crime Investigation Bureau (NCIB) NGO

Contents

Top 10 Most Corrupt Departments in India (As per NCIB)

1. Police Department
2. Revenue Department
3. Municipal Corporations/Municipalities
4. Gram Panchayat and Block Level Departments

5. Electricity Department

6. Road Transport Department (RTO)
7. Public Health and Government Hospitals
8. Education Department
9. Housing and Urban Development Department
10. Tax Department (Income Tax and GST)

Middlemen and Political Nexus Worsen the Problem
Corruption Varies by State and District
Key Recommendations by NCIB
Conclusion: Time for Public Awakening

In a shocking revelation that has stirred public discourse and social media outrage, the National Crime Investigation Bureau (NCIB) has released a comprehensive report ranking India’s most corrupt departments. Based on thousands of public complaints, media reports, and assessments from institutions like Transparency International India and Lokpal/Lokayukta bodies, this report paints a grim picture of the country’s bureaucratic integrity.

The findings are not only alarming but also indicative of the systemic corruption that affects everyday life in India from securing an FIR to getting electricity fixed, from receiving pensions to obtaining basic healthcare.

Top 10 Most Corrupt Departments in India (As per NCIB)

1. Police Department

Topping the list of India’s most corrupt departments is the Police Department, ironically the guardian of law and order.

Common complaints include:

Bribery in registering FIRs
Fabricating false cases
Harassment during vehicle checks
Seeking payment in exchange for justice
Biased intervention in land disputes

According to NCIB, widespread misuse of authority, political interference, and extortion tactics have made the police force a symbol of fear rather than protection in several states.

2. Revenue Department

From land records to property registrations, the Revenue Department has been identified as another major hub of corruption.

Reported malpractices:

Fake land registrations
Bribes for “dakhil-kharij” (mutation)
Delays in issuing certified land copies
Fraud in updating land ownership (Khatauni)

This department sees frequent bribery involving tehsildars, patwaris, and property clerks.

3. Municipal Corporations/Municipalities

Urban governance is failing its people, as Municipal Corporations and Nagar Palikas secure the third position on the list.

Key corruption areas:

Bribes to pass building plans
Sanitation contracts manipulated
Ignoring illegal constructions in exchange for money

Citizens allege that even basic services like garbage collection and drainage repairs are subject to “under the table” payments.

4. Gram Panchayat and Block Level Departments

In rural areas, corruption thrives at the grassroots via Gram Panchayats and Block Offices.

Allegations include:

Scam in PM Awas Yojana housing scheme
Misuse of toilet construction funds
Irregularities in old age and widow pensions
Ration card fraud

The report highlights how local leaders and intermediaries inflate bribes, with portions reaching officials as well.

5. Electricity Department

The Electricity or Power Department is often involved in technical manipulation and billing frauds.

Frequent complaints:

Tampering meter readings
Deliberate overbilling
Delay in new connections
Bribes demanded to fix faulty lines

Urban as well as rural consumers report harassment unless bribes are paid.

6. Road Transport Department (RTO)

The RTO (Regional Transport Office) is infamous for rampant bribery.

Reported corruption includes:

Issuance of licenses without driving tests
Registration of vehicles without documents
Fitness certificates issued for unfit vehicles

This department has normalized corruption in the name of “commission agents”.

7. Public Health and Government Hospitals

The NCIB report slams the Health Department and government hospitals for deep rooted corruption in public service.

Key issues:

Corruption in drug procurement
Absenteeism among doctors
Forcing patients to private hospitals
Prescribing expensive medicines for commissions

Healthcare, a basic right, has turned into a commercial racket in many areas.

8. Education Department

Despite being the backbone of national progress, the Education Department is riddled with unethical practices.

Main concerns:

Bribery in teacher recruitment
Fake attendance registers
Nexus with private schools
Misuse of school development funds

Students in government schools are the ultimate sufferers of this corruption.

9. Housing and Urban Development Department

Real estate and infrastructure are often plagued by corruption in contracts and tenders.

Findings include:

Bribes in awarding construction contracts
Collusion in public private development schemes
Lack of transparency in Smart City projects

Funds meant for urban development are often siphoned off via inflated tenders.

10. Tax Department (Income Tax and GST)

The Taxation Department, responsible for collecting revenue, is not untouched by corruption.

Reported practices:

Bribes to avoid raids
Processing fake returns
Extortion from small businesses during inspections

Corrupt officials often collaborate with tax consultants and middlemen to exploit loopholes.

Top 10 most corrupt government department

Middlemen and Political Nexus Worsen the Problem

According to NCIB, the corruption in India’s most corrupt departments is not limited to officers alone. Middlemen, local politicians, and power brokers often inflate bribe demands by 2 to 5 times.

The bribe is then split between:

The department official
The intermediary or tout
Sometimes, even local political figures

From getting FIRs filed to securing government benefits, the entire process is commercialized.

Corruption Varies by State and District

The NCIB report clarifies that corruption levels differ across states and even within districts.

For example:

In some states, police corruption is most rampant.
In others, land and revenue departments top the list.
In metros, municipal and power departments dominate.
In rural belts, block and panchayat level corruption is more severe.

This nuanced insight adds depth to understanding India’s most corrupt departments.

Key Recommendations by NCIB

To combat the problem, NCIB has proposed the following:

1. Strengthening Lokpal and Lokayukta bodies
2. Digitalizing public services to reduce human discretion
3. Creating public grievance redressal systems with real time tracking
4. Publishing departmental audit reports online
5. Strict punishment for officials and intermediaries involved in bribery

Conclusion: Time for Public Awakening

The NCIB’s list of India’s most corrupt departments is a wake up call, not just for the government but for every citizen.

Corruption thrives where silence exists.It dies when accountability rises.

As citizens, journalists, whistleblowers, and policymakers join hands, the time is ripe for a nationwide anti corruption movement not just at the top but from grassroots to government corridors.