Tuesday, October 18 2005 19:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Contrary to popular perception that corruption was on the rise in India, an international organisation today (Oct 18, 2005) said it had in fact decreased in the past one year and placed the country 88th among 159 nations, down by two ranks.

The Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index for 2004 had placed India 90th among 146 countries.

India scored 2.9 in 2005 on a 10 to 0 scale of the index indicating the cleanest score and 0 the most corrupt. Last year India had scored 2.8.

The survey is not just limited to estimating monetary value of petty corruption but also ranking public services and States. The study looks into systematic aspects of corruption in public services, Transparency International India's working Chairman S D Sharma told reporters here, while releasing the report.

Among India's neighbouring countries, Berlin-based TI placed China and Sri Lanka at 78th position ranking it least corrupt than India with a score of 3.2 while Afghanistan and Nepal have been jointly placed at 117th with a score of 2.5, Pakistan 144th with a score of 2.1 and Myanmar 155th (1.8).

Iceland is the least corrupt country with a score of 9.7 while Bangladesh and Chad have jointly been described as the most corrupt nations in the world ranking 158th (1.7).

The United Kingdom has been placed 11th jointly with Netherland (8.6) while United States has been placed at 17th with a score of 7.6 in the index.