Skip to main content

Just 12% Gujarat households say Modi govt committed to fight corruption: Survey

By Rajiv Shah
A 13-state survey carried out a Delhi-based non-profit organization, CMS India, has found that in “model” Gujarat’s just about 12% households households feel that the Narendra Modi government is “committed” towards reducing corruption, which is the lowest of all states, with the sole exception of Andhra Pradesh, where just about 2% of feel that way.
The survey, involving a sample of 160 households from each of the 13 states, covering 10 to 12 rural and urban locations, finds that Gujarat’s 13% households feel that the state government is committed to reducing corruption. Only two states perform worse than Gujarat – Andhra Pradesh (1%) and Rajasthan (11%).
The survey report, titled “CMS-India Corruption Study 2018”, says, “Compared to previous year (2017), in 2018 round, the percentage who feel Union government is committed to rein duce corruption (31%), should be a matter of concern for the Modi-led government. In 2017, the percentage of such population was more than 40 percent.”
Perception about Modi govt
It adds, “Another 38% feel that the government is not much committed i.e. committed to some extent only, while a little more than 25% feel that Union government is not at all committed in reducing corruption. Vacant Lokayukta’s (Ombudsman) position at the national level after being in power for around 4 years, or recent cases of non-performing assets (NPAs) in banking sector (infamous cases of Mallaya and Nirav Modi), could be the factors contributing in building people’s perception that government at the national level is not committed to reduce corruption.”
By way of comparison, Biharis place the highest trust in the Modi government with 50% households feeling that it is committed in reducing corruption, followed by Delhi 44%, West Bengal 43%, Telangana 42%, and so on.
As for trust in state governments, 48% households of West Bengal feel that the Mamata government is committed to reducing corruption, followed by Bihar 44%, Telangana 39%, and so on.
Conducted during February-March 2018, the survey results further finds that 48% of Gujarat households feel corruption in public service has increased, which is higher than four of the 13 states surveyed – Andhra Pradesh 72%, followed by Punjab 56%, Tamil Nadu 53%, and Rajasthan 51%.
Perception about respective state governments 
The report says, “Compared to 2017 round, the perception about the respective state government’s commitment towards reducing corruption has further deteriorated in most of the surveyed states in 2018 round, except, Bihar, Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra to some extent.”
With an average of 31% across 13 states, the report particularly notes, “No change in opinion about the state government in Gujarat is observed, as far as people perception about the respective state government’s commitment to reduce corruption in public services is concerned.”
The report states, “In CMS-ICS 2018, 75% households have the perception that the level of corruption in public services has either increased or remained same during the last 12 months”, adding, “27% households experienced corruption at least once while availing any one of the 11 public services covered in CMS-ICS 2018.”
It adds, “Among public services, where households experiencing corruption while availing its services was high during the last 12 months include, transport (21%), police (20%), housing/land records (16%) and health/hospital services (10%).” On the other hand, “less than 1% of the households experienced corruption in banking services.”
The survey found that “while 99% of the respondents had Aadhaar, 7% of them paid bribe to get it. In case of Voter ID, around 92% had one but 3% paid bribe to get the Voter ID made.” The report comments, “This is high and reflects continued malice.”

Comments

TRENDING

Telangana government urged to stop 'unconstitutional' relocation of Chenchu tribes

By A Representative   The Nallamalla forests are witnessing a renewed surge of indigenous resistance as the Chenchu adivasis , a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), have formally launched the Chenchu Solidarity Forum (CSF) on the eve of World Earth Day to combat what they describe as unlawful and forced relocation from the Amrabad Tiger Reserve . 

Dhandhuka violence: Gujarat minority group seeks judicial action, cites targeted arson

By A Representative   The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Gujarat has written to the Director General of Police seeking judicial action in connection with recent violence in Dhandhuka town of Ahmedabad district, alleging targeted attacks on properties belonging to members of the Muslim community following a fatal altercation between two bike riders on April 18.

Cracks in Gujarat model? Surat’s exodus reveals precarity behind prosperity claims

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*   The return of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, particularly from Gujarat, was inevitable. Gujarat has long been showcased as the epitome of “infrastructure” and the business-friendly Modi model. Yet, when governments become business-friendly, they require the poor to serve them—while keeping them precarious, unable to stabilize, demand fair wages, or assert their rights. The agenda is clear: workers must remain grateful for whatever crumbs the Seth ji offers.  

'Fraudulent': Ex-civil servants urge President to halt Odisha tribal land dispossession

By A Representative   A collective of 81 retired civil servants from the Constitutional Conduct Group has written to the President of India expressing alarm over what they describe as the wrongful dispossession of tribal lands in Odisha’s Rayagada district. The letter, dated April 19, 2026, highlights violent clashes in Kantamal village where police personnel reportedly injured over 70 tribal residents attempting to protect their community rights. 

India 'violating international law obligations' over Israel ties: UN rapporteur

By A Representative   Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, has alleged that India is “violating its obligations under international law” through its continued association with Israel, including defence ties and alleged arms exports during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Why Tamil Nadu, Periyar, and the Dravidian model aren't just regional phenomena

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The election campaign in Tamil Nadu this season is strikingly different. The alliance led by the DMK is consistently referred to as the “ DMK alliance ,” not the “INDIA alliance.” This distinction is unsurprising given the state’s history: Tamil Nadu remains the only state to decisively reject “national” parties. The AIADMK’s surrender to the BJP after J. Jayalalithaa ’s death represents, in many ways, a betrayal of the politics of Tamil identity—an identity Periyar envisioned as Dravidian, not narrowly Tamil.

If Maoist violence is illegitimate, how is Hindutva, state violence justified? Can right-wing wash off its sins?

By Swami Agnivesh* and Sandeep Pandey** There was major police action against Sudha Bhardwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Varvara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira on 28 August, 2018. Before this police arrested Professor Shoma Sen, Adocate Sudhir Gadling, Sudhir Dhawle, Mahesh Raut and Rona Wilson on 6 June. Even before this Dr. Binayak Sen, Soni Sori, Ajay TG, Professor GN Saibaba and Prashant Rahi have been arrested and all these activists have been accused of having links with Maoists.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

​ By Syed Ali Mujtaba*  ​The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

World Book Day: Celebrating the power of reading in the Indian context

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan*  Written language is one of humanity’s greatest achievements, setting us apart from all other living beings. In a country like India, home to diverse languages, cultures, and traditions, books play an even more powerful role. They are not just tools of communication but bridges across generations, regions, and ideologies.  When we read the works of Munshi Premchand or Rabindranath Tagore , we are not merely reading stories; we are engaging in a silent conversation with minds that lived decades, even centuries ago. That is the true power of books: they preserve thoughts, ideas, and emotions beyond time. Recognising this immense value, the world celebrates World Book Day , a day dedicated to honouring books, authors, and the joy of reading.