Research has also revealed that corruption is a major threat to climate action, as it hinders progress in reducing emissions and adapting to the unavoidable effects of global heating. Representative file image. | Photo Credit: Reuters India ranked 96 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2024 as its overall score dropped a point to 38, according to a Transparency International report released on Tuesday (February 11, 2025). The index, which ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and business people, uses a scale of zero to 100, where “zero” is highly corrupt and “100” is very clean. In 2024, India’s overall score was 38 while it was 39 in 2023 and 40 in 2022. India’s rank in 2023 was 93. Among India’s neighbours, Pakistan (135) and Sri Lanka (121) grappled with their respective low rankings, while Bangladesh’s ranking stood further down at 149. China ranked 76. Denmark topped the list of being the least-corrupt nation, followed by Finland and Singapore. The …