Corruption among government employees in India extends beyond higher bureaucratic levels and includes everyday public-facing offices like traffic police units, registration offices, and local state departments. The problem persists despite automation and

Widespread Corruption Among Local Government Employees According to the 2025 National Corruption Index, local bodies, municipal offices, and land registration departments are among the most affected by bribery and misuse of power. Corruption occurs in routine services such as property registration, issuance of birth and death certificates, and local tax collection. Factors like complex bureaucracy, low transparency, and high discretionary power of public officials encourage such misconduct.​ Examples include municipal officers colluding with property developers for land allocations and registration clerks soliciting bribes to speed up applications or clear backlogs. Many citizens describe local government as the most visible face of corruption due to daily interactions over essential services.​ Traffic Police and Law Enforcement Corruption Corruption within traffic policing remains a nationwide concern. In 2025 alone: A Delhi traffic policeman was sentenced to four years in prison for accepting a ₹3,000 bribe to release a vehicle.​ Two Delhi traffic officers were caught red-handed for collecting ₹30,000 bribes to shield commercial vehicles from challans.​ In Kerala, a senior traffic officer was booked for embezzling ₹16.7 lakh from traffic fines over four years, manipulating manual receipt books before the system was digitized.​ In Gurugram, three cops were suspended after being recorded by a Japanese tourist’s smart glasses while accepting a bribe.​ Although digital challan systems and CCTV surveillance have reduced roadside bribery in some cities, selective enforcement and collusion with transporters persist. State-Level and Departmental Corruption State government employees have also been implicated in bribery and irregularities in departments like Public Works, Revenue, and Excise. In Uttarakhand, 150 people, including top bureaucrats, engineers, and contractors, were arrested over three years as part of a major crackdown on recruitment scams and bribery networks. Despite such actions, reports by the Central Vigilance Commission show that many ministries continue to dilute disciplinary recommendations against accused officials.​ Reforms and Accountability Measures To curb this systemic corruption, multiple reforms have been initiated: Digital India vigilance drive: Most challan, registration, and permit processes are being shifted online to minimize human discretion. Vigilance campaigns: Ongoing national campaigns like "Preventive Vigilance 2025" (August–November 2025) aim to promote citizen reporting of corruption.​ Transparency enforcement: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Vigilance Bureaus in states are leveraging AI-based analytics to detect abnormal cash flows and suspicious staff behavior.​ Conclusion Corruption among lower-level and state employees — traffic police, registration staff, and local bodies — remains deeply rooted despite digitalization and arrests. The real test for India’s anti-corruption reform lies not just in making new rules but ensuring swift termination and prosecution of guilty officials rather than prolonged suspension or quiet transfers.