SC Plea for Lifetime Ban on Convicted Politicians

Source: TH 

Why in News?

The Supreme Court (SC) is hearing petitions seeking a lifetime ban on convicted persons from contesting elections for decriminalizing politics. 

• Petitions seek to amend the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RP Act, 1951) that contains legal provisions for convicted persons from contesting elections. 

What are Legal Provisions and SC Judgements Related to Convicted Persons? 

• Legal Provisions: 
  • Section 8(3): It determines disqualification based on sentence duration.  
    • If a person is convicted of a criminal offense and sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more, they are disqualified from contesting elections during the period of imprisonment and for six years after release. 
  • Section 8(1): It determines disqualification for specific offenses that lead to immediate disqualification, irrespective of the sentence duration and six years after release. 
    • Offences include rape and other heinous crimes, untouchability, terror, and corruption related offenses. 
  • Section 11: The Election Commission (EC) can remove or shorten a convicted person's disqualification period. 
    • E.g., In 2019, the EC controversially cut Prem Singh Tamang’s (Sikkim’s CM) disqualification from 6 years to 13 months, enabling his election bid despite a corruption conviction. 
• SC Judgements: 
  • Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) Case, 2002: It mandated the disclosure of criminal records of all candidates contesting elections. 
  • CEC vs. Jan Chaukidar Case, 2013: The SC upheld the Patna High Court's view that jailed individuals lose their ‘elector’ status under Section 62(5) of the RP Act, 1951, disqualifying undertrial prisoners from contesting elections. 
    • However, the Parliament amended the RP Act, 1951 in 2013 to overturn this judgment allowing under trial prisoners to contest elections. 
  • Lily Thomas Case, 2013: The SC struck down Section 8(4) of the RP Act, 1951, which earlier allowed convicted legislators to remain in office if they filed an appeal. 
    • After this judgment, a sitting MP/MLA is immediately disqualified upon conviction. 
  • Public Interest Foundation Case, 2018: The SC mandated political parties to publish candidates' criminal records on their websites, social media, and newspapers. 

What are Arguments For and Against a Lifetime Ban on Convicted Politicians? 

Arguments For	Arguments Against
Vohra Committee (1993) recommended strict background checks and disqualifies candidates with serious criminal charges.	Political rivals may file false cases to disqualify opponents, exploiting the judicial process.
Just like government employees are dismissed upon conviction, politicians should face similar disqualification.	MPs and MLAs lack 'service conditions' like government servants. A six-year disqualification after sentencing is sufficient.  Elected representatives differ from government employees as they are chosen by the public rather than appointed through service rules.  Unlike bureaucrats, MPs and MLAs have a fixed 5-year tenure and must seek re-election, making them directly accountable to voters.
	Ignores the possibility of reformation and denies individuals a second chance to serve. Measures such as fast-tracking cases against politicians may be more effective.

Way Forward 

• Strengthening Disqualification Criteria: Extend disqualification beyond six years for grave crimes like corruption, terrorism, and sexual offenses. 
• Empowering Election Commission: Empower the EC with stronger regulatory powers to verify candidates’ criminal records and financial disclosures. 
  • EC has recommended that even persons against whom charges are framed by a competent court for an offence that entails punishment of more than five years should not be allowed to contest elections. 
• Judicial Reforms: Fast-track trials of MPs/MLAs in special courts to ensure time-bound justice and avoid prolonged legal battles that allow criminals to continue contesting elections. 
• Enforcing a Code of Conduct for Politicians: Introduce a mandatory Code of Conduct for political leaders, ensuring ethical behavior, accountability, and discipline in public life. 
  • Establish a Political Ethics Committee under the Election Commission to monitor violations of ethical standards.

Drishti Mains Question: Critically examine the role of the Supreme Court in addressing the criminalization of politics in India, with a focus on the disqualification of convicted politicians.

Changing Nature of Terrorism

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

New terror methods and terror attacks are evolving, influenced by geopolitical instability, digital radicalization, and evolving strategies of extremist groups. 

How is the Nature of Terrorism is Changing? 

• Unpredictability: Terrorism trends are unpredictable, allowing dormant groups like Hamas and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) (Syrian terrorist organization) to resurface with major impact. 
  • The earlier belief that terror groups would not engage in full-scale war but Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 has blurred this predictability. 
  • Self indoctrinated and radicalised youths are leading to unpredictable Lone-wolf attacks. E.g., New Orleans attacks 2025 in the US. 
• State Sponsored: Both Syria and Afghanistan now governed by terrorist groups (HTS and the Taliban, respectively) prolonging terrorism.  
• Evolving Tactics: Modern terrorism relies on sympathizers, sleeper cells, ideological debates on use of violence, unconventional attacks like vehicle ramming, and a rising number of educated professionals joining extremist networks.  
• Expanding Geographic Reach: ISIS-K’s growing presence in Afghanistan threatens South Asia. 
• Technology as a Force Multiplier: Terrorists are using advanced technology like drones, 3D printing, and cyber tools to boost their capabilities, potentially enabling high-profile attacks that amplify propaganda. 
  • E.g., Houthi attack on Saudi Aramco's oil facilities in 2019 showcased use of precision drones. 
• Cross-Group Cooperation: Terrorist groups are collaborating to increase their area of influence and threaten regional stability.  
  • E.g., Iran’s Axis of Resistance (Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iraqi militias) working against Israel. 
• Domestic Terrorism in the West: Political polarization in the US and Europe is driving extremism, while immigration tensions risk violence, as seen in the El Paso shooting 2019 in US 

What are the Reasons for Changing the Nature of Terrorism? 

• Weakened Global Governance: Institutions like the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are proving ineffective in dismantling terror groups and preventing their funding, making global counter-terrorism efforts weak. 
• Emergence of Terror Regime: The collapse of the Assad regime and rise of HTS in Syria indicate potential for strengthening of terror infrastructure due to political shifts. 
• Global Terrorist Networks: Increased globalization has facilitated the movement of people, money, and weapons across borders.  
  • E.g., Al-Qaeda and ISIS presence in Africa, South Asia, and Europe beyond the Middle East. 
• Shift in Ideological Motivations: Terrorism now stems from religious extremism, identity grievances, and personal motives, not just political goals. 
  • E.g., the Christchurch shootings 2019 were driven by white supremacist extremism. 
• Proxy Warfare: State-backed terrorist groups complicate terrorism by fueling instability in rival countries. E.g., Jaish-e-Mohammed carried out attacks in India with Pakistan’s support. 

How the Changing Nature of Terrorism Impacting India? 

• Homegrown Radicalization: Terror organisations have recruited Indian youth, with radicalization cases in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.  
  • E.g., India identified 62 locals and 68 overseas Indians linked to ISIS, with 95% from South India. 
• Low-Cost Attacks: Low-cost, high-impact attacks are rising e.g., low key attacks like Coimbatore car blast 2022 for which resources can be arranged locally. 
• Radicalization in Local Dilects: Terrorists use social media and encrypted apps for propaganda, recruitment, and planning, while deepfake technology and AI pose rising misinformation threats in local dialects which are hard to detect on the formal social media platforms. 
• UAV-Based Terrorism: Drones are now used to drop arms, explosives, and drugs across the India-Pakistan border. 
  • E.g., Two explosives-laden drones crashed into the Indian Air Force station at Jammu in 2021. 
• Hawala Transactions: Increased reliance on hawala networks, cryptocurrency transactions, and fake NGOs run by fugitive people like Zakir Naik to fund terrorism. 
  • E.g., channeling of foreign funds for unlawful activities by the now banned Popular Front of India (PFI).  

Way Forward 

• Global Cooperation: Strengthen international counterterrorism frameworks, including the UNSC and FATF, to curb terrorist financing and transnational networks. 
  • India should strengthen intelligence-sharing with neighbors via BIMSTEC and SAARC. 
• AI & Cybersecurity Measures: Develop AI-driven surveillance and deepfake detection tools to counter online radicalization and misinformation in local languages. 
  • Work with tech companies to curb extremist content and propaganda spread through encrypted apps. 
• NGO Scrutiny: Strictly monitor NGOs receiving foreign funds to prevent terror financing under the guise of charity. 
• Counterterrorism Laws: Update laws like UAPA and NIA Acts to tackle new-age threats like one-wolf attack.

Drishti Mains Question: How is the nature of terrorism evolving globally? Discuss the role of technology and geopolitics in shaping modern terrorism.

Paris AI Summit 2025

Source: TH 

Why in News?

The Prime Minister (PM) of India visited France to co-chair the Paris Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit 2025.  

Also, the 2nd India-France AI Policy Roundtable was held on the sidelines of the summit.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit: 

• The AI Action Summit is a global forum that brings together world leaders, policymakers, technology experts, and industry representatives to discuss AI governance, ethics, and its role in society. 
• The AI Action Summit in Paris is the 3rd summit, following the Bletchley Park Summit (UK 2023) and the Seoul Summit (South Korea 2024). 
  • Bletchley Park Declaration (28 countries): Advocated safe, human-centric, and responsible AI. 
  • Seoul Summit (27 nations): Reaffirmed international cooperation and proposed a network of AI Safety Institutes. 

What are the Key Outcomes of the Paris Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit 2025? 

• Joint Declaration on Inclusive and Sustainable AI: Joint Statement on ‘Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet’ was signed by 58 countries including India, China, EU,  except US and the UK (expressing concerns related to excessive regulations on AI). 
• Public Interest AI Platform and Incubator: Public Interest AI Platform and Incubator was launched to bridge public-private AI efforts, and promote a trustworthy AI ecosystem through capacity building in data, transparency, and financing. 
• Human-Centric AI and Global Priorities: The summit emphasized the need for ethical, safe, and inclusive AI, ensuring human rights protection while addressing AI-driven inequalities.  
  • Global Priorities related to AI includes AI accessibility, transparency, job creation, sustainability, and international governance.  
  • It emphasized bridging the digital divide, ensuring AI safety, promoting green AI, and fostering global cooperation. 
• Alignment with Existing Multilateral AI Initiatives: The summit emphasized alignment with global AI initiatives, including UN General Assembly Resolutions, the Global Digital Compact, UNESCO AI Ethics Recommendations, the African Union AI strategy, and frameworks by OECD, G7, and G20.  
• India’ Stance: India advocated open-source and sustainable AI, emphasizing clean energy and workforce upskilling.  
  • As the 2024 lead chair of the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), it aims to establish GPAI as the central platform for responsible AI development. 

What are the Key Outcomes of 2nd India-France AI Policy Roundtable? 

• About: 
  • The 2nd India-France AI Policy Roundtable was held alongside the AI Action Summit 2025 in Paris. 
  • It was organized by India's Principal Scientific Adviser’s Office, IISc Bengaluru, IndiaAI Mission, and Sciences Po Paris. 
• Key Takeaways: 
  • AI Governance & Ethics: Emphasis on responsible AI, equitable benefit-sharing, techno-legal frameworks, and AI safety.  
    • Discussions covered Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for AI, AI foundation models, global AI governance, and AI’s role in tackling global challenges. 
  • Cross-Border AI Collaboration: Focus on data sovereignty, interoperable AI infrastructure, and sovereign AI models, addressing the lack of arbitration mechanisms for cross-border data flows. 
  • AI for Global Challenges: Integration of AI in multilingual models, federated computing, and solutions for global issues. 
  • Sustainable AI: Promotion of energy-efficient AI models and responsible computing practices to mitigate AI’s high energy footprint. 

What are the Challenges Related to the Development of AI? 

• High Energy Consumption: AI's growing energy demand could increase data centers' power consumption from 1-2% to 3-4% by 2030, potentially reaching 21% of global energy consumption. 
  • The expected rise in carbon dioxide emissions due to increased energy demand is projected to result in a "social cost" of USD 125-140 billion. 
  • IEA states that a ChatGPT query uses 10 times more energy than a Google search. 
  • AI data centres may consume as much electricity as India’s total current consumption (1,580 terawatt-hours) (Economic Survey 2024-25). 
• Issue of People-Centric AI vs AI-Centric Development: Balancing people-centric AI (ethical, inclusive, and human-focused) with AI-centric development (automation-driven) is a key challenge as over-reliance on AI risks job loss, data privacy issues, and digital divide. 
• Insecure and Low-Cost AI Models: Insecure and low-cost AI models like DeepSeek pose risks of data breaches, misinformation, deepfakes, and cybersecurity threats.  
  • Weak regulatory oversight and ethical safeguards heighten bias and security concerns, necessitating robust AI governance. 

Way Forward 

• Sustainable AI Infrastructure: Promote energy-efficient AI models, renewable-powered data centers, and optimized algorithms to reduce AI’s carbon footprint.  
  • Encourage green computing and AI-driven smart grids for sustainability. 
• Ethical and Inclusive AI Policies: Promote equity, transparency, and accountability in AI.  
  • Strengthen data privacy, bias mitigation, and algorithmic fairness to balance people-centric and AI-centric. 
• Strengthening AI Regulations and Security:  Enforce strict oversight on AI models, especially insecure ones like DeepSeek, to counter cyber threats, misinformation, and deepfakes.  
• Capacity Building and Workforce Readiness: Strengthen AI education, skilling programs, and research institutions to build a skilled workforce and mitigate job displacement. 
• AI for Public Good: Utilize AI in healthcare, agriculture, governance, and disaster management to drive economic and social progress while minimizing risks. 

Drishti Mains Question: Discuss the key challenges in AI implementation in India and suggest policy measures to address them.

In-Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG)

Source: IE 

Why in News? 

Researchers have developed In-Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG) that enables lab-based reproduction from stem cells that has many benefits compared to In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF). 

What is In-Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG)? 

• About: IVG is a new reproductive technology that creates eggs and sperm from stem cells collected from skin, hair, or blood.  
  • These lab-grown gametes can be fertilized to create an embryo, which is implanted into a surrogate to carry the pregnancy. 
• Scientific Breakthroughs: Scientists in Japan successfully produced mice using IVG, while the UK researchers expect human trials within three years. 
  • It could allow same-sex couples, older individuals, and infertile people to have biological children without the need of a donor as in case of IVF. 
• Significance for India: Due to several socio-biological factors IVG can be helpful in case of India like: 
  • Indian women’s reproductive age (ovarian function) is declining six years earlier than Western women. 
  • Men's sperm count has declined over 50 years and may reach minimal levels in four decades.  
  • India's population has fallen below the 2.1 replacement level, risking an aging crisis.  
• Difference Between IVG and In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF):

Aspect	In-Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG)	In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Gamete Source	Converts stem cells into eggs or sperm of the intended couple itself.	Requires natural eggs and sperm from the intended couple or donors.
Genetic Editing	Allows removal of harmful traits before fertilization (designer babies).	Limited to screening embryos for genetic disorders.
Reproductive Age	Could enable parenthood at any age by creating new gametes.	Fertility is limited by age-related as egg and sperm quality declines with age.
Legal Status	Not yet regulated in most countries.	Regulated and widely used worldwide.
Ethical Concerns	Raises concerns about designer babies and genetic selection e.g., selection of physical traits, intelligence etc.	Less controversial, but involves embryo selection.

Obscenity Laws in India

Source: IE 

Why in News?  

A YouTube influencer is under investigation for allegedly making obscene comments during a widely viewed show. A complaint has been filed under Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) for "obscene acts". 

• This raises questions about the legal definition of obscenity, particularly in the digital age. 

What are the Laws Governing Obscenity? 

• Section 294 of BNS 2023: Formerly Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 292, it prohibits the sale, advertisement, or public display of obscene content, including digital media. 
  • Defines obscenity as material that is sexually suggestive, meant to provoke sexual thoughts, or likely to harm people's morals or behavior. 
  • First-time offenders face up to 2 years in jail and a ₹5,000 fine. Repeat offenders may get up to 5 years and a Rs 10,000 fine. 
• Section 296 of the BNS: It penalizes performing obscene acts in public, as well as singing, reciting, or uttering obscene songs, ballads, or words in public or doing so to the annoyance of others.  
  • By regulating public behavior that could offend public morality or decency, this section aims to uphold societal norms. 
• Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000: Punishes publishing or transmitting obscene material electronically. 
  • The definition of obscene material is identical to that provided under Section 294 of the BNS. 
  • Provides harsher penalties than BNS with up to 3 years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh for first-time offences. 
• Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986: Prohibits indecent depiction of women that is derogatory, denigrating, or harms public morality. 
• POCSO Act, 2012 (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act:  Prohibits creating, storing, sharing, or accessing child sexual content online, with strict penalties for offenders. 

How Do Courts Determine What is ‘Obscene’? 

• Hicklin Test: In Ranjit D Udeshi v. State of Maharashtra ,1964 the Supreme Court of India used the Hicklin Test, which was adopted by the British in the case Queen v. Hicklin, 1868.  
  • This test determined that material is obscene if it has the tendency to deprave and corrupt those people whose minds are open to such immoral influences. 
    • The lowest common denominator standard was applied, meaning content was judged based on its impact on children or vulnerable adults, not the average person. 
  • Criticism: Considered outdated and overly restrictive. The test focused on isolated parts of content rather than the work as a whole. 
• Community Standards Test: In Aveek Sarkar v. State of West Bengal, 2014  the Indian Supreme Court replaced the Hicklin Test with the “community standards” test (CST) to determine obscenity. 
  • Courts now judge obscenity based on contemporary societal norms. They assess whether the overall theme of the content, taken as a whole, appeals to prurient interests (i.e., sexually arousing content without artistic, literary, or social value). 
  • Courts strive to balance fundamental rights (Article 19(1)(a) Free Speech) with reasonable restrictions (Article 19(2). 
  • Judicial Precedents:  Boris Becker Nude Photo Case, 2014 the SC ruled that nudity alone is not obscene if it has artistic or social merit. 
    • Courts take into account whether the work serves a literary, artistic, political, or scientific purpose before determining its obscenity. 
    • In the 2024 College Romance Web Series case, the SC ruled that vulgar language isn't obscene unless it arouses sexual thoughts. 
  • Shortcomings: CST is subjective and varies by region (based on geography, culture, and social norms), leading to inconsistent judgments. It struggles to keep up with evolving social norms and lacks clear definitions, causing ambiguity in legal interpretations. 

Drishti Mains Question:  Discuss the evolution of obscenity laws in India and its impact on freedom of speech?

 

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025

Source: IE 

Why in News?  

The 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting concluded in Davos, Switzerland, bringing together global leaders to discuss pressing issues under the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.”  

What are the Key Takeaways From 2025 WEF? 

• Sustainability: The meeting stressed that sustainability is vital for business resilience, urging companies to align growth with global sustainability goals for profitability and societal impact. 
• Emerging Technologies: The 2025 WEF highlighted that Artificial Intelligence and green tech offer both opportunities and challenges. 
  • Responsible AI frameworks and ethical balance with progress is key to improving supply chains, reducing emissions, and enhancing transparency. 
• Partnerships: Emphasized that global challenges require multi-sectoral partnerships for impactful solutions. Effective collaborations could unlock USD 12 trillion in market opportunities by 2030. 
• Climate Action: Stressed the need for urgent climate action, ensuring decarbonization includes a fair transition for workers and communities. 
• India at the 2025 WEF: 
  • Investment Commitments: India secured over Rs 20 lakh crore in investment commitments, with Maharashtra securing nearly 80% of the total. 
  • States' Contributions: Telangana secured Rs 1.79 lakh crore investment, Kerala emphasized its industrial transformation, and Uttar Pradesh highlighted its vision to become a USD 1 trillion economy by 2029 with Zero poverty. 

Cheetah Cubs Birth in Kuno National Park

Source: IE 

A cheetah at Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park (NP) gave birth to two cubs, bringing the total to 26 cheetahs, including 14 cubs. 

• About Kuno NP: Kuno NP (Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh) was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1981 and upgraded to a national park in 2018. 
  • Geography: It primarily consists of dry deciduous forest and the Kuno River, a major Chambal tributary, flows through the park.  
    • It is located in the Vindhyan Hills. 
  • Fauna: Leopard, Striped hyena, Indian wolf, Blackbuck, Sambar deer, Gharial (Kuno river). 
    •  It was selected under the Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India. 
  • Vegetation: The primary tree species are Kardhai, Khair, and Salai. 

Read More: One Year of Project Cheetah 

Fort Williams Renamed as Vijay Durg

Source: TH 

Fort William, the Indian Army’s Eastern Command HQ in Kolkata, has been renamed Vijay Durg to remove colonial imprints. It is named after Maharashtra's oldest Sindhudurg fort, a former Maratha naval base under Chhatrapati Shivaji. 

• Other changes include renaming Kitchener House, inside the fort to Manekshaw House and St. George’s Gate to Shivaji Gate. 

About Fort Williams: 

• The fort is located in Kolkata on the eastern banks of the Hooghly River and was originally named after King William III of England. 
  • The original fort was built by the British in 1696 under Sir John Goldsborough and completed in 1706.  
  • It was damaged during the Siege of Calcutta (1756) when Siraj-ud-Daulah defeated the British.  
  • After the Battle of Plassey (1757), Robert Clive rebuilt it at a new location between 1758 and 1781. 
• Significance: 
  • Site of the Black Hole of Calcutta incident (1756). 
  • It houses a war memorial with artifacts from the 1971 Indo-Pak War and Bangladesh Liberation War. 

Other Similar Renamings: 

• Renaming Rajpath to Kartavya Path and Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram. 
• The Indian Navy adopted a new ensign, removing colonial symbols (2022). 

Read More: British Conquest for Bengal: Battles of Plassey and Buxar 

Exercise CYCLONE

Source: TH 

The 3^rd edition of the India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise CYCLONE commenced at Rajasthan. 

About Exercise CYCLONE: 

• Annual Exercise: Conducted alternatively in India and Egypt, with the last edition held in Egypt (January 2024). 
• Objectives: 
  • Strengthening military-to-military relations between India and Egypt. 
  • Enhancing interoperability, joint operational capabilities and exchange of special warfare operations tactics. 
  • Counter-terrorism operations in desert/semi-desert terrain aligning with Chapter VII of the UN Charter. 

India and Egypt: 

• India is one of Egypt’s key trading partners in Africa, with a Bilateral Trade Agreement (1978) based on the Most Favored Nation clause. 
• India and Egypt established a Strategic Partnership in 2023 spanning political, security, defence, energy, and economic cooperation. 

Joint Exercises with India:

Country	Exercise
Australia	Austra Hindbah
Bangladesh	Sampriti
China	Hand in Hand
France	Shakti
Indonesia	Garuda Shakti
Kazakhstan	Prabal Dostykk
Kyrgyzstan	Khanjar
Maldives	Ekuverin
Mongolia	Nomadic Elephant
Myanmar	Imbex
Nepal	Surya Kiran
Oman	Al Nagah
Russia	Indra
Seychelles	Lamitiye
Sri Lanka	Mitra Shakti
Thailand	Maitree
UK	Ajeya Warrior
USA	Yudhabhayas, Vajra Prahar

Read More: Major Military Exercises of India 

Corruption Perceptions Index 2024

Source: TH 

India ranked 96^th in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2024, down from 93^rd in 2023, with a score of 38, a decline from 39 in 2023. 

• CPI: Published annually by the non-governmental organization Transparency International since 1995.  
  • It ranks 180 countries based on perceived levels of public sector corruption, using a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). 
  • Denmark topped the CPI 2024 as the least corrupt nation, followed by Finland and Singapore. Among India’s neighbors, Pakistan (135), Sri Lanka (121), and Bangladesh (149) ranked poorly, while China stood at 76. 
  • While 32 countries have significantly reduced their corruption levels since 2012, 148 countries have either stagnated or worsened during the same period, highlighting the ongoing challenge. 
• According to the Transparency International, Corruption hampers climate action by misusing funds meant for mitigation and adaptation, with fossil-fuel interests obstructing policies.  
  • It also links to declining democracy, instability, and human rights violations, necessitating urgent global action. 

Read more: Corruption Perception Index 2023