NEW DELHI (TrustLaw) - At least 42 percent of young Indians have paid a bribe, according to a survey of the country's youth conducted by the Hindustan Times.
Of 7,000 Indians polled between the ages of 18 and 21 across 15 cities, almost 40 percent of respondents said they would not feel ashamed if they had to pay a bribe.
"Bribery is a tradition in this country. It is now in our DNA," anti-corruption activist Sharrom Yezdegardi, was quoted as saying in the newspaper.
According to the survey, 80 percent of young Indians polled feel that the impact of corruption is making the political system inefficient, while 50 percent believed it was a "necessary evil".
Activists said people living below the poverty line are the worst hit as they are faced with demands for bribes to access such free basic government services as police, employment, food schemes, employment opportunities, water, heath and education.
India is ranked 95th in Transparency International's 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index, which grades 183 countries by their perceived levels of public-sector corruption each year.
A recent graft scandal involving violations in granting telecoms licences is estimated to have cost the country up to $39 billion in lost revenue, according to the state auditor.
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