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Speech on Corruption for Students in English | 3 Minutes Speech

December 10, 2020 by Sandeep

Speech on Corruption: Corruption poses a highly significant issue for the Indian democracy hindering the wheels of economic growth and prosperity. It creates a huge gap and raises risk levels for investors to operate their businesses on our lands. The global corruption perception index has indicated worrisome rankings for the country’s corruption level. Accepting and offering bribes represents is illegal according to our constitution. Entitlements and social spending schemes are the largest fishnets, where corruption is rampantly present.

Speech on Corruption 500 Words in English

Below we have provided Corruption Speech in English, suitable for class 7, 8, 9 and 10 school students.

Good morning to one & all present here. Today I ……… is going to express my views on the topic of corruption. Corruption is defined as some unethical activity or behaviour, which results in some gain. We all are aware of the rate of increase of corruption in our country. India is a beautiful land, but its beauty is getting lost by the corruption that is happening. There is no sector left which has been untouched by corruption.

There are many forms of corruption which we often hear about in the news. It involves two parties, one who pays & one who do the favour. Bribery is one of them in which offering monetary or any other benefits to any official for easy processing of documents, for admission in colleges, schools, for jobs, for ticket in election & many more. Even nowadays, media persons are bribed to broadcast a particular program on their news channel.

Nepotism is a word which we all must have come through, which means favouring relatives over others for a specific position, work etc. The most live example to nepotism is crystal clear in Bollywood where people with connections are given a chance over others. There are also other forms of corruption like patronage, which means favouring supporters, cronyism means favouring friends.

There are adverse effects of corruption on the economy of a country. It often results in loss to the weaker section. It depletes the national wealth, which is for the betterment of the country. Corruption is a significant challenge for democracy as it hinders the implementation of laws & violates them. It also results in depletion or overexploitation of natural resources. Now the question comes how to fight against corruption? Now we should ask ourselves this question of how many times we as citizens have opposed corruption?

The strict enforcement of rules & regulation with punishment to the culprit has become the need of the time. Freedom of press, transparency & access to information will help in curbing corruption. The foremost important step is citizen demand; we all must demand our government for a corruption-free society. We also need to ensure that we all are abiding the rules set by the government. I want to end my speech with a quote by Angel Gurria.

“Integrity, transparency and the fight against corruption have to be part of the culture. They have to be taught as fundamental values.”

Short Speech on Corruption 150 Words

Find below corruption speech, usually given for class 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 students

A warm welcome everyone present here. We all are present here to discuss the much-hiked issue of today’s democracy, that is corruption. We all are aware of what corruption is & also aware of the different forms of corruption. Let it be bribery, favours, nepotism or cronyism; it’s the high time that we all must be alert & raise our voice against the issues. Corruption has highly impacted the pride of a nation like India, where democracy is our fundamentals.

The corruption has affected our political systems, economic balances, social harmony & environmental misbalance. The corrupted political system has resulted in wrong persons on power & discontentment among people. Corruption has led to larger impacts on the weaker section of the society. It has also depleted our national wealth & natural resources. We all need to understand that this immoral & dishonest activity is not going to help anyone of us, but it is degrading the system more & more.

The government need to focus on strict laws & regulations with proper implementation. Do remember that we all have the power to stop corruption, everything starts from ourselves only. Let us not support the corruption, which is the biggest evil of the society. Let us join hand to eliminate corruption from our society. Let us work on inculcating the same values to children right from childhood for a brighter future of our country.

We all must pledge today to never indulge in corruption or support any activity in which corruption is involved.

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Short speech on corruption in india.

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Here is your short speech on Corruption in India !

India is a vast and beautiful land, however the beauty and the goodwill of this great nation gets spoilt with the kind of corruption that is happening in India. Almost in every sector, one could find corruption happening and corrupt people growing in great abundance day by day.

Money and power has ruled men and it has come to a stage where if common man needs any kind of help from the government sector or business arena, you too have to end up taking the corrupt route.

Though lots of speeches go around speaking about morality, behind the doors it is money that rules. For any kind of things to happen, one has to know the back door and spend great amounts of money to get the work done.

In every sector bureaucrats and politicians influence with power and money in such a manner that even the talented and most efficient people in the respective sectors would not be surviving or recruited for that matter.

Hence, in these places, the work efficiency also gets corrupted and altered as per the interests of the people in power.

Corruption starts at the higher levels and it carries its way to the most low levels too. From the senior officer to the junior officers to the clerks, one would find corrupted people and the common man would find it difficult to bypass and get his things done.

Now this does not happen only in the sophisticated cities, but throughout India. Villages and towns are all a part of these games and it is the common man who gets affected from these dirty games.

The heights of corruption has reached to a very great extend where there are no proper laws to bring an end to these corrupt people. Because of the highly corrupt people who just would do anything for money, it has become very difficult for the common man or the righteous to survive. They are taken for granted and hence taken for a ride.

This has to come to an end and we need to reach a situation where every Indian should feel and say that they are living in a corrupt free land and be proud of it.

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• An Useful Speech on Corruption
• A Powerful Speech on Corruption in India!

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Navigating Corruption: A Case Study from India

In the face of corruption in India, wise business leaders must decide what is negotiable — and what isn’t.

November 22, 2022

Is it possible to be virtuous in a sea of corruption? Indian entrepreneur Rajah Koppala of Avis Vascular Centers is trying to do just that. Hear how he and his team are strategically and realistically fighting against the tide of corruption. And, gain insights from Saumitra Jha, an associate professor of political economy at Stanford Graduate School of Business, on what it takes to understand and navigate challenging ecosystems.

Rajah Koppala trained and practiced medicine in the United States before returning to India in 2013 to create a chain of vascular surgical centers which he calls “mini hospitals within hospitals.” As chairman and managing director of Avis Vascular Centers, he had to learn a lot about operating, quite literally, in a very different ecosystem. In the healthcare industry, much of the corruption is rooted in immense amounts of regulation and red tape. For every license that’s required, 23 in Koppala’s case, there’s an interaction with a public official, and therefore an opportunity for corruption. Koppala has decided that some things are negotiable and others aren’t. In this moral gray area, he has had to acknowledge what’s realistic for his business and has developed a set of consistent, intentional criteria to help him decide when he’ll pay and when he won’t.

“You just have to understand corruption is not going to go away. This goes all the way up to the very top. Everybody has their own self-interest. And to a degree, when the legal system is a little weak, when the wages of a lot of these officers is very low to start with, headwinds make this happen,” Koppala explains.

Saumitra Jha advises that there are certainly risks to giving bribes, even small ones, because once people become aware, he says, “They can ask for more and keep holding you up.” He advocates for strong, consistent leadership, making sure your employees are on board with “doing the right thing,” and finding partners in your industry to face obstacles together.

“Oftentimes in economics, companies might be competing with each other in an industry, but at the political level, they have a lot in common. And so thinking about how to do things at an industry level can often be much more beneficial,” Jha explains.

Rajah Koppala has also learned that relationships with public officials really matter. He encourages his team to have a cup of coffee and talk to the officials so they understand the gravity of the law that’s being broken, while still treating them with dignity. “Relationships equal money,” he says. “When you want to pay less, maintain a relationship.”

Listen to Koppala’s first-hand experiences navigating corruption in India and Jha’s strategies for surviving and thriving in these challenging and turbulent waters.

Listen & Subscribe

Grit & Growth is a podcast produced by Stanford Seed , an institute at Stanford Graduate School of Business which partners with entrepreneurs in emerging markets to build thriving enterprises that transform lives.

Hear these entrepreneurs’ stories of trial and triumph, and gain insights and guidance from Stanford University faculty and global business experts on how to transform today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.

Full Transcript

Rajah Koppala: You can’t stand here and say, “Look, I followed, let us say, the drug control law or whatever.” And I can’t stand here and say that I will not be a signatory to this. It’s not possible for an Indian businessman at my scale, for sure.

Darius Teter: Corruption isn’t black and white, but when the environment is fluid, where do you draw the line?

Rajah Koppala: I can give this in writing, and you can survey the cases of SMEs who are less than 10 million, everybody would have to get through this.

Darius Teter: Welcome to the second season of Grit & Growth from Stanford Seed, the show where Africa and South Asia’s intrepid entrepreneurs share their trials and triumphs with insights from Stanford faculty and global experts on how to tackle challenges and grow your business.

As we were interviewing for our last episode, we were inspired by a question from one of our guests: Is it possible to be an island of virtue in a sea of corruption? After talking so much about corruption, we thought it might be nice to take a little break and go visit this island of virtue to see for ourselves. After all this podcasting, frankly, I could use a vacation. I could sit on the beach, enjoy the sun, play in the sand, maybe even get a pina colada. But it turns out that even this island has its problems. And it’s hard to relax when there’s something out there, lurking under the water.

You see, in our previous episode, we discussed corruption on a systemic level, how it works, and how you can fight it. But the truth is, many business owners don’t get to engage with systems. They have to deal with corruption operationally. They’re actually swimming in it, and down there things are complicated. So today we’re exploring that question: Can you be an island of virtue in a sea of corruption? And we’re doing it in India with a case study of a business that has been navigating this issue for many years.

Rajah Koppala: Hi, I’m Rajah Koppala, the chairman and managing director of Avis Vascular Centers. We are a chain of vascular surgical centers. We’re more than a clinic; we sublease areas of our hospital to run a mini hospital in that hospital. We call them a store-in-store, for lack of a better word. But we have now 18 centers spanned across India, mostly in South India, but pan-India right now.

Darius Teter: Rajah studied and practiced medicine in the U.S. before returning to India in 2013, and the Indian business ecosystem took some time to get used to. There are some organizations that track corruption around the world, and one of them produces something called the Corruption Perception Index, and that’s where they interview thousands of people, including business people, and ask them, “What do you perceive is the level of corruption in India?” And they have a scale from zero to a hundred where zero means utterly corrupt, just nothing happens without corruption, and 100 means everything operates under perfect legal conditions. I’m just curious: Where do you think India lies? What do you think India’s score is?

Rajah Koppala: I would probably put it around 25, maybe. I have seen worse. When I came back from the U.S., I was shell-shocked. I was like, “This is ridiculous.” And then I’ve since moved on. I would probably rate it somewhere between 25 to 30, at this point, yeah.

Darius Teter: Yeah, that’s true. It’s all relative, right? Well, the actual score for 2021 is 40, so not quite in the middle. And then if you rank all the countries that they survey, they survey 180 countries, India’s right in the middle there, too. They rank 85 out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perception Index. To put Rajah’s story in perspective, we turned to someone who thinks very seriously about these issues.

Saumitra Jha: On that, if I may, I want to share a joke a Pakistani friend of mine told me.

Darius Teter: That’s the voice of Saumitra Jha.

Saumitra Jha: Being from India and having a friend from Pakistan, we always used to make fun of each other. So one day to pull his leg, I said, “Well, you know, Shiraz, Pakistan is the second most corrupt country in the world according to Transparency International.” He said, “Oh, actually we’re the most corrupt, but we bribed them.”

Darius Teter: I love that.

Aside from comedy, Saum has another job.

Saumitra Jha: I’m Saumitra Jha. I’m an associate professor of political economy at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, as well as a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Affairs.

Darius Teter: What is the importance of political economy at a business school?

Saumitra Jha: I think it’s very important. I might be a bit biased, but I think it’s being aware that a lot of the things that we think of as purely driven by markets are actually driven, to a large extent, by politics, as well. Think about food prices: that’s driven by the U.S. Farm Bill and EU agricultural policy or price supports in many developing countries. Or think about labor: that’s driven mostly, to a large extent, by immigration laws and restrictions of mobility. At some level, all markets are connected with politics. I think it helps us become better at strategy and helps us become better at trying to achieve the objectives of our organization, which I think is to change organizations and change the world.

Darius Teter: What Saum says is true all over the world, but it looks different depending on where you are and what you do. When Rajah came back to India, he had to learn how to operate in a completely different ecosystem. You came from the U.S.; you’re a bit naive, as you said. You weren’t really clear on how to navigate the system. You made some mistakes. What are the big lessons that you’ve learned over the years in managing this type of risk?

Rajah Koppala: Well, number one is that you cannot be an island of integrity and virtue in a sea of corruption and mediocrity. You can’t stand here and say, “Look, I followed, let us say, the drug control law or whatever, whatever.” And I can’t stand here and say that I will not be a signatory to this.. It’s not possible for an Indian businessman at my scale, for sure. I can give this in writing and you can survey the case of SMEs who are less than 10 million. Everybody would have to get through this.

You just have to understand this is not going to go away there. This goes all the way up to the very top. Everybody has their own self-interest. And to a degree, when the legal system is a little weak, when the wages of a lot of these offices is very low to start with, there are a lot of factors, headwinds that make this happen. It’s not you alone. It’s not some guys giving money because they want to give money. There’s a background to that. So try to understand, be more empathetic to the problem, and then it will probably be easier for you.

Darius Teter: I want to make sure in this conversation we don’t excuse all other countries and just pick on India, because I think Americans can be a little bit naive about the gazillion ways in which contracting and insurance industries and other things —

Rajah Koppala: Very, very slippery. Even medical practice in the U.S. can be very slippery.

Darius Teter: One of the things … you mentioned that before you went to India and set up your business, you were a physician in the United States. And so how many years did you work in the U.S. as a doctor?

Rajah Koppala: Seven years.

Darius Teter: Seven years. I’d love to hear whether you identified or observed similar types of challenges in the U.S. medical system.

Rajah Koppala: Oh, yeah. I’m never a man to mince my words. It can get pretty close. It can be almost incestuous at times, as well. We had the other extreme back when I was training, where such expensive meals, which a resident can’t even think about, were sponsored by these companies. I remember, I think the bill for each person was 300 bucks a person or something.

Darius Teter: Wait, we’re talking about a drug company hosting doctors for some kind of a so-called conference, right?

Rajah Koppala: Conferences. We’d have cruises. That was a funny part. The cruise would be a four-day cruise for you and your wife. All day they would talk about the drug at various ways; but you’d be in the swimming pool, you’d be drinking, eating, whatever. I keep saying this: they have a law and they have ethics and the ethics bracket is always bigger than the legal bracket, almost all the time. They are happy to compromise here and they’ll stick … be around the law. So they don’t actually break the law, but they’ll be somewhere around breaking the law in the ethics aspect. And that’s where I get a little worried.

Darius Teter: When I was younger and I was working overseas and advising governments, I was such a prima donna, because I had in my mind this idea that the United States had figured all these things out and was best practice. And I’m kind of embarrassed to admit it, but I would be lecturing senior government officials in other countries about their problems. And I was so naive because what the difference in the U.S. is, is that so much of what we call corruption in other countries, we’ve actually legalized it. The whole process of dark money donations for political influence, it’s legal; but it is millions and millions and millions of dollars being spent to influence the laws, but also the regulations that support those laws.

And in most contexts, you would say, “My God, that is so corrupt.” But it’s legal. It’s not ethical, but it’s legal. I think we could do a whole episode about what it takes to get a restaurant license in New York City and actually the story would not be different. It would look exactly the same. Corruption also looks different across industries. For Rajah, it involves red tape, lots and lots of red tape. You’re in the medical field, and presumably this is a field that requires lots of licenses and approvals, and there’s probably quite a lot of heavy regulation in your sector. Do you require a lot of services from public officials in running this chain of hospitals and store-within-a-store treatment facilities?

Rajah Koppala: There is enormous amount of regulation. We need to report to 23 licensing bodies. There are 23 guys who have to give us permission to run a hospital. And sometimes it’s good. Obviously, it’s health care. You’d like regulation and that’s probably the reason why it’s there. But sometimes it’s almost duplication, the same thing going back and forth. Out of the 23 guys, two guys in parallel take care of my fire problem. My fire complaint is done by two different people, for some strange reason. So we have the Department of Fire and then we have the Department of Municipal Affairs that also wants to look into fire, for some reason. So you can get this permission, but that guy will not give permission, and so on. Sometimes it’s almost redundant and ridiculous, but this is how things, especially medical, are regulated the world over. But it’s just extraordinarily special in India. There’s just so many of those permissions.

Darius Teter: Regulations are important to consumer protection, especially in fields like medicine. But each license creates an interaction with a public official and thus an opportunity for corruption. But Rajah found a novel way to decrease these touchpoints.

Rajah Koppala: Well, the store-within-the-store facilities, that’s the other reason why we moved to that model, is that a lot of the onus of licensing is on the store owners — the primary hospitals into which we set up the hospital.

Darius Teter: With the 23 licenses you needed to get, that regulatory forest or jungle pushed you to change your model from having a stand-alone hospital to having sort of a hospital within a hospital, because then the burden lies with the hospital that’s hosting you. Can you translate that into a reduced number of licenses that you have to worry about?

Rajah Koppala: Oh, big time. I operate across five states. Each state, again … when we say corruption, it’s very important to have a very nuanced view. It’s not corruption-corruption, as in a bad word always. But there’s an ecosystem that’s built around it. And I’d have to deal with five ecosystems. There’s no way with my bandwidth I would be able to do it. So we said, “Look, in return, if you lose about 5 to 8 percent of the revenue top line in handling those guys or whatever it takes to set up the licenses and all that, so be it.” This is a conscious plunge we took. But we see examples all the time where less regulation is easier to start, easier to run, easier to make more profits, more shareholder value, more jobs, better promotions, everything. But at my level, with my scale, I can’t cut it down. There’s no way. We just have to play the system and just do all the hacks that will make you follow all the laws. At the same time, make sure your life’s a little smoother.

Darius Teter: But even well-intentioned regulations can have unintended consequences.

Rajah Koppala: This whole thing, there’s a huge ecosystem, like I keep saying. There’s a guy who does PNDT licensing. I do vascular work for the legs. I do ultrasound for the legs and that’s how I diagnose varicose veins, for example. Now, in India — I know it’s done for a good reason, because we have a lot of female infanticides. People would kill female babies in this country. So they went overboard in the other extreme and said, “Any usage of medical ultrasound waves requires a special permission.” And if you don’t have the permission, you could be arrested, you lose your license. It’s a criminal offense not to have it. And that’s called PNDT. So I could be doing an echocardiography, I still require a PNDT. I could be doing ultrasound of the legs, I required PNDT. I could do ultrasound of the brain in a baby, I need a PNDT.

The law is so ridiculous. While it was set up for sex determination in moms, the law is applied pan-across because they have no way of distinguishing a guy who uses it for heart, versus for legs, versus babies. They have no way of implementing the law to that degree. It’s so ridiculous that … now I have 18 centers. In 18 places, I require this certificate. And this one the host hospital will not give me. I have to acquire it on my own. And everywhere it’s a one- to six-month process. So while I can open up a center in 10 days, I have a six-month downtime. I’d apply for everything six months in advance. And why? Because this committee of PNDT meets once in three months. And if, God forbid, they met yesterday, they won’t meet for another 89 days again.

Darius Teter: They want to make sure people are not using medical imaging devices to determine the sex of a fetus and thereby make decisions for infanticide. And so now they’re saying anybody who has any type of imaging device needs a certification. You can’t get it for six months, which means your business literally cannot function. This is an example of a law with good intentions that’s applied to everyone at a huge cost of doing business. That’s one example. This could literally shut you down for months. When you’re navigating all that red tape, it’s almost impossible not to trip up. If the system is rigged to make ethical business impossible, why even try?

Saumitra Jha: I would say that it’s good to be aware that there are a lot of risks associated with giving bribes and engaging in corrupt activities, particularly when you get too connected through these types of illicit transactions with certain people, because you are no longer going to be able to act independently. And people are aware of these things and they can then ask for more and they can keep holding you up until —

Darius Teter: Yeah. You’re hostage now.

Saumitra Jha: Yeah.

Darius Teter: They own you. But by the same token, Saum and Rajah agree you have to face reality.

Rajah Koppala: Coming off a higher horse doesn’t work. I was initially guilty of that. I said, “You know what? I’ve gone there. I’ve seen that. If this doesn’t work, I go back to the U.S.,” and so on. I sort of had this very black or white approach. And in that, I assumed that whatever I was seeing in U.S. was perfect and what I was seeing was not good. Maybe that doesn’t work. It’s a fair amount of gray in both sides. I think there, also, there’s a lot of stuff, and here, also, there’s a lot of stuff. I think a more measured approach works.

Saumitra Jha: It would be nice to say that the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term ones, and from trying to follow the law to the extent possible, but that might not always be the case, obviously. Sometimes things are just going to be difficult.

Darius Teter: In these moral gray areas, every decision is contextual. But what you lose with that approach is consistency. And in this kind of fluid environment, consistency can be powerful. Let’s go back to that island for a moment. There’s a saying in English, “to draw a line in the sand.” It means to set a limit, a boundary, that you won’t cross. Of course, the line itself won’t actually stop you from crossing. It’s not a barrier. There’s no penalty for stepping over it. But the more you cross that line, the less it means and the more it disappears back into the sand.

Saumitra Jha: I think this is why it’s good to be intentional about it. I think the worst situation is where you think you’re being ethical, but it is a death by a thousand cuts, where it’s like, “Okay, here’s the big story that I’m ethical, but then, all right, I’ll make this compromise and then I’ll make this compromise and I’ll do it in these dimensions.” Because one phrase that came up a lot in your discussion was this word “slippery.” That things begin to, once you make those compromises, it’s very easy to keep on making the next one and the next one. In fact, it gains momentum. I think that being aware that that’s the big tendency and saying, well, okay, in this situation maybe it’s life or death and you have to just do a certain thing because it’s better for humanity in the long run. But I think the key is to make it clear. Look, this was done for these reasons and we judged it based on a set of criteria that we think we still abide by, and it was above a certain threshold or it wasn’t.

Darius Teter: I like that. It rises to an existential threat.

Saumitra Jha: Yeah. I think as long as it’s clear what the criteria are, I think that’s the important thing. Because if there’s no line, then there’s going to be no check and no limit.

Darius Teter: Consistency also signals what type of business you’re running: one that’s willing to cut corners or one that tries to operate aboveboard. And that’s why Rajah always tries to pay his fines.

Rajah Koppala: Let’s say the differential is 10 X, and you follow the law, versus paying one X, and getting away by not following the law. Follow the law, and that just makes things easier. Everything is recorded in the system. We forgot to pay a thing called director’s tax. You pay 250 rupees every three months, which we forgot, God forbid. And so we had to pay 100,000 Indian rupees. And then the same guy calls me and says, “Can you pay 10,000 and I’ll just make this go away?” I said, “No, I’m paying 100,000 rupees.” Because I want this thing written up that I forgot and I paid, and therefore this case is closed. I don’t want the next officer who comes here to open this case again. I prefer that approach because you pay 10 X, doesn’t matter, but you made a mistake. You make sure you shut the mistake, you cross your T’s, dot your I’s, and that’s one rule.

Darius Teter: Okay, so this is a key point. The message to your team is: we follow the law. If we make a mistake and we get fined for it, we should pay the fine, but make sure it’s documented. Because you want to establish a pattern with regulatory authorities that you guys own your mistakes, you pay your fines, you’re not going to pay a bribe to get rid of the fine, you’re going to do better to avoid those mistakes in the future. You’re sending out a message to the regulatory group of people that are watching you, what kind of a business person you are.

Rajah Koppala: When you have the soft power of not paying everything willy-nilly, and if you make a mistake, you admit it and you pay the fines, then you’ll be taken seriously when you go with a real problem. That’s my view, at least.

Darius Teter: So how do you remain consistent in an environment where the rules are constantly changing? One way is to have simple criteria that you apply to every decision. Rajah, for instance, has outlined some things that he negotiates and some things that he doesn’t.

Rajah Koppala: In these 23 bodies that are supposed to inspect us, some are subjective, some are objective. Things like taxation, sales tax, income tax, it’s a pure numbers game. You check your numbers every time and then if your numbers aren’t in your favor, it’s a fairly straightforward thing. The whole taxation system, it’s a lot of legalese, but we should be able to handle it. Again, then I, as a law, almost have never paid anything. Then you have the other half, which is subjective. I don’t know. The Pharmacy Act for example, has about 400 points. I’m sure you’ll miss one or two, for sure. You need to let go of some things. For example, we work — we live in a street full of stores that have large holdings that show their wares. The government said it needs to be eight feet by 10 feet or something, some number.

And they came up and said, “Look, everybody who has a holding more than eight feet has to pay a fine.” Now, I could say, “Look, I’m a hospital, so this holding law may not apply to me. I’m trying to give people directions to my place. I run a 24/7 clinic and there’s no other clinic in this hospital.” I have enough reasons which I presented to the commissioner, who didn’t want to hear it. So I paid the fine. But if I had a legal system that would give a decision within a year, I would not pay a final bribe. I would definitely go and litigate that. But I know that if I took this to court, it’d take me at least five years before I got a decision, and the amount at stake was very small.

Darius Teter: So sometimes it makes more sense to pay an unfair fine than to litigate. There’s two things here I want to capture. You’ve said something really interesting. The first is, to be clear about which risks present the greatest threat to your business. In other words, what is the intensity of the issue? What is the potential downside? You’re looking at, if this goes bad, how painful will it be? And then there’s another factor which is, how probable is this risk? Intensity of impact, probability of actually happening. These are two critical factors. You may not have this written down, but dynamically you’re managing this against probability and pain.

Rajah Koppala: Correct.

Darius Teter: Of course, it’s hard to get consistency if you’re not the one making the decisions. Do all of these cases come to you? Or is this something where your team understands the marching orders, they understand the strategic framework, and they make these calls themselves?

Rajah Koppala: I insisted that they all come to me, because I feel in the last seven years the number of things I have to pay out have decreased. And this could, A, be because of better landscape, or B, because we’ve taken a value-based stand against it on most situations. And therefore, just like our vendors talk amongst themselves, so will these guys talk among themselves and say, “Look, if you go there with a trivial problem, they aren’t going to pay. They are going to push back.” And that’s something we’ve learned. We should develop that pushback attitude in the stakeholders.

Darius Teter: I think the other thing is, you don’t want your staff to make those decisions. I wouldn’t want my staff to be trying to figure out where the line is each time. I would want them to move that up to me or to someone I’ve designated to be the arbiter on that question. I don’t want staff to be out constantly agonizing over what is the right thing to do. I want them to always know what the right thing to do is. And if they’re really not sure, then ask somebody. Right?

Saumitra Jha: I think that’s right. And you want to consult the folks who understand what the implications are. I think there’s the ethical side of things which are … but there’s also, of course, the legal side of things. And so leaders have to deal with the ethics and then lawyers have to deal with the law. Within the confines of the law there’s going to be a question of what is the right thing to do.

Darius Teter: Saum says that organizational alignment may be hard, but it’s definitely worth the effort.

Saumitra Jha: On an issue like corruption, as well as of other ethical things that a company’s doing, it really helps to have the buy-in of the employees. Instead of saying, “Well, this is a top down, this is what we do,” which I think has its place, you want to get the message out and convince people, “Look, this is the best thing for all of us,” even though it’s going to mean that we spend more time doing things and it’s going to be hard. It will help you get the right employees, it’ll help you motivate the employees in moments where you’re not going to be able to observe what they’re doing. And I think that the extent to which you can get people on board with these approaches, as well, is often a challenging one, but I think one that’s worth investing a lot of time in, as well.

Darius Teter: All this corruption talk is stressful. So let’s get back to that island. Ah, that’s better. It’s empowering to think about what you can influence in these circumstances: your criteria, your consistency, and your employees. Of course, what’s most distressing are the things that are outside of your authority, especially the bureaucrats who enforce regulations. But while you can’t control how public officials treat you, you can control how you treat them. And that goes a long way.

Rajah Koppala: Relationship equals money. When you want to pay less to maintain a relationship, I’m afraid to say a lot of young business leaders, or even I when I came back, we come up from such a chair that we can sometimes disrespect this process. I’m not saying should you respect it or praise it, but you can’t hurt the guy’s ego. A small inspector comes. He writes the first information report of the so-called law that’s broken. These are the guys who will actually write the report and everything from that point is based on what he writes.

Darius Teter: Right. This very, very junior person. So relationships matter.

Rajah Koppala: It matters a hell of a lot. I now tell my guys, have a cup of coffee, talk to them, see the gravity of the law that’s been broken. And if he insists, then we come up with some number. But make sure this guy’s ego is not hurt. Make sure it doesn’t become a pissing contest between us and them. And it can’t be that. It shouldn’t be that at the first level, for sure. Any junior officer comes, have a cup of coffee. These guys are very small guys, but they need the time under the sun. And his first report is what matters until the end of this case. So this is something that’s very important, this relationship-building with all the guys. In a funny way, they are your stakeholders, as well. I always say, “Look, you have vendors, you have customers, and you have the whole regulatory bodies.” You need to have a manager for that, as well.

Darius Teter: So the government bodies are in your value chain?

Rajah Koppala: Absolutely.

Saumitra Jha: I think that’s absolutely the case. And also, being aware of what their objectives are and helping them achieve those objectives. So many folks want to be better civil servants and they want to advance in their careers. And so giving them the … oftentimes, businesses have a lot of expertise to provide that can help them learn and become better at their jobs. That is an opportunity. I think creating those relationships early in a way where you’re helping people become better at their jobs and treating them not just as a means, I think it can be really valuable down the line.

Darius Teter: Rajah often looks for creative ways to align with public officials.

Rajah Koppala: And I’m a great believer in that soft power. When we had COVID, for example, we were doing free meal distribution. I’m a guy who doesn’t pay the officers, so to speak, on a daily, regular basis. I don’t send them Diwali gifts or whatever. But during COVID, I made officers come and distribute meals as if it was their program, not mine. I actually gave up the credit. Some other person’s benefiting; but also, I’m trying to show that I have this nice side to me, a philanthropic side to me, in which you can participate. We are all friends, we will all go out to the people and say that, “We are out there for you.” I’m a hospital, I’m there for you; you’re the police officer, you’re there for you. They were getting a thousand phone calls about hunger every day when the COVID lockdown happened.

My first million meals, at about 500,000, I made the officers give it. I said, “Look, it’s your show. I don’t even want my name out there. These are the bags of rice and food or whatever. You just go for it.” You have to devise ways in which you can actually engage proactively, appeal to their nice side, if they have one, and say that you are always on that side. And you’re this guy who always doesn’t break the law as a habit, who’s always looking at the welfare of the people around them. And why don’t you join us a little bit? And that would be a nice way of appealing to them, if you can wield some soft power, which is what I believe in.

Saumitra Jha: Allowing other people to take the credit was a good way of building a relationship. I think it’s good to share the credit, not just —

Darius Teter: Hand it off?

Saumitra Jha: Yeah, but I think that I understand why that was the case and I can see that would be very useful. I think the reason I say share the credit is because I think it’s useful to be embedded in the local communities. And that can also make you less susceptible to the holdup situations that you can have when you’re based on relationships with specific members of the police or the bureaucracy. And so having local support where people know that, “These guys, in times of need, they helped us,” it inspires trust that … they’re providing medical services, which require a lot of trust already, so maybe they do care about us as human beings rather than —

Darius Teter: I totally see that.

Darius Teter: For industry-wide issues, it can even make sense to form bonds with your competitors.

Saumitra Jha: Oftentimes, in economics, companies might be competing with each other in an industry, but at the political level they have a lot in common. Thinking about how to do things at an industry level can often be much more beneficial on the political side, saying, “Look, we have this ridiculous queuing system. Is there a way of streamlining it? Can we facilitate that? Can we provide help to the government so it’s better at what it’s doing?” If it’s done at the industry level where people feel like, “Okay, this is a solution that makes everybody better off,” it makes consumers better off, it makes the industry better off, I think the governments often will be quite receptive to it. And particularly, the line ministries folks who want to show, “Look, I did this meaningful thing that helped improve efficiency in this sector.” But that’s best coming from a collective group of folks in the —

Darius Teter: Right. Industry association or something like that. Yeah. This can be an especially powerful strategy for taking on those well-intentioned regulations like the ultrasound law that Rajah mentioned earlier.

Saumitra Jha: Being in a position where you say, “Look, we can make this … we want to maintain the objective and the intent of this rule, but we want to narrow it in these ways that can also free up these other things.” I think that’s exactly where an industry association can be very helpful. Chances are there are going to be others that might have similar issues and then that’s an opportunity to work together to change the regulation or change the law.

Darius Teter: There’s another saying in English, “no man is an island.” You can’t do it all on your own. That’s especially true in these ecosystems. While it may feel like it’s you against the world, if you can get other people on your team, navigating corruption can be a lot less daunting.

Saumitra Jha: I think that at the end of the day, we can get quite cynical about bureaucracies. But I think a lot of these guys are just trying to make things better. And so if you approach them and say, “Look, this is not just my problem, it’s a problem that a lot of us face together. Let’s try and make this work because we want to improve the medical delivery for folks so they can walk in India.” I think that’s a really powerful message that people will resonate with. We all get bogged down in our day-to-day, but remember why you’re doing something, I think. And there are certain messages I think that people will find very appealing. I think there are opportunities there that we sometimes miss by tarring everyone with the same brush.

Darius Teter: All these strategies can help you survive the moral gray areas that come with corruption. They offer ways to mitigate risk and to turn obstacles into allies, but corruption can still be dangerous both to the business and to the people running it. Do you think Rajah’s taking a risk by telling his story as bluntly as he did? I’ve asked him this straight out. I said, “Are you okay with everything you said here being on a podcast?” He said, “Yeah, no problem.”

Saumitra Jha: Given that he is following the law, as he said, 99.99 percent of the time, and when he is not, he’s paying the fines, I don’t think there’s a legal risk. That’s often a question of perception because corruption does seem like it’s ubiquitous. But this is often a case where there’s bandwagon effects and there can often be the case that people think that there’s more corruption than there actually is, or that more people are willing to be corrupt than they actually are. And so there’s often what’s called a false consensus emerging around issues like these. It could be the case that we are actually on this bifurcation moment where even a few individuals acting in a visible way could really change the equilibrium.

Darius Teter: Corruption is contextual. What it looks like depends on where you are and what industry you’re in. And your response has to be contextual too. The first step is to understand the ecosystem and your company’s place in it. You’ve got to acknowledge reality and decide what is actually possible for your business. Being consistent and intentional can give you more control, so have criteria that will help you decide when you’ll pay and when you won’t. A line in the sand is useless if you keep crossing it. Find alignment within your organization and strive for it outside as well. Treat everybody with dignity, especially the junior people who are your primary touchpoints. Don’t assume everyone is a villain. These public officials are entrusted with enormous responsibility to actually make public policy work for people. Finding partners can strengthen your position and make your life easier. Relationships with your industry, your community, even the system itself, can provide solid ground.

Rajah Koppala: You cannot possibly hate the system and make this successful. You have to start falling in love with it somehow. It’s like a relationship you have to build.

Darius Teter: I’m grateful to Rajah Koppala and Saumitra Jha for sharing their stories. This has been Grit & Growth with the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and I’m your host, Darius Teter. If you liked this episode, leave us a review on your podcast app. It really helps us to share the stories of these incredible entrepreneurs with as many people as possible. To learn how Stanford Graduate School of Business is partnering with entrepreneurs in Africa and Asia, head over to the Stanford Seed website at seed.stanford.edu/podcast .

Grit & Growth is a podcast by Stanford Seed. Erika Amoako-Agyei and VeAnne Virgin researched and developed content for this episode. Kendra Gladych is our production coordinator, and our executive producer is Tiffany Steeves, with writing and production from Andrew Ganem and sound design and mixing by Alex Bennett at Lower Street Media.

For media inquiries, visit the Newsroom .

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Speech on Corruption in India

Corruption in India is a deep-rooted issue that affects the country’s growth. It’s like a disease that hampers the welfare of the people. You might have heard about it in news or discussions.

This problem is not new, but its impact is severe. It’s high time we understand and address this issue.

1-minute Speech on Corruption in India

Respected teachers and my fellow students, I am here today to speak on a matter that is of grave concern to us all, ‘Corruption in India’.

India, a country rich in culture, heritage, and resources, is sadly also infamous for its rampant corruption. Corruption, simply put, means the misuse of power. It is a problem that eats into the moral fabric of our society, diluting our progress and development.

The causes of corruption are many – lack of transparency, absence of strong laws, poor implementation of rules, and an indifferent attitude of the public. It is prevalent in every sector, from education to health, from law enforcement to politics.

The effects of corruption are destructive. It widens the gap between the rich and the poor, encourages criminal activities, and undermines the trust of the people in public institutions. It is indeed a major obstacle to the growth of our great nation.

We as individuals have a powerful role in curbing corruption. We must not turn a blind eye, but instead, report any incidents of corruption. On a larger scale, there is a need for comprehensive and strict laws that deter such practices.

In conclusion, corruption is not just a problem, but a menace that needs to be eradicated from our society. We, as responsible citizens of India, should make it our mission to fight against corruption, and strive to build a transparent and just India.

Also check:

• Essay on Corruption in India

2-minute Speech on Corruption in India

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good day to you all. It’s a pleasure to be here today and to speak on a topic that is very close to my heart – ‘Corruption in India’. Corruption is like a cancer that is eating up our country from within, crippling our growth, and extinguishing the flame of progress.

In India, corruption is not just a problem, it’s an epidemic. It has seeped into every level of society, from the grassroots to the highest echelons of power. It is not just a legal issue, it goes far beyond that, becoming a moral and ethical problem that compromises the very foundation of our society and nation.

Why does corruption persist in our country? One of the main reasons is a lack of stringent and effective laws. The existing anti-corruption laws are often not enforced with the rigor and determination required to deter those who seek to exploit them. And when the laws are not enforced, they lose their power to deter, allowing corruption to thrive.

There’s also a culture of acceptance around corruption in India. We have become so accustomed to it, that it has almost become a way of life. This is a sad reality that we have to acknowledge. From bribing the traffic policeman to get away with a violation, to paying a bribe to get a job or admission in a school or college – we have normalized corruption in our everyday lives.

So, where do we go from here? How can we, as a nation, combat this issue that is slowly but surely eroding our nation’s values and potential? The first step is awareness. We need to educate our citizens about the repercussions of their actions. A bribe might help you in the short term, but in the long run, it contributes to a system that keeps our country from reaching its full potential.

Our government also has a role to play in this. Strict enforcement of anti-corruption laws and harsh punishment for those found guilty will go a long way in deterring others. Transparency in government processes and a focus on eliminating red-tapism will reduce the opportunities for corruption.

Moreover, we as individuals need to take a stand against corruption. We need to refuse to partake in or encourage such behavior and report any instances of corruption that we encounter. If we remain complacent and complicit, we are just as guilty as those who participate in corruption.

Furthermore, the media also has a significant role to play. By highlighting cases of corruption and holding those responsible accountable, they can help create a society where corruption is not accepted or tolerated.

In conclusion, corruption is a complex issue that requires a concerted effort from all sections of society to combat. It is not something that can be eliminated overnight. However, with persistent efforts, we can certainly make progress. Remember, the fight against corruption begins with us, with our refusal to be a part of this system and our determination to bring about a change.

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Speech on Corruption for Students and Children

Speech on corruption.

I welcome you all present here. I am here to present a speech on Corruption. By corruption, we mean that any dishonest or immoral behavior or activities that result in the gain of some powerful organization or people. Thus, corruption often results in loss to the weaker section of the society or organization. There are different forms of corruption. It includes extortion, nepotism, parochialism, bribery, patronage, cronyism, etc. Corruption may lead to human and drug trafficking, money laundering, police brutality, repression of opponents, etc.

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Forms of Corruption

A Bribe involves a payment made to any official for the exchange of use of his official powers. It involves two parties: the one who pays for any favor and the one who accepts the payment for official powers.

Influence peddling or trading in influence involves three parties to act. It means a person or organization selling their influence over the decision-making process so that a third party profits from it.

Favoring supporters (Patronage), favoring relatives (Nepotism) and favoring friends (Cronyism) of an official for private gain are forms of corruption. In these many incompetent people are leaders in the system over the able ones.

Illegal interference with the election process is Electoral fraud. The theft of entrusted public funds for personal benefit is Embezzlement.

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Effects of Corruption

Political effect: Corruption becomes a major roadblock for the rule of law and democracy. The political system loose its legitimacy when power is used for private advantage.

Economical effect: It depletes national wealth. The betterment of the communities and societies are compromised for the benefit of the profit of some officials, therefore, leads to the misuse of national resources.

Social effect: The community or society gives up trust in the system. This makes it even more challenging to remove corruption from the system.

Environmental effect: Corruption results in the degradation and exploitation of precious natural resources. This results in turbulence in the ecological systems.

Ways to fight Corruption

There are five ways of fighting corruption.

Effective law enforcement is the key to ensure the corrupt culprit is punished. For this purpose, we need a strong legal framework.

Steps focussing on improving financial management and strengthening the role of auditing agencies will help in curbing corruption. This will include transparent and participatory budgeting by local communities and local governments.

The tradition of government openness, freedom of the press, transparency, and access to information help in curbing corruption.

Strengthening citizens’ demand and empowering them to make government accountable is a great approach to build mutual trust between the government and the citizens.

The international financial system should be under the scanner to stop money laundering by corrupt officials. Hence, major financial institutes need to put a check to stop their banks and allied financial centers across the globe from accepting illegal flows of money.

To sum it up, Corruption is the biggest evil of any society. All necessary steps must be taken to eliminate this evil. Not only the ones with power but at times even the weaker section of the society tend to become a culprit in this.

I hope that from now on every individual will strictly oppose and prevent corrupt activities from occurring anywhere around us. Thus, this will ensure the complete socio-economic and political development of our society and country at large.

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• Speech on Corruption For Students in English

Speech on Corruption

When a speech about such a universal topic as corruption is concerned, one needs to pay heed to its common nature, that it touches all lives. Every member in the audience has been a victim or a perpetrator of corruption, knowingly or unknowingly. So, it would be a good idea to first make the audience aware about the topic at hand. Including examples that the audience can relate to is a good attention-grabbing tool wisely incorporated at the beginning of the speech on corruption.

First take hold of the audience’s attention, then say what one has to say. When a person or organization uses its authority and power for its personal gain, that is called corruption. Unfortunately, corruption is rampant across the globe, transcending all boundaries. So much so that wherever there is power, there seems to be corruption. It is a matter that touches all lives. Hence this topic concerns the entirety of humanity.

Connecting with the Audience

People connect to similarities. When something similar to their life is talked about, people pay attention. While corruption is a common thread that sadly connects every person, many might not be aware of it. But people do relate when an unjust superior is mentioned, or an overbearing elder relative.

Spreading the Points in Speech

Once the attention of the audience is grabbed, it is time to distribute the important points across the speech in a way that the audience would remember them. Hence, it is a good idea to keep the speech from becoming too monotonous or academic. Even academicians find purely academic speeches boring unless one talks about some radical once-in-a-lifetime discovery or invention.

Tone of the Speech

This is where the tone of the speech has to be kept in mind. A light-hearted but sincere tone appeals to everyone. But it needs to align with the personality of the speaker. It would be unwise for a quiet, serene person to give a speech that is full of jokes and funny moments. The student needs to keep the tone of the speech such that it comes naturally to him or her. If something feels unnatural, keep it out of the speech.

Empathy in Speaker

Another aspect that makes a speech successful is when the audience connects with the speaker as a person. This is perhaps the most elusive trait to grasp in all, but not impossible. To connect to the audience like this, the speaker needs to think of the audience and him/herself as fellow humans. When the speaker thinks and speaks with empathy for the audience and treats each one of them (through his speech) as individuals with a life of their own, with dreams and problems, that is when the audience can’t help but feel that strong intangible connection with the speaker. Great orators in history have this kind of connection with their audience and this is how they have inspired thousands and millions to move and act for their cause.

Long Speech

Hello to all the esteemed members of the audience. Today I wish to share with you some of my views on the prevailing practice of corruption. 

As a much used and prevalent term, many of us must have often wondered as to how we define corruption. Many among us must also have been intrigued as to what can actually be categorized as corruption. Well, to put it in words, we can define corruption as any sort of practice that allows the party or parties partaking in an inordinate benefit or advantage. Many-a-often, corruption is seen to disproportionately favor the outcome of an event, which would not have been the case otherwise.

Various forms of media have often quoted the term ‘corruption’ in relation to powerful people, organizations, political parties and even justice systems. Corruption is what allows some people to escape from the clutches of law and order. Some of the common forms of corruption that we often witness include bribery, money laundering, peddling, extortion, patronage, embezzlement, electoral fraud, etc. Within an organization, the practice of other forms of corruption such as nepotism, cronyism, etc. is also prevalent. 

Political parties are also seen practicing corruption in order to gain influence over the people. 

Corruption prevents the prevalence of justice. As a result of this malpractice, deserving people are often robbed of apt opportunities. This practice is often seen to have a domino effect as it gives rise to a chain of events triggered by a single act. In other words, corruption brings about death to democracy. People engaging in corruption often turn a blind eye towards justice systems touted as an important pillar of democracy. The outcome of corruption, which is usually in favor of the more powerful section of society, also leads people to lose faith in the democratic process. 

Now that we have discussed corruption in detail, we should also make ourselves aware of how we can prevent the same from taking place. Effective law enforcement is often the key to halt this practice. This ensures that corrupt officials are being punished for their crimes. Other measures of curbing corruption include the practice of effective journalism, transparency on the part of the government in terms of policies and other norms, strengthened roles of auditing agencies, etc. The citizens must also be strengthened to raise questions and the government should also be made accountable in order to put an end to corrupt practices.

As citizens and human beings, it is our responsibility to see to it that we do not indulge in any type of corruptive behavior. Great visionaries have time and again stressed on the fact that one of the prime means to bring about peace and end chaos is by giving up corrupt practices. Beside limiting ourselves, we must also see to it that corruption and unjust practices in our vicinity do not go unreported and work with the law enforcement in this regard. Only by establishing a corruption-free society, can we make this world a better place to live in.

Short Speech- Speech on Corruption

A warm welcome to all the lovely ladies and gentlemen. I stand before you today to deliver a few lines on the topic of corruption.

Corruption, a term we often come across, implies the employment of malpractices often resulting in benefit or advantage to the party who employs the same. In various world scenarios, people practicing corruption are often in possession of ill-gotten gains which allow certain or numerous circumstances to work in their favor. In our day-to-day life, we all must have come across corrupt people in business, organizations, politics and more.

There is no one conformed form of corruption. It can range from anywhere from a small bribe to nepotism, patronage, extortions, etc. As often witnessed, corruption often loops in other crimes under its aegis. Due to the practice of corruption, money laundering, human and drug trafficking, kidnapping are also on the rise. Various political parties are also seen to indulge in corruption for harnessing power. Corruption has always been one of the causes for the lack of development of the weaker sections of the society as the practice has been known to favor the rich and powerful.

I would like to conclude by saying that corruption is a hindrance to democracy and the justice system. As a nation striving to advance on all fronts, be it social or economic, we must ensure that we abstain from all kinds of corrupt practices. We should also be vigilant about the corruption prevailing in our society and do everything in our power to ensure a just and equal society is being established.

10 Lines Speech- Speech on Corruption

Greetings of the day to all. Today I am here to present a speech on corruption. Corruption refers to immoral behavior that some people employ to gain benefit.

Corruption often involves dishonesty and misuse of power that allows an undue benefit to some people.

As commonly seen, the more powerful people usually practise corruption which allows them certain advantages. 

The weaker or the less powerful people are generally who suffer as a result of this practice. 

Corruption has many forms like bribery, extortion, etc. 

Practicing corruption can result in several ill effects on society and prevents the practice of justice. Corruption gives people the power to indulge in several harmful activities. 

In conclusion, I would like to say that we should refrain from practicing corruption and also be aware of any such person in this manner. Instead, we should work collectively in order to remove this evil from our society and build a better environment for all.

Explanation for speech on corruption for students in english is available on the Vedantu website. Study materials and notes on these topics have been very nicely written by the highly experienced and qualified teachers to help the students to grasp the concepts nicely. To access all the study notes registered at Vedantu .

FAQs on Speech on Corruption For Students in English

1. What not to say in a speech on corruption?

A student needs to keep in mind to always keep the speech respectful in tone and not call out any individual for faults or shortcomings. It is wise to keep in mind that the speech is usually for evaluation and not for activism.

2. What do teachers judge when a student gives a speech?

Teachers weigh the student’s ability to speak clearly and persuasively about a topic. The judges also read the speaker’s body language, so posture and limb movement should be paid attention to. To know more download the free pdf from Vedantu.

3. Is there a golden rule for public speakers?

There are golden lists but the basic rule that applies to a speaker or anyone is, do unto others what you wish them to do to you. A speaker is just another member of the audience whose turn it is to speak. So, before saying anything, it is wise to remember how the student felt as a listener. If personal stories of speakers were boring, then keep them out of the speech. If a certain kind of anecdote was gripping, include something similar in the speech.

Corruption Speech

Corruption is any act of dishonesty or unethical conduct by an individual entrusted with a position of power. Several people especially young students have a lot of curiosity to know in detail about corruption and its repercussions; more so because it is impacting our country’s economic growth and prosperity. Our speech on corruption especially long speech on corruption shares the detailed information on the topic. Short speech on corruption can be used as a sample if you want to prepare for a debate. The language used in the corruption speech is so simple that even a child can understand the meaning and so impactful that it can help you leave an impact on your audience.

Speech on Corruption

Speech on corruption – 1.

Warm Greetings and Good Afternoon to my esteemed class teacher and students!

The speech topic for today is corruption and I will address my viewpoint on the same, particularly on political corruption. Ever since the formation of our country, everything is dictated by the political leaders and people ruling in the government sectors. Apparently we are a democratic country, but whosoever comes into the power tries to misuse that power for his/her personal gains, for acquiring wealth and luxury. The common people, as always, find themselves in a state of deprivation.

In our country, the gap between the haves and have-nots is so huge that it becomes a clear example of corruption in our country where one section of society acquires richness and wealth and on the other hand the majority of the masses remain below the poverty line. This is the reason why economy of certain nations is facing a decline, such as the USA economy.

If we are a responsible citizen of our country, we should understand that this corruption is eating into our nation’s economical growth like a termite and is giving rise to crime in our society. If the majority section of our society will continue to live in deprivation and poverty and will not find any employment opportunity, the crime rate will never come down. Poverty will destroy people’s ethics and morals and would result in an increase in hatred amongst the people. It is high time for us to address this issue and fight it in order to pave way for the holistic growth of our country.

The parliament should pass strict laws against the anti-social elements of our society, regardless of the fact that whether such people are within the political system of our country or outside it. There should be an equal treatment for all.

If one were to think and evaluate the causes behind corruption, then it could be countless. However, the most glaring reason responsible for the vicious spread of corruption, I believe, is the people’s non-serious attitude towards the governmental rules and laws and the sheer inertia of government towards those who spread evil in society. It appears that the ones who are employed to put an end to corruption have themselves become complicit in the crime and are encouraging it. Though there are various strict laws like the Prevention of money Laundering Act; Indian Penal Code of 1860 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988; to name a few, but there is no serious implementation of these laws.

Yet another important reason behind corruption is the non-transparency of bureaucratic and governmental functions. In particular, the institutions that are run under the government show moral laxity and brush under the carpet serious issues. The money that should be used for the upliftment of poor people is gobbled up by the politicians themselves. Even worse, the people who are not affluent and cannot bribe the people in power are not able to get their work done and hence their files are fated to meet the dust instead of stimulating action. Clearly, any growing economy would come falling down when corrupt officials hold the reign of a country.

The situation has become very tense and unless the general public takes proactive measures and becomes vigilant, the corruption cannot be uprooted from our society. So come let’s join hands and fight against corruption.

Speech on Corruption – 2

Warm Greetings to our Respected Principal, Vice Principal, Fellow Colleagues and My Dear Students!

I, one of the senior faculty members of History Department, welcome you all on the eve of Independence Day Celebration. Amidst celebration and gaiety, it has been thought fit by the faculty members to address some serious issue that our nation is suffering with and which is primarily corruption.

Though our great Indian freedom fighters won the freedom struggle ages back, but serious issues such as corruption, unemployment, poverty, etc are still eating into our country’s economy and not enabling it to grow. Where does the problem lie – in the governance or society as a whole? We need to identify those grey areas which lead to the spread of corruption and adopt strict measures for eradicating those causes. Winning independence from the British rule was one thing, but we will only be able to make this freedom worth their efforts when every citizen of this country will be able to enjoy a basic standard of living and there will be no iniquity in our society.

No doubt, our country is a land of nature and vivid landscape; however the beauty and goodwill of our land has been marred by the ensuing corrupt activities that are going all around. Nearly in every sector, we can see corrupt personnel who do not deliver their roles and responsibilities well unless are bribed by the common people. Such illegal activities are going day by day for a simple reason that we, as the natives of this country, are encouraging these people and no strict actions are being taken against them.

Moreover, such people think that they can easily escape the laws and go unscathed. Excess of power and money have corrupted the officials and the situation has become so worse that if a common man needs any assistance or help from the government staff or administration, then he/she will have to adopt the corrupt method. In fact, you would find corrupt people in the senior administration to the junior staff and even at the clerical positions. It is really difficult for a common man to evade them and get his/her work done.

Not only cities, but even small towns and villages have come under its influence. I think it’s high time, when we as a citizen of our country should owe this responsibility to wipe out corruption from the face of our mother earth and make our country a corrupt free land for our next generation and to feel proud of it.

Clearly, our students are the future of this country, so you should pledge to never adopt any corrupt path under any situation and in fact you will raise your voice against any unlawful or illegal activity that takes place around. Problems aggravate when we turn a blind towards them, but I sincerely hope that from now on each one of us will strictly oppose and prevent corrupt activities from happening anywhere in our country and expose such officials too who act as a blockage in the development of our country.

Speech on Corruption – 3

Good Morning respect Principal, teachers and my dear friends,

Today’s topic for this Assembly meeting is, ‘Corruption’. A poison that ruins the value of individuals and the country.

My perspective as to what corruption means is that, it is an act performed deliberately that reduces the authenticity and quality of the nation. People explain corruption as one simple thing statement, ‘I had some urgency and had to get this thing done quickly’. But my dear friends, this simple statement is so damaging that it directly hits on the country’s image and stature in the world.

We as individuals should understand that even though by giving money for getting our work done helps us in quick execution but deep within it is deteriorating the quality of our life. It builds a bad image of the country and leads to lowering of our country’s ratings. It does not seem to be a big deed that we pay an extra amount or what I may say as bribe to some people for taking some advantage from them. But, believe me that deep down, it kills the ethical traits or values of the people.

This inherited value reduction is not only of the person who is taking the bribe but also of the person who gives it. Corruption is the hurdle between the country’s and individual’s authentic prosperity and development. It affects the growth and development of the nation in all aspects like socially, economically and politically.

Corruption is also the unfair use of public power for some private advantages by breaking all or few of the rules and regulations made by the government. One common form of corruption in our country is receiving black money in cash. Even during elections, it has been observed that we see many news on raid being done here at some minister’s premises and then on the other day so much of cash found in this minister’s wardrobe. Haven’t we?

Yes, we have these all are the forms of corruption. Many political leaders say that we wish to eradicate corruption, but honestly I haven’t seen concrete efforts coming for this cause. For controlling corruption, we have to work on the root cause. This corruption in deep inside the roots of our country and eradicating this is a huge activity or a project that requires complete dedication with purity at heart.

Strict actions should be documented in policies and should necessarily be implemented on those who practice corruption for their greed.

Thank you everyone for being a part of this Assembly session. I am glad that we chose this important topic as our discussion point. I request you all to please make it a habit to stop corruption exactly there itself. We should not be selfish and just think about our convenience. I hope that you all will help me and our nation to control this ugly act of corruption.

Thank You! Have a great Day! We have to end corruption!

Speech on Corruption – 4

Good evening everyone! Thanks for being a part of this occasion and taking out time to be a part of it.

My discussion for this evening is on the cancer of ‘Corruption’ that has made our life sick. Corruption is an illegal behavior on the measurement of an authority or influential party throughout by means that are illegal, depraved, or irreconcilable with principled values. Though this word is so simple to define but too hard to take out from any country. Corruption is the biggest act that makes the country’s image weak and negative.

Corruption may include many activities including bribery and embezzlement of funds. Corruption has impacted Indian economy and government so much that there are no easy solutions for eradicating it. If the citizens of a country are corrupted then it eventually adds to the loss of values of a country. We don’t realize that what we do, at the end becomes a part of where we live and around whom we live.

Corrupt people always tend to hide themselves behind the fake face of truth and honesty. Most of the time corruption is referred to the bureaucratic-political-police nexus that eats into the vitals of democracy.

Corruption starts mostly at the higher levels and it carries its way to the extreme low levels too. The heights of corruption has reached to a very great extent where there are no proper laws to bring to justice these corrupt people. Because of the highly corrupt people who just would do anything for money, it has become very difficult for the common man or the righteous to survive.

The level of corruption can be as low as bribing traffic police officer for not wearing a helmet to the extreme level when private contractors bribe government individuals to get the tender of a public work or to get the job done. Today, corruption is one of the greatest factors hindering development and stifling the realization of democracy. Corruption affects the growth of a nation adversely.

We all should understand that corruption is acting as an obstacle in the way of the country’s progress. Each one of us should be cautious of the acts that we perform. We take it lightly to give Rs 100-200 to the Travelling  Ticket Inspector (TTI) just for our preferable seat allocation, but deep down that person has made it a habit to procure money from everybody.

Thank you for being a part of this conversation. As a conclusion to my session I would just like to tell you all that corrupt is not only the one who receives the illegal money but also the one who is providing the bribe. I hope that from now onwards, you all will not bribe anyone and control others as well. We see things as small deeds, but these small deeds at the end add up to create awareness against corruption.

Thank you!! Have a great day and keep sharing this message of making our country corruption free.

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Speech on Corruption

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Speech on Corruption: Corruption is any dishonesty or unethical conduct by an individual entrusted with a position of power. Several people, especially young students, are curious to know in detail about corruption and its repercussions, more so because it is impacting our country’s economic growth and prosperity.

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Also Check: Essay on Corruption

Our speech on corruption, especially the long speech on corruption free India , shares detailed information on the topic. A short speech on corruption can be used as a sample if you want to prepare for a debate. The language used in the corruption speech is so simple that even a child can understand the meaning and so impactful that it can help you leave an impact on your audience.

Short Speech on Corruption

Corruption is a big problem in society. We need to do everything we can to get rid of it. Sometimes, even people who aren’t powerful can get involved in it.

Corruption Speech in English 200 Words

Warm Greetings and Good Afternoon to my esteemed class teacher and students!

The speech topic for today is corruption, and I will address my viewpoint on the same, particularly on political corruption. Ever since the formation of our country, everything has been dictated by the political leaders and people ruling in the government sectors. We are a democratic country, but whosoever comes into power tries to misuse that power for his/her gains, wealth, and luxury. The common people, as always, find themselves in a state of deprivation.

In our country, the gap between the haves and have-nots is so huge that it becomes a clear example of corruption in our country, where one section of society acquires richness and wealth. On the other hand, the majority of the masses remain below the poverty line. This is the reason why the economy of certain nations is facing a decline, such as the USA economy.

Suppose we are responsible citizens of our country. In that case, we should understand that this corruption is eating into our nation’s economic growth like a termite and is giving rise to crime in our society. If the majority section of our society continues to live in deprivation and poverty and will not find any employment opportunities, the crime rate will never come down. Poverty will destroy people’s ethics and morals and will result in an increase in hatred among the people. It is high time for us to address this issue and fight it to pave the way for the holistic growth of our country.

The parliament should pass strict laws against the anti-social elements of our society, regardless of whether such people are within our country’s political system or outside it. There should be equal treatment for all.

It could be countless if one were to think and evaluate the causes behind corruption. However, the most glaring reason responsible for the vicious spread of corruption, I believe, is the people’s non-serious attitude towards the governmental rules and laws and the sheer inertia of government towards those who spread evil in society. It appears that the ones employed to put an end to corruption have themselves become complicit in the crime and are encouraging it. Though there are various strict laws like the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the Indian Penal Code of 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988, to name a few, there is no serious implementation of these laws.

Yet another important reason behind corruption is the non-transparency of bureaucratic and governmental functions. In particular, the government’s institutions show moral laxity and brush off the carpet serious issues. The politicians themselves gobble up the money that should be used for the upliftment of poor people. Even worse, the people who are not affluent and cannot bribe the people in power are not able to get their work done, and hence their files are fated to meet the dust instead of stimulating action. Any growing economy would come falling when corrupt officials hold the reign of a country.

The situation has become very tense, and unless the general public takes proactive measures and becomes vigilant, corruption cannot be uprooted from our society. So come, let’s join hands and fight against corruption.

Also Read: Speech on Organ Trafficking

Famous Speech on Corruption

Warm Greetings to our Respected Principal, Vice Principal, Fellow Colleagues, and My Dear Students!

I, one of the senior faculty members of the History Department, welcome you all on the eve of the Independence Day Celebration . Amidst celebration and gaiety, it has been thought fit by the faculty members to address some serious issues that our nation is suffering with, primarily corruption.

Corruption is a big problem in society. We all need to work together to fight against it, without making any compromises. Sometimes, even people who aren’t as strong or those in powerful positions might be involved in it.

Though our great Indian freedom fighters won the freedom struggle ages back, serious issues, such as corruption, unemployment, poverty, etc., are still eating into our country’s economy and not enabling it to grow. Where does the problem lie – in the governance or society as a whole? We need to identify those grey areas which lead to the spread of corruption and adopt strict measures to eradicate those causes. Winning independence from British rule was one thing. Still, we will only be able to make this freedom worth their efforts when every country’s citizen can enjoy a basic standard of living, and there will be no iniquity in our society.

No doubt, our country is a land of nature and vivid landscape; however, the beauty and goodwill of our land have been marred by the ensuing corrupt activities going all around. In nearly every sector, we can see corrupt personnel who do not deliver their roles and responsibilities well unless the common people bribe them. Such illegal activities are going on day by day for the simple reason that we, as the natives of this country, are encouraging these people, and no strict actions are being taken against them.

Moreover, such people think they can easily escape the laws and go unscathed. Excess of power and money have corrupted the officials, and the situation has become so worse that if a common man needs any assistance or help from the government staff or administration, he/she will have to adopt the corrupt method. You would find corrupt people in the senior administration, the junior staff, and even the clerical positions. It is difficult for a common man to evade them and get his/her work done.

Cities and even small towns and villages have come under its influence. I think it’s high time that, as a citizen of our country, we should owe this responsibility to wipe out corruption from the face of our mother earth and make our country a corrupt-free land for the next generation and to feel proud of it.

Our students are the future of this country, so you should pledge never to adopt any corrupt path under any situation; in fact, you will raise your voice against any unlawful or illegal activity around you. Problems aggravate when we turn a blind towards them. Still, I sincerely hope that from now on, each of us will strictly oppose and prevent corrupt activities from happening anywhere in our country and expose such officials who act as a blockage in the development of our country.

3 Minute Speech on Corruption

Good Morning respectful Principal, teachers, and my dear friends,

Today’s topic for this Assembly meeting is ‘Corruption.’ A poison that ruins the value of individuals and the country.

My perspective as to what corruption means is that it is an act performed deliberately that reduces the authenticity and quality of the nation. People explain corruption as one simple statement: ‘ I had some urgency and had to get this thing done quickly. But my dear friends, this simple statement is so damaging that it directly hits on the country’s image and stature in the world.

We as individuals should understand that even though giving money for getting our work done helps us in quick execution, deep within, it is deteriorating the quality of our life. It builds a bad image of the country and leads to a lowering of our country’s ratings. It does not seem to be a big deed that we pay an extra amount or, what I may say, a bribe to some people for taking advantage of them. But, believe me, that deep down, it kills the ethical traits or values of the people.

This inherited value reduction is not only for the person taking the bribe but also for the person who gives it. Corruption is the hurdle between the country’s and an individual’s authentic prosperity and development. It affects the growth and development of the nation in all aspects, including socially, economically, and politically.

Corruption is also the unfair use of public power for some private advantage by breaking all or a few of the rules and regulations made by the government. One common form of corruption in our country is receiving black money in cash. Even during elections, it has been observed that we see much news on raids being done here at some ministers’ premises, and then on the other day, so much cash is found in this minister’s wardrobe. Haven’t we?

Yes, we have all forms of corruption. Many political leaders say we wish to eradicate corruption, but I haven’t seen concrete efforts coming for this cause. To control corruption, we have to work on the root cause. This corruption is deep inside the roots of our country, and eradicating this is a huge activity or a project that requires complete dedication with purity at heart.

Strict actions should be documented in policies and necessarily implemented on those who practice corruption for their greed.

Thank you, everyone, for being a part of this Assembly session. I am glad that we chose this important topic as our discussion point. I request you all to please make it a habit to stop corruption exactly there itself. We should not be selfish and think about our convenience. I hope you all will help me and our nation control this ugly corruption act.

Thank You! Have a great Day! We have to end corruption!

5 Minute Speech on Corruption

Good evening everyone! Thanks for being a part of this occasion and taking the time to participate.

My discussion for this evening is on the cancer of ‘Corruption’ that has made our life sick. Corruption is an illegal behavior on the measurement of authority or influential party through illegal, depraved, or irreconcilable means with principled values. However, this word is so simple to define but too hard to take out from any country. Corruption is the biggest act that makes the country’s image weak and negative.

Corruption may include many activities, including bribery and embezzlement of funds. Corruption has impacted the Indian economy and government so much that there are no easy solutions for eradicating it. If the citizens of a country are corrupted, it eventually adds to the loss of values of a country. We don’t realize that what we do, in the end, becomes a part of where we live and around whom we live.

Corrupt people always tend to hide behind the fake face of truth and honesty. Most of the time, corruption is referred to as the bureaucratic-political-police nexus that eats into the vitals of democracy.

Corruption starts mostly at the higher levels and carries its way to the extremely low levels too. The heights of corruption have reached a great extent where there are no proper laws to bring these corrupt people to justice. Because of the highly corrupt people who would do anything for money, it has become very difficult for the common man or the righteous to survive.

The level of corruption can be as low as bribing traffic police officers for not wearing a helmet to the extreme level when private contractors bribe government individuals to get the tender of public work or to get the job done. Today, corruption is one of the greatest factors hindering development and stifling the realization of democracy. Corruption affects the growth of a nation adversely.

We all should understand that corruption is acting as an obstacle in the way of the country’s progress. Each one of us should be cautious of the acts that we perform. We take it lightly to give Rs 100-200 to the Travelling Ticket Inspector (TTI) just for our preferable seat allocation, but deep down, that person has made it a habit to procure money from everybody.

Thank you for being a part of this conversation. In conclusion to my session, I would like to tell you all that the corrupt is not only the one who receives illegal money but also the one who provides bribe. I hope that from now onwards, you will not bribe anyone and control others. We see things as small deeds, but these small deeds, in the end, add up to create awareness against corruption.

Thank you!! Have a great day, and keep sharing this message of making our country corruption free.

Speech on Corruption FAQs

What is corruption in 200 words.

Corruption is a complex and pervasive issue that involves the abuse of power and authority for personal gain or the detriment of society. It encompasses a wide range of unethical and illegal activities, such as bribery, embezzlement, nepotism, and cronyism. Corruption can occur in both public and private sectors, affecting governments, businesses, and individuals alike.

What are the 4 types of corruption?

Petty Corruption: Involves small-scale bribes or favors typically encountered in daily life. Grand Corruption: Involves high-level officials and significant amounts of money or resources. Political Corruption: Pertains to the misuse of political power for personal or political gain. Systemic Corruption: Occurs when corruption is deeply embedded in an organization or institution's culture and operations.

What is corruption in English 10 lines?

Corruption is the misuse of power and authority for personal gain or to harm others. It includes practices like bribery, fraud, embezzlement, and favoritism. Corruption occurs in both public and private sectors and can be systemic or individual. It weakens institutions, erodes trust, and hampers economic growth. Corruption often leads to inequality and a lack of access to essential services. Fighting corruption requires transparent governance and strong anti-corruption measures. Citizens and civil society play a crucial role in holding corrupt individuals and organizations accountable. Corruption is a global problem, affecting governments, businesses, and individuals worldwide. International efforts exist to combat corruption, such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption. Addressing corruption is essential for promoting fairness, justice, and sustainable development.

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• Speech Writing /

Media and Corruption: Short and Long Speech in English for School Students

• Updated on  
• Mar 30, 2024

Media and corruption are often interlinked. The primary purpose of media is to spread awareness of social, political, and economic developments. Apart from this, the media also plays an important role in exposing corruption and unethical activities. In a media organization, say the Times of India, there are separate departments for handling matters of different fields. Some cover sports media, some monitor economic and political activities, and some corruption and illegal activities. Let’s dig more into media and corruption in a short and long speech format.

Quick Read: Speech on Corruption

Short Speech on Media and Corruption

‘Good morning teacher and fellow students. Today, I stand before you to present my ‘ Speech on Media and Corruption.’ We all understand the importance of media and the irreplaceable role it plays in making us aware of developments around the world. But, are we aware of the role it plays in exposing corruption and corrupt leaders?

Media and corruption are like a cop and thieves; always ready to expose the culprits. Media and reporters are like watchdogs, always looking out for corrupt practices and bringing them to the public’s attention. 

Through investigative journalism, media outlets uncover examples of bribery, embezzlement, and other forms of corruption that would otherwise remain hidden from public view. By exposing these injustices, the media not only raises awareness but also puts pressure on authorities to take action.

Not only this, if any political leader or a big businessman is involved in corruption and related activities, the media is always read with its weapons; a mic and a camera. 

Media plays an important role in holding those in power accountable for their actions. The media and its reporters are always out there, fighting corruption and trying to eradicate it from its roots.

Thank you.’

Quick Read: Importance of Sex Education Speech for Students

Long Speech on Media and Corruption

‘Good morning respected Principal ma’am, teachers, and fellow students. Today, I would like to present my views on media and corruption. Everyone wants a corruption-free country, but do you know who can make the magic happen? Yes, it’s the media and its dedicated reports.

In our battle against corruption, the media is our frontline warrior, always ready to strike with its mic and camera. Medi serves as a powerful tool in exposing wrongdoing, holding the powerful accountable, and encouraging transparency in the country. 

We often see in the news or read in newspapers about a politician or a businessman involved in corruption or unethical activities. The media is always hungry to expose such corrupt leaders and wrongdoers. 

Media organizations often conduct rigorous reporting and analysis to investigate government policies, expose conflicts of interest, and demand transparency from those in positions of authority. 

Media provides a platform for social activists and whistleblowers, who are always ready to speak out against corruption without fear of reprisal. A lot of people have witnessed firsthand corruption in their lives, Media provides a voice to these victims, amplifies their messages and encourages others to come forward with their own experiences. Such developments are important to fight against and create a corruption-free society.

Not only this, the media also educates us about the detrimental effects of corruption on society as a whole. Media reports and analyses highlight the economic, social, and political consequences of corrupt practices. The media makes us aware of how harmful corruption is. It mobilizes public support for anti-corruption initiatives and fosters a culture of intolerance towards corrupt behavior.

A lot of times, the media is accused of being biased, only showing what’s in their interest, or being controlled by a central authority. To some extent, such accusations are correct. At times, the media is manipulated and used by government officials. As they say, there are two sides of a coin. We must understand both sides of a news or report shown against corruption by the media.

In conclusion, I would like to say that recognizing the important role of media in fighting corruption can help the nation progress. This can be a step towards building a corruption-free state.

Thank you!’

Related Reads: 1 and 2 Minute Speech on Value of Time

Ans: Media and reporters are like watchdogs, always looking out for corrupt practices and bringing them to the public’s attention. Through investigative journalism, media outlets uncover examples of bribery, embezzlement, and other forms of corruption that would otherwise remain hidden from public view. By exposing these injustices, the media not only raises awareness but also puts pressure on authorities to take action.

Ans: In our battle against corruption, the media is our frontline warrior, always ready to strike with its mic and camera. Medi serves as a powerful tool in exposing wrongdoing, holding the powerful accountable, and encouraging transparency in the country.  We often see in the news or read in newspapers about a politician or a businessman involved in corruption or unethical activities. The media is always hungry to expose such corrupt leaders and wrongdoers. 

Ans: ‘Good morning respected Principal ma’am, teachers, and fellow students. Today, I would like to present my views on media and corruption. Everyone wants a corruption-free country, but do you know who can make the magic happen? Yes, it’s the media and its dedicated reports. Media provides a platform for social activists and whistleblowers, who are always ready to speak out against corruption without fear of reprisal. A lot of people have witnessed firsthand corruption in their lives, Media provides a voice to these victims, amplifies their messages and encourages others to come forward with their own experiences. Such developments are important to fight against and create a corruption-free society.

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For more information on such interesting speech topics for your school, visit our speech writing page and follow Leverage Edu .

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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2 Minute Speech On Corruption In India In English

Good morning everyone present, today I am going to talk about corruption in India. India is a huge and beautiful country, but the corruption that exists there tarnishes both its beauty and its reputation as a great country. Corruption occurs almost everywhere, and the number of corrupt people goes up every day.

Money and power have taken over, to the point where if the average person needs assistance from the government or the business world, they too must ultimately choose the corrupt path.

Although there are many talks made about morals, money really does rule behind closed doors. One needs to know the back door and pay a lot of money to get things done for anything to happen.

Politicians and bureaucrats use their positions of authority and financial resources to exert influence across all areas, making it impossible for even the most talented and effective individuals to thrive or even be hired. As a result, in these settings, labour efficiency is likewise corrupted and changed to suit the needs of the ruling class.

Beginning at the highest levels, corruption spreads down to the lowest levels as well. The extent of corruption has risen to the point that there are no adequate rules to put an end to these unscrupulous individuals. It has become extremely difficult for the common man or the righteous to exist due to the highly corrupt people who just would do anything for money.

This must stop, and we must reach a point when each and every Indian can claim with pride that they live in a country free of corruption. Thank you.

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How DC became obsessed with a potential 2027 Chinese invasion of Taiwan

At a summit near San Francisco in November, the leaders of America and China turned to the biggest threat to their relationship.

The topic was Taiwan, which China's government considers part of its rightful territory and has threatened to take by force. When it came up, according to an American official who later spoke to the press, Chinese leader Xi Jinping grew exasperated - not at the risk of war, but at the timeline.

"Xi basically said: ‘Look, I hear all these reports in the United States [of] how we're planning for military action in 2027 or 2035,' " the official said.

" ‘There are no such plans,' " Xi said in the official's telling. " ‘No one has talked to me about this.' "

That first year, 2027, is a fixation in Washington. It has impacted the debate over China policy - a shift from the long term to the short term. It's also helped steer billions of dollars toward U.S. forces in the Pacific. And in the last several years, it's been a question mark hanging over the Biden administration's approach to the region.

According to U.S. intelligence, Xi has told the Chinese military it needs to be ready to invade Taiwan by that year. But ready to invade is different than will invade; American officials stress the year isn't a deadline.

Defense News spoke to sources in Congress, the Pentagon and Washington-based think tanks to understand what may be the most important, most misunderstood year in Sino-U.S. relations. The message was that 2027 has exposed a rift in Washington's China strategy. The U.S. is more focused on the country it calls its "pacing challenge," but experts disagree on whether it's running a sprint or a marathon - and if it can prepare for both.

China "will not renounce the use of force as a possibility" around Taiwan, said David Finkelstein, who studies the Chinese military at the Center for Naval Analyses. "So the military option hangs over the Taiwan Strait like Damocles' sword ."

The Davidson window

In the years leading up to 2021, Sino-U.S. relations had soured. Washington had become more confrontational during Donald Trump's presidency, in large part as a response to Beijing's own aggression. The People's Liberation Army was - and still is - bulking up quickly , with weapons, reforms and exercises that could enable an invasion of Taiwan. Lawmakers concerned the U.S. was falling behind had just created the Pacific Deterrence Initiative , an effort to rush more money to military leaders in the region.

With that backdrop, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, began his questioning at a 2021 hearing.

"The common theme I hear with regard to China's actions under Xi Jinping's leadership is alarm," Sullivan said, citing concerns over Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China's strong-arming of U.S. allies like Australia and India.

Sullivan then asked the sole witness that day - Adm. Phil Davidson, the retiring head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command - whether that changed the odds of a conflict around Taiwan.

"The threat is manifest during this decade," Davidson said at the end of his answer, "in fact, in the next six years."

It's rare to find a true before-and-after moment on an issue as complex as Sino-U.S. relations. This, said several experts, was one.

"It set off these warning alarms that broke outside the niche community and into the broader policy conversation in D.C.," said a Republican congressional aide, granted anonymity because the individual was not authorized to talk to the press.

The concern it generated earned a nickname: the "Davidson window," shorthand for the near-term threat of an attack on Taiwan.

And that changed how Congress spent money. The Pacific Deterrence Initiative doesn't have its own budget, but in the last few years the U.S. has spent more on its forces in the region. Indo-Pacific Command sends Congress a yearly list of priorities, including what doesn't make the Pentagon's budget request.

The latest wish list has called for $26.5 billion in spending. And while $11 billion didn't make the cut in the Pentagon's fiscal 2025 budget request, that means about $15 billion did, with the chance lawmakers may add more in the next spending bill.

Congress also gave the Pentagon $1 billion in annual authority to send Taiwan weapons. The recently passed national security supplemental includes almost $2 billion to replace whatever the Pentagon sends, along with $2 billion more in financing to purchase American equipment.

"You can draw a direct line between Adm. Davidson's comments and the ability to get something like the foreign military financing for Taiwan through," the congressional staffer said.

Suddenly, in a considerable number of hearings, members of Congress were asking military leaders about their windows.

At the start of the summer , the chief of naval operations and the commandant of the Marine Corps said they shared Davidson's concerns.

Gen. Mark Milley, then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a later hearing that Davidson's comments were based on a speech from Xi, calling on China's military to "develop capabilities to seize Taiwan and move it from 2035 to 2027."

U.S. officials haven't shared the text of that speech.

‘I hope I am wrong'

This became the standard line across the administration - affirmed by Central Intelligence Agency Director Bill Burns .

"President Xi has instructed the PLA [People's Liberation Army], the Chinese military leadership to be ready by 2027 to invade Taiwan. But that doesn't mean that he's decided to invade in 2027 or any other year as well," Burns said during a TV interview in February 2023.

And as the hearing with Milley showed , that distinction is easy to miss. Then-Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., argued with the general over whether other witnesses had said China would invade by 2027.

Milley said no, but added a caveat: "Intent is something that can change quickly."

The back-and-forth showed two factors that have defined the 2027 debate ever since: For one, it's hard to keep the year from looking like a timeline; and second, even though ability and intent are different, they're still related.

The first issue has been clear in the three years since Davidson testified. More officials were pressed to offer their own assessments.

In fall 2022, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said China wants to unify with Taiwan on a "much faster timeline" than the U.S. expected. Then-Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday soon after said his service needed a "fight tonight" approach to the region.

Then in early 2023, a memo from Gen. Mike Minihan, head of Air Mobility Command, leaked.

"I hope I am wrong," it read. "My gut tells me we will fight [China] in 2025."

After this last case, the Pentagon intervened. Officials began repeating a new talking point: Conflict with China is "neither imminent nor inevitable." They've stuck to that assessment ever since.

But by then, said a senior defense official, granted anonymity to speak freely, the concerns around 2027 had spread widely.

People around Washington would call the official's office to ask if China would invade that year and whether the U.S. is ready. Since then, the official said, the misconception has become less common.

"It's not like Xi Jinping has a calendar up in his office with a date in 2027 marked ‘invade Taiwan,' " the official said.

In fact, many of the experts who spoke with Defense News said it's unlikely any Chinese leader would set a deadline. Chinese law doesn't have timelines for an attack on Taiwan; it has conditions, particularly an attempt by the island to declare independence .

And Xi hasn't scrapped China's policy toward the island, which calls for unification without war. Some leading China analysts don't think invading the island is a legacy issue for him.

"Xi is a politician," said Toshi Yoshihara, who studies the Chinese military at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments think tank. "All politicians want options, so the last thing you want is to be tied to a deadline."

‘Seed corn'

The Pentagon doesn't dismiss 2027 altogether. That's because it's a real goal for China's military - just a nuanced one.

China's government has set a series of year-based goals throughout this century, almost like mile times a runner wants to hit while training to win a race.

The most important one is 2049, which is 100 years after the founding of the People's Republic of China. By then, China's leaders want to reach "national rejuvenation" - or as they see it, again becoming the world's most powerful country. A core part of that goal is unification with Taiwan.

China has also set short- and medium-term markers. The earlier one is 2027, the 100th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army. It was added to China's calendar in 2020. The midterm one is 2035.

"It's a yardstick," said Chad Sbragia, a researcher at the Institute for Defense Analyses and former head of the Pentagon's China policy.

The logic isn't so different from how the U.S. works. Take an initiative like Replicator, for example. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks has pledged to field thousands of drones by August 2025, which forces the Pentagon to move faster and offers a chance for accountability.

China's military goals aren't that specific. Instead, they're captured in somewhat vague phrases repeated by Chinese officials. By 2035, the modernization of its armed forces should be "basically complete." By 2049, it wants to have a "world-class" military.

The official said it's not totally clear - to both the American and Chinese governments - what those phrases mean.

The goals for 2027 are more detailed, though hard to translate from the original Chinese. Here's how it's described in the Pentagon's 2023 report on China's military strength:

"‘Accelerate the integrated development of mechanization, informatization, and intelligentization,' while boosting the speed of modernization in military theories, organizations, personnel, and weapons and equipment."

The aims are simpler than they sound, the defense official said.

The first half focuses on the military's equipment, its ability to gather data, and its ability to communicate or jam its enemies. The second part refers to doctrine - or the ability for all the different parts of the People's Liberation Army to fight together.

These are the main areas where China thinks its military must improve if the nation is to surpass its rivals, most of all the United States. Others include corruption and the long time since China last fought a war, which means its leaders have less data on how their forces could perform today.

These goals all matter for a potential fight with Taiwan, though the official stressed that any conflict is still just that - potential. China's government would prefer to annex the island without a war, and may think a stronger military could force Taiwan into negotiations . The defense official said it's difficult to judge whether China is on pace to reach its goals, which are more difficult to measure than simply a weapons inventory.

"The amount of military equipment they're producing is eye-watering," Sbragia said.

In response, some people, like U.S. military leaders in the Pacific and hawkish lawmakers, say America needs to surge money to its forces in the region. American law doesn't require the nation to defend Taiwan, but U.S. President Joe Biden has said several times that it would.

Others, such as officials in the Biden administration, argue the U.S. can't fixate on a threat this decade.

"We don't really get to choose one or the other," the defense official said. "We don't get to say we're going to pour all of our resources into being ready right now and shortchange what we think we need to invest in for the future."

Not everyone agrees the U.S. can do both. Even those that do - such as former Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who until recently led the House's committee focused on competition with China - argue the U.S. should be spending much more on the effort .

But China will likely be a long-term competitor - as illustrated by its goals, which stretch decades into the future. One of the benefits of the 2027 debate in Washington, multiple China experts told Defense News, is that it's made America's government take that competition more seriously.

But they also gave a warning: America shouldn't think there's zero chance of conflict before that year, and if nothing happens after that date, it shouldn't get complacent.

That means spending the money it can on the short-term threat while also upgrading U.S. forces for the long term, said Zack Cooper, who studies U.S.-China strategic competition at the American Enterprise Institute think tank.

"We don't want to be eating our seed corn," he said.