20 MCQs on Corruption – Meaning, Forms, Causes, and Anti-Corruption Movements in India
Test your knowledge with 20 MCQs on Corruption. Learn about its meaning, types, causes, and major anti-corruption movements in India with answers and explanations.
1. What is the basic definition of corruption?
A) Honest conduct in public service
B) The misuse of power for personal gain
C) Legal economic transactions
D) Voluntary donations to charities
Answer: B) The misuse of power for personal gain
Explanation: Corruption refers to dishonest practices where individuals abuse their position for personal benefits, including bribery, fraud, and nepotism.
2. Which of the following is NOT a form of corruption?
A) Bribery
B) Nepotism
C) Ethical leadership
D) Money laundering
Answer: C) Ethical leadership
Explanation: Ethical leadership promotes honesty and integrity, while bribery, nepotism, and money laundering are forms of corruption.
3. Which of the following is an example of grand corruption?
A) A traffic officer accepting a small bribe
B) A company influencing government policy through illegal means
C) A teacher favoring a student in an exam
D) A store owner evading minor taxes
Answer: B) A company influencing government policy through illegal means
Explanation: Grand corruption occurs at higher levels of government, affecting policies and large-scale economic activities.
4. What is petty corruption?
A) Corruption involving large-scale fraud
B) Corruption at high political levels
C) Everyday corruption involving small amounts of money
D) Legal lobbying in policymaking
Answer: C) Everyday corruption involving small amounts of money
Explanation: Petty corruption refers to minor bribes and favors in day-to-day transactions, like bribing officials for permits.
5. Which of the following best defines nepotism?
A) Favoring relatives or friends in professional matters
B) Bribing officials for contracts
C) Illegally transferring money to foreign banks
D) Manipulating elections
Answer: A) Favoring relatives or friends in professional matters
Explanation: Nepotism occurs when individuals in power give jobs or advantages to their relatives or close friends.
6. What is the major cause of corruption in India?
A) High literacy rates
B) Weak enforcement of laws
C) Limited natural resources
D) Strong anti-corruption policies
Answer: B) Weak enforcement of laws
Explanation: Corruption flourishes when legal and institutional frameworks fail to punish corrupt individuals effectively.
7. Which Indian law deals with corruption in public offices?
A) The Consumer Protection Act
B) The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
C) The Companies Act
D) The Industrial Disputes Act
Answer: B) The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
Explanation: The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, is India's primary legislation aimed at curbing corruption among public officials.
8. What is the role of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in India?
A) Conducting elections
B) Investigating corruption cases in government departments
C) Regulating stock markets
D) Promoting higher education
Answer: B) Investigating corruption cases in government departments
Explanation: The CVC is India's top anti-corruption agency that oversees corruption cases in public sector institutions.
9. Which of the following is a major anti-corruption movement in India?
A) The Non-Cooperation Movement
B) The Green Revolution
C) The India Against Corruption Movement (2011)
D) The Swadeshi Movement
Answer: C) The India Against Corruption Movement (2011)
Explanation: Led by Anna Hazare, this movement demanded stronger anti-corruption laws, including the Jan Lokpal Bill.
10. What was the main demand of the India Against Corruption Movement?
A) Free education for all
B) Implementation of the Jan Lokpal Bill
C) Reservation for economically weaker sections
D) Increase in government salaries
Answer: B) Implementation of the Jan Lokpal Bill
Explanation: The movement sought the establishment of an independent anti-corruption body called the Lokpal to investigate corruption.
11. The Right to Information (RTI) Act was passed in which year?
A) 1999
B) 2005
C) 2010
D) 2015
Answer: B) 2005
Explanation: The RTI Act, 2005, empowers citizens to access government records, promoting transparency and reducing corruption.
12. Which organization ranks countries based on corruption levels?
A) UNESCO
B) Transparency International
C) IMF
D) The World Bank
Answer: B) Transparency International
Explanation: Transparency International publishes the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ranking countries by their perceived levels of corruption.
13. Which Indian agency is responsible for investigating financial frauds?
A) Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
B) Election Commission
C) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
D) University Grants Commission (UGC)
Answer: A) Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Explanation: The CBI investigates corruption cases, economic offenses, and high-profile frauds in India.
14. What is the function of the Lokpal in India?
A) Conducting public examinations
B) Investigating corruption cases against public officials
C) Regulating stock exchanges
D) Managing the Indian Railways
Answer: B) Investigating corruption cases against public officials
Explanation: The Lokpal is an independent body that investigates corruption cases involving public officials and politicians.
15. Which state in India first implemented the Lokayukta system?
A) Maharashtra
B) Karnataka
C) Uttar Pradesh
D) Tamil Nadu
Answer: B) Karnataka
Explanation: Karnataka was the first state to implement the Lokayukta system to address corruption complaints against public officials.
16. Black money refers to:
A) Money obtained through ethical means
B) Unaccounted income from illegal sources
C) Tax-free government subsidies
D) Bank deposits in rural areas
Answer: B) Unaccounted income from illegal sources
Explanation: Black money refers to undisclosed income generated through corrupt practices, tax evasion, or illegal activities.
17. What is the punishment under the Prevention of Corruption Act for accepting bribes?
A) A fine of ₹500
B) 3 months of community service
C) Imprisonment and fines
D) No punishment
Answer: C) Imprisonment and fines
Explanation: The Act provides for stringent penalties, including jail time and fines, for those convicted of corruption.
18. Which of the following is NOT a method of curbing corruption?
A) Strengthening law enforcement
B) Increasing government transparency
C) Encouraging whistleblowers
D) Weakening anti-corruption laws
Answer: D) Weakening anti-corruption laws
Explanation: Weakening anti-corruption laws would encourage corruption instead of preventing it.
19. The Jan Lokpal Bill aimed to:
A) Regulate stock exchanges
B) Establish an independent body to investigate corruption
C) Increase the number of public sector jobs
D) Reduce foreign investment
Answer: B) Establish an independent body to investigate corruption
Explanation: The Jan Lokpal Bill sought to create a powerful ombudsman to investigate corruption cases independently.
20. What is whistleblowing?
A) Reporting corruption or unethical activities within an organization
B) Conducting large-scale fraud
C) Encouraging tax evasion
D) Leaking government secrets illegally
Answer: A) Reporting corruption or unethical activities within an organization
Explanation: Whistleblowers expose corruption, fraud, and unethical behavior in organizations, often at personal risk.
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