Challenges to Probity — Ethical Standards

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act	2018	This amendment made significant changes to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. It introduced the offense of 'giving a bribe' as a punishable act, making the bribe-giver equally culpable. It also mandated prior sanction from the competent authority before initiating an investigation against a public servant, including retired officials.	The impact is debated. While criminalizing bribe-giving is a positive step, the provision for 'prior sanction' is seen by critics as a shield for corrupt officials, potentially delaying investigations and hindering accountability. It aims to protect honest officials from frivolous complaints but raises concerns about its potential misuse to protect the guilty, thus posing a new institutional challenge to probity.