Kerala tops in least corrupt States in the country: VIT chancellor

The founder and chancellor of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), G. Viswanathan, said on Sunday that Kerala holds the distinction of being the least corrupt state in the country, with around 20% corruption, according to recent data.

Delivering his presidential address during Onam celebrations, Mr. Viswanathan cited a report by Transparency International, which publishes annual rankings on corruption levels. He stated that, among all Indian states, Kerala has the lowest level of corruption, while its neighbour Tamil Nadu has a corruption rate of approximately 62%.

“The rate of corruption is steadily increasing across the country, as pointed out by Transparency International. About 15 years ago, India ranked 80th in terms of least corrupt countries globally. By 2024, it has slipped to the 96th position, indicating a worsening trend,” he said.

He also highlighted Kerala’s strong economic indicators. He noted that Kerala is among the top three states in terms of remittances, along with Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Despite having a relatively modest population of around 3.6 crore, Kerala ranks second in remittance inflow, with a per capita income of around $4,700—significantly higher than the national average of $2,900. In fact, Kerala has the highest per capita income among all southern states, he said.

Speaking on human development, Mr. Viswanathan said Kerala ranks first in India on the Human Development Index (HDI), which measures parameters such as education, economy, per capita income, and life expectancy. He emphasized the need for the state to create employment opportunities for educated youth. “Most remittances are used for building houses or buying gold rather than for investment,” he added.

The event was also attended by actor and playback singer Ramya Nambeesan, writer and author Pushpa Kurup, and VIT Vice President Shekhar Viswanathan.