Economic reforms to help check corruption: govt

The government today said that economic reforms, like rollout of indirect tax regime GST, would help in curbing corruption.

Implementation of economic reforms and regulatory procedures are part of a continuous process undertaken by the government to increase efficiencies and reduce discretionary powers, Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

"These steps would contribute to decrease in corruption. The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) should also help in curtailing corruption," he said.

He was replying to a query that whether the image of the country is being tainted and reforms stalled due to rising corruption cases and prolonged indecision of the government.

To another query on time likely to eradicate corruption completely in future, the minister said, "While it is not possible to put a formal time line on this, it will happen soon".

A host of financial sector reform bills, including GST, are pending in the Parliament.

GST would replace most indirect taxes at central and state levels like service tax, excise duty, VAT, cess, surcharge and local levies.