At the G-20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial meeting in Kolkata, United Kingdom (UK) Security Secretary Tom Tugendhat and Indian counterpart Jitendra Singh had a bilateral meeting.
They aimed to strengthen cooperation between their nations.
Minister Tugendhat was joined by a British delegation, and both sides emphasized their commitment to transparency and anti-corruption efforts.
Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the shared goal of establishing a corruption-free society and called for increased collaboration in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) innovations, cross-sector cooperation, and anti-corruption partnerships.
Minister Tugendhat reiterated the UK's stance that India, as a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), should implement Article 16 addressing bribery of foreign government officials.
He also encouraged India to join the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Government Officials, of which the UK is a member.
Dr Jitendra Singh affirmed India's ratification of the UNCAC. India's presidency of the G-20, starting in December 2022 under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, emphasized global cooperation in tackling corruption issues based on the principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'.
India's efforts towards transparency included e-governance adoption, Aadhaar system implementation for Direct Benefit Transfer, procurement reforms, and the Citizen's Charter in public offices.
India actively participates in the G-20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) Forum, which has achieved notable progress in combating corruption globally.
Under India's leadership, the G20 ACWG has adopted high-level principles and conducted successful working group meetings, promoting international cooperation and accountability in the fight against corruption.