The President has called for multi-faceted approach to combat corruption. Inaugurating the regional conference of Anti Corruption initiative on Asia and the Pacific in New Delhi on Wednesday, Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil said, governments have to constantly review existing laws, systems and procedures for ensuring their effectiveness. She emphasised the need for strengthening institutions, removing loopholes, stringently implementing laws and making every institution more transparent in its functioning.

The President said that India is committed to greater transparency and accountability in governance and to a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption. She said India has an elaborate legal and institutional framework for preventing and combating corruption in public services. She informed that in a significant step to fight against corruption effectively, India has already ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in May this year. It will help New Delhi in tackling trans- border corruption.

Hailing the Asian Development Bank, ADB- Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD initiative against corruption, she emphasised on bilateral arrangements for mutual assistance to build international cooperation.