Indians view corruption as widespread

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WASHINGTON, May 8 (UPI) -- Majorities of Indians say they view corruption in government as widespread but they're less like to feel that way this year than in recent years, a poll shows.

The Gallup poll found 73 percent of Indians surveyed called corruption in government widespread, down from 80 percent in 2011, 78 percent in 2010 and 83 percent in 2009.

The poll also found 67 percent of respondents said they viewed corruption in business as widespread, compared with 75 percent in 2011, 71 percent in 2010 and 76 percent in 2009.

Gallup said in a release the results may indicate increasing optimism about government and citizen efforts to fight corruption in India.

At the same time, Indians' confidence in the country's national government stood at 60 percent, compared with 58 percent in 2011, 67 percent in 2010 and 70 percent in 2009.

The 2012 results are based on interviews with 5,000 people conducted Jan. 26-March 8, and had a margin of error of 1.7 percentage points. Results from previous years were based on responses from 2,000-6,000 people, with a margin of error of 1.7 percentage points to 2.6 percentage points.