March 31, 2025

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GAUGING THE CONSCIENCE QUOTIENT

India's civic values exhibit stark contrasts across states--while some lay complete store by integrity and responsibility, others are marred by corruption and ethical ambiguity Civic behaviour is the glue that holds a society together, shaping the everyday inter- actions that define the quality of public life. From respect- ing public property to extending a help- ing hand in times of crisis, the choices individuals make reveal the collective character of a nation. Through 12 care- fully designed questions, the India To- day Gross Domestic Behaviour survey attempts to gauge public attitudes to- ward honesty, social responsibility and adherence to civic norms The findings reveal a complex tap- estry of behavioural patterns across states, illustrating both encouraging trends and concerning disparities in public conduct. Tamil Nadu emerges as a paragon of civic virtue, securing the No. 1 rank, followed closely by West Bengal and Odisha, while Punjab lan- guishes at the bottom, ranked 22nd This stark contrast underscores the re- gional variations in how Indians navi- gate their civic responsibilities The findings offer encouraging signs. Nearly 87 per cent of respondents oppose tampering with electricity me- ters. Change is visible on the ground: Aggregate Technical and Commercial losses for power companies--a key indi- cator of power theft and inefficiency-- dropped to 15.3 per cent in FY23 from 37 per cent in FY05. Slowly but surely, social responsibility is gaining groundYet, integrity frays when personal interests collide with moral considerations. A concerning 61 per cent of the respondents admit that they are willing to pay bribes to expedite bureaucratic processes, with Uttar Pradesh emerging as the worst offender. Public responsibility also exhibits stark regional contrasts. In an inspiring display of altruism, 99 per cent of the respondents in West Bengal say they would stop to help an accident victim, a figure that plummets to 22 per cent in OdishaTaken together, these findings suggest a nation in transition--one where traditional values of community assistance coexist with evolving attitudes toward digital governance and environmental stewardship, yet where systemic challenges of corruption and tax evasion continue to demand attention from policymakers and citizens alike. n

THE FEAR FACTOR

The GDB survey results on public safety expose a diverse range of challenges, each demanding nuanced, state-specific solutions Public safety is not just about crime statistics, it is about how safe people feel in their everyday lives. To capture this perception, the India Today Gross Domestic Behaviour (GDB) survey explored public attitudes on safety through six key questions--ranging from concerns about eve-teasing and safety in public transport to willingness to report violent crimes and perceptions of neighbourhood security Kerala leads the nation in public safety, followed closely by Himachal Pradesh and Odisha, while Uttar Pradesh occupies the bottom position--a stark reminder of the regional variations in security perceptions across India. A most telling insight comes from the experience of women in public spaces--62 per cent of the respondents claim that eve-teasing is not a major issue in their areas, but nearly 44 per cent of women report facing harassment Tamil Nadu emerges as the best-behaved state, whereas Karnataka fares the worst, with a staggering 79 per cent of the respondents acknowledging harassment as a frequent problem Public transport generally feels secure to 86 per cent of Indians, with Maharashtra leading at 89 per cent and Punjab trailing at 73 per cent. Neighbourhood safety follows similar geographical varia- tions--73 per cent of Kerala residents report no unsafe areas, while 30 per cent of Uttar Pradesh residents identify zones they feel unsafe Perhaps most encouragingly, 84 per cent of the respondents said they would feel safe reporting violent crimes, though historical data suggests a significant gap between intention and action. A 2017 survey found that in big cities like Delhi and Mumbai, only a tiny fraction of theft victims (7.2 per cent and 5.9 per cent, respectively) actually filed FIRs Traffic discipline varies dramatically across regions, with rule abiding Assam (68 per cent reporting good compliance) contrasting sharply with Karnataka (89 per cent noting violations). Meanwhile, the survey captures an unexpected regional divide over stray dogs--96 per cent of Kerala residents oppose their presence amid 316,000 dog bite cases in 2024, while 64 per cent of Uttarakhand residents express comfort with local strays. These findings illuminate not just statistics but underscore a diverse range of public safety challenges, each demanding nuanced, state-specific solutions. n While there is a broad willingness among Indians to engage with authorities and uphold safety norms, actual practices often fall short GDB: Gross Domestic Behaviour is drawn from the responses of all 9,188 participants across 21 states and one Union Territory