Fortifying Uzbekistan's integrity landscape: Harnessing India's tech-driven anti-corruption strategies

Abstract

Corruption poses significant challenges to sustainable development and social justice in Uzbekistan. This paper explores how Uzbekistan can strengthen its anti-corruption framework by leveraging emerging technologies and drawing lessons from India's experience in using information and communication technology (ICT) to combat corruption. The study employs a qualitative research methodology, analysing data from government reports, case studies, and expert interviews to identify specific areas where Uzbekistan can learn from India's successes and challenges in applying ICT solutions. The findings highlight several key ways ICT can bolster anti-corruption efforts in Uzbekistan, such as increasing transparency through e-governance platforms, improving accountability via digital monitoring systems, and enabling citizen participation with online reporting tools. The paper provides concrete examples and data from India demonstrating how technologies like biometrics, blockchain, and data analytics have helped detect fraud, streamline bureaucratic processes, and empower citizens to report corruption. However, the research also reveals critical legal, institutional and cultural barriers Uzbekistan must address to effectively implement these tech-based approaches, such as outdated regulations, lack of technical expertise, and public distrust. Comparing India and Uzbekistan's contexts, the paper offers tailored recommendations for how Uzbekistan can adapt India's ICT models to overcome its unique constraints. The study concludes that while technology is not a panacea, strategically integrating ICT into Uzbekistan's anti-corruption arsenal – with insights from India's experience – can be a powerful tool to promote good governance, curb corruption, and ultimately advance social justice for citizens. More research is needed to assess the long-term impacts and scalability of specific ICT interventions.