Probity in Governance is a fundamental concept that signifies the strict adherence to ethical and moral values, such as honesty, integrity, and uprightness, by public functionaries in the discharge of their duties. The term originates from the Latin word 'probitas' meaning "goodness" or "honest". Its necessity in India was formally highlighted by the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption in 1964, which observed that a lack of moral earnestness hampered the growth of integrity. The concept aims to solve the problem of corruption and the erosion of public trust by ensuring procedural integrity and a high standard of ethical behaviour.
Operationally, probity works through principles like transparency, accountability, and the avoidance of conflicts of interest. It requires public officials to declare assets, use public resources only for sanctioned purposes, and recuse themselves from decisions where a personal interest intrudes. The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), in its fourth report, Ethics in Governance (2007), treated probity as the foundational pillar of accountable administration.
This concept is intrinsically connected to several legal and institutional frameworks, including the Right to Information Act, 2005, which the Second ARC called the master key to good governance. Key legislative measures include the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, which established an ombudsman to inquire into corruption allegations against public functionaries. Institutional instruments enforcing probity include the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), which became statutory under the CVC Act, 2003, and the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) under Article 148 of the Constitution. The core concept remains the same, but the framework has been strengthened, notably with the 2018 amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, which introduced provisions for the punishment of commercial organisations for bribery.