India has slipped further in the Corruption Perceptions Index and is ranked 90th on a list of 146 countries, according to Transparency International ratings released today. India was ranked 83rd last year.

India shared the 90th slot with Russia, Nepal, Tanzania, Malawi, Gambia and Mozambique. India's CPI score of 2.8 in 2004 was the same as last year, but countries like Russia improved marginally from 2.7 in 2003.

While Bangladesh shared the dubious distinction of being perceived the most corrupt country along with Haiti, Finland retained its image as the cleanest country. Bangladesh was perceived as the most corrupt country last year too.

Like India, China too maintained its CPI score of 3.4 but slipped five notches to 71. Sri Lanka, placed 67th, was the highest ranked South Asian country, followed by India and Nepal, while Pakistan was ranked 129th along with Iraq. Pakistan was placed 92nd last year.

There were only two Asian countries in the Top 20 -- Singapore (5th) and Hong Kong (16th). Chile was the only other developing country in the same league.

While the UK was placed 11th, the US was ranked 17th and Japan 24th. Among the major developing countries, Malaysia was at 39, while South Africa was placed 44th, South Korea was ranked 47th, Brazil (59) and Mexico was at 64th rank.

The CPI score was based on perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by businessmen and country analysts expressed in surveys. The score ranges between 10 (highly clean) and 0 (highly corrupt).