Page "Dowry" Paragraph 18

According to one survey conducted by the reputable Indian news magazine India Today, over 90 % of government employees actively seek and get a dowry from their bride's family.

It is a common feature for unmarried civil servants to seek dowry matching the market rates of their post.

These rates are sky-high, with an estimate of dowry rates for a bachelor IAS Officer ( Indian Administrative Services ) being as high as Rs 50 Lac to Rs 5 Crore ( up to USD 1 Million ).

These high rates are one of the primary reasons for corruption, as young IAS officers after marriage are forced to take bribes to maintain their new lifestyle and to match the financial status of their wealthy in-laws.