In a major blow to the high profile anti-graft campaign by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the country’s ranking on perceived corruption has fallen to 87 while India has improved its position and rose to 78 position, in an annual index by global watchdog Transparency International, reports The New Indian Express. India stood at 81, while China at 77 in the 2017 index.

The Chinese President, who is currently in his second term after ascending to power towards the end of 2012, has made fighting corruption in the ruling Communist party of China (CPC) and the military a primary objective of his rule. More than 1.3 million officials at various levels were sacked and punished under Xi’s anti-graft campaign.

However, there were allegations that Xi used the campaign as a plank to consolidate his power within the military and his party.

Among other Asia-Pacific countries, Singapore moved up three spots to third place, behind first-placed Denmark and New Zealand, in the list.

"The Asia-Pacific region is stagnating in the fight against corruption. A lack of progress is unsurprising given the prevalence of weak democratic institutions and a lack of laws and enforcement mechanisms," Transparency International report was quoted in the South China Morning Post as saying. Vietnam, figured at the 117 position.

The United States also fell by six ranks to 22, tumbling out of the top 20 for the first time in a while.