This thesis examines four topics related to conflict and corruption. The thesis is organized under two research clusters a) ethno-religious conflict; and b) corruption. The first cluster addresses the grievances underlying an ethno-religious conflict in its historical context, and studies its modern day implication. The first study under this cluster investigates the relationship between economic downturns and religious repression in medieval India. The second paper studies the effect of religious riots on electoral outcomes in modern India. The second cluster on corruption feature two ongoing studies. The first paper in this cluster assesses whether customs reforms under World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement have a dampening effect on the customs related corruption. In the second paper I examine the negative consequences of a policy that regulates the politicians’ behavior in office in India.