About India is a mystery to me in general, why India, having gained independence in the middle of the century, and having enormous potential in many areas, did not become a regional leader ?! After all, India has everything to achieve this goal! Corruption and bureaucracy exist in many highly developed countries, this is bad, but it should not be a "stumbling block"! But it seems to me that India can, and most likely should, change the situation and take its dignified position!
Being an Indian, I have to say that India's problems are very unique. Unlike other countries, where elected politicians have the most amount of power, in India it is the judiciary and bureaucracy which dominates over the government. At least the politicians are answerable to the people and else they won't get re-elected. But the Indian judiciary is extremely corrupt and inefficient. Civil disputes can take 20-30 years to reach a resolution. Strategic infrastructural projects are delayed infinitely, because the judiciary constantly issues stay orders on the flimsiest of the excuses. And the bureaucrats are not answerable to anyone and they regularly delay projects demanding bribes. Even if a bureaucrat is found to be corrupt, it is not possible for the government to fire him. The system is designed in such a way, to block any development.