World Economic Forum: Can India Beat Corruption?

Available for over a year

India is struggling with corruption at all levels of society, from petty bribery to multi-billion dollar scandals touching the highest levels of government. In the last year there has been uproar over alleged corruption with the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and a 2G-spectrum telecoms scandal, which cost billions and led to the resignation of a top minister. The scale of these scandals threatens to undermine India's economic gains and could slow its rapid growth. Corruption in India is not a new phenomenon. The country has been trying to crack down on graft since it gained independence. But this year, millions of Indians, many from the middle classes, rallied around Anna Hazare, a septuagenarian activist and former soldier, who attempted two hunger strikes to force the government into implementing a rigorous anti-corruption bill. Will this new movement be successful, or is India destined to operate with a culture of corruption?