India, Feb. 2 -- In a country like India, it is not unusual to encounter red tape that makes it hard for people and businesses to get things done, turning simple processes into lengthy, frustrating ordeals and eroding public trust.

In a finding that virtually slammed 'Babudom' as India's biggest curse, a Hong Kong-based research firm had rated Indian civil servants as the least efficient among the bureaucracies of 12 Asian nations a decade-and-a-half earlier.

Has the situation changed for the better?

It, however, remains a cornerstone of governance, with bureaucrats serving as the permanent executive that keeps the administration running, regardless of political changes.

Allegedly, the desire to serve the nation fuels a massive influx...