India, April 6 -- Corruption, in its myriad forms such as bribery, fraud and embezzlement, has universally plagued public and private institutions alike. The concept of the Lokpal, which literally means "caretaker of the people", is borrowed from the Swedish model of ombudsman, an independent, parliamentary-appointed official established in 1809 to protect citizen rights by overseeing government administration and investigating abuses of power.

India's long and arduous battle against corruption reached a defining moment with the passage of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. Born out of unprecedented public pressure and widespread frustration against entrenched institutional corruption, the legislation was envisioned as a powerful, inde...