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Photo essay: Visions of India

India's economy is growing at a rate of 6 percent a year—no mean feat, perhaps, but one that lags behind China's 10 percent yearly growth, even though a decade ago they had roughly equivalent gross domestic products per capita. The McKinsey Global Institute spent 16 months examining 13 sectors of the Indian economy to see what was holding it back and which policy changes would accelerate its growth. The photographs in this section illustrate the challenges and opportunities facing India as it struggles to make its economy grow.

The take-away

The study found three main barriers that together inhibit GDP growth by more than 4 percent a year: too many product market regulations, distortions in the market for land, and widespread government ownership of businesses.