>>That's without any local political influence from anyone, considering experience and skills only.<<
As you know, that is totally contrary to custom in India... Corruption is the name of the game, even foreign airline Hotac contracts involve bribes and kickbacks.
For a review of definitions, here is a short discussion from the Times of India:
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How is a bribe different from a `kick-back'?
The dictionary definition of `bribe' is `Anything such as money, property or a favour offered or given to someone in a position of trust to induce him to act dishonestly'. `Kick-back' is defined as `A percentage payment, by confidential arrangement, to a person able to influence or control a source of income to the kick-back's payee'.
Hence, bribes generally refer to illegal payment made to an official to get some unauthorised work done (though many officials insist on a bribe even for authorised work). On the other hand, kick-backs refer to illegal payments made by a seller to the person who has influenced a buyer to purchase the seller's goods. Hence, while the Tehelka payment was a bribe (since no goods had changed hands), the Bofors payment was a kick-back.
Rajeshwari Singh, New Delhi
Bribe is for working and kick-back is for mediating.
Rajesh Kumar, Gaya
Bribes are offered at lower level when movement of files is at stake, kickbacks are offered at a higher level.
G.S. Battu, Patiala
http://www.timesofindia.com/130501/13rsvp2.htm