Table of Contents
Trans-Asian rail connectivity | Pioneer
- ITI-DKD-Y(Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad-Delhi-Kolkata-Dhaka-Yangon)
- It has great potential
- Southern Corridor of the Trans Asia route (TAR)
- Least integrated
- The most populous-sub-regions in the world
- Accessibility and development of landlocked countries
- Afghanistan, Bhutan and Nepal
- ITI train – weak link is Pakistan
- Indian Railways has prioritised the railway corridor that connects Istanbul to Dhaka (Bangladesh) through Delhi and Kolkata.
- India’s emphasis is on regional connectivity projects with Nepal-Bangladesh-Bhutan.
- These networks will boost trade within SAARC countries and will be cost effective.
- These will also be subroutes to TAR.
- India has also an ambitious project to connect all state capitals of eastern states with the IR network.
- The India- Mayanmar rail connectivity is planned through Jiribam-Imphal in Manipur.
- The other route to Mayanmar is through Bangladesh Railway network.
- The Dhaka-Comilla chord rail route planned by BR will provide an even shortened route between Bangladesh and Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur.
- For the ambitious ITI-DKD-Y route to be fully operational, infrastructural inputs in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar are very important.
- This will be achieved with good relationships between neighbouring countries.
- Much will depend on the security scenario and socio-political situation of the countries involved.
- Political stability in the countries of the region and government patronage to rail projects are important for such routes to be fully operational.
Regulatory Limbo | ToI
- Covid – more engagements online
- Regulatory architecture hasn’t kept pace
- It has always lagged technological advances
- Adverse impact on the nature of digital markets
- The ability to accumulate huge amounts of data on users offers economies of scope inconceivable for a dominant firm in a traditional industry like steel or cement.
- Choke competition
- The danger comes from large digital platforms that start off as mere intermediaries but later also compete against businesses using their platform.
- Digital gatekeepers
- The Personal Data Protection Bill was introduced in Parliament in December 2019 and referred to a joint committee of both Houses.
- After 66 sittings, a report still hasn’t come in.
- The inaction in regulatory space means that early-mover advantages accruing to some firms may weaken the competitive nature of the market.
- What India needs is a comprehensive umbrella legislation to cover digital platforms.
Talking amid conflict | TH
- World’s two biggest powers
- Ties have remained strained
- President Joe Biden call to Xi Jinping on Friday
- Unconditionally revoking visa restrictions on Communist Party members
- Withdrawing an extradition request for Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of tech firm Huawei who is on trial in Canada
- COVID-19 inquiry
- Climate change
- If cooperating while in conflict appears an unreasonable proposition for China when it comes to ties with the U.S., it is unfathomable how it expects India to take a very different stand on bilateral relations.
Structural shifts in farm incomes | HT
- NSO report – Farm income have risen by 57% between 2012-13 and 2018-19, at a compounded annual growth reate (CAGR) of 7.3%.
- The share of agricultural families in debt has decreased from 51.9% to 50.2%.
- Adjusted with inflation, growth in incomes in this period is actually 16.5%, at a CAGR of 2.5%.
- Shift in basket
- In 2012-13, wages contributed 32% of a farmer’s income: in 2018-19, they contributed 40%.
- Cultivation contributed 48% of income then, it is down to 38%.
- Farm incomes from animals contributed 12%; this number is up to 16%.
- Non farm incomes business incomes have dipped from 8% to 6%.
- In real terms, income from cultivation has actually dipped by 8.9%.
- The average amount of outstanding loans has also increased by 57%; in real terms, this increase is 16.5%.
- Indian agriculture needs a planned structural transformation
NEWS
- PM Modi to lay foundation stone of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh State University in Aligarh today; to also inaugurate Aligarh node of Defence corridor
- Prime Minister to visit US to attend Quad Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC later this month
- India willing to stand by Afghan people, just as in the past: EAM S Jaishankar
- India’s vaccination drive achieves another milestone by crossing 75 crore mark; Recovery rate stands at 97.54 percent
- Centre says MSP approved for designated Rabi crops for 2022-23 is higher or equal to 1.5 times of cost of production
- 21 food processing projects inaugurated during ‘Food Processing Week’ from 6th to 12th Sept: MoFood
- Senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes passes away
- UN to raise more than 600 million dollars in aid for Afghanistan
- North Korea tests new long-range cruise missile capable to hit Japan
- Wildfire in southern Spain forces around 2,000 people to flee their homes
Q.) Who is the father of Indian Botany?
- Jadgish Chandra Bose
- William Griffith
- Lutchman Singh
- William Roxburgh
Q.) What is the source of fossil fuels for Norway?
- North Sea
- Atlantic Sea
- Mediterranean Sea
- Pacific Ocean
Download Free PDF – Daily Hindu Editorial Analysis
WhatsApp