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Raghu Dayal

10-day journey over 80 km stretch for cargo. Here’s what ails India’s exports

Investment in R&D has been low, in addition to underinvestment in physical and human capital.
India’s lamented & lacklustre export record can change; this sector may hold the key

India has a lamented and lacklustre export record; how to attempt a change.
Railways’ Report Card: Indian Railways chugging along Air India path?

India can well do without an Air India; Indian Railways is far too important, precious and strategic for the nation to be allowed to become a burden on the economy
Mid-Term Foreign Trade Policy Review: Why it fell short of real export promotion

Even within the smaller segment, India secures less than 5% in world textile exports, and 2% in clothing (against China’s 33% and 38%, respectively)
Bullet train scripts new paradigm for country; why India must not delay transformation of nation’s lifeline

The project provides for Japan to transfer not only Shinkansen technology, but it will also train Indian workforce in sophisticated construction technologies, providing a fillip to Make-in-India.
Indian Railways corporatisation: PSU has stuck to its departmental character

With his acknowledged reputation Suresh Prabhu as IR’s helmsman raised expectations that it would be rescued from the tail-spin it had lapsed into. Prabhu underscored in his last budget speech the need to “reorganise, restructure and rejuvenate” railways.
Railways alive, but not kicking; here is what will get it running

IR needs a new, genuine customer-centric framework along with exponential capacity enhancement for traffic growth with reduction in tariffs for freight and increases for lower-class passengers.
Ease of doing business in India: Narendra Modi government’s bid to improve rank by 2020 needs more co-ordination

India’s current ranking on starting a business is 155th.
Merger of Union Budget 2017 with Rail Budget: Thanks to PM Narendra Modi, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, Indian Railways freed from legacy problems

The long-awaited rail tariff regulatory authority, if in place, would have helped fix tariffs, as the merged budget wished
Suresh Prabhu led Indian Railways still in slow lane over fast trains

Railway minister Suresh Prabhu just reiterated the Indian Railway’s plan to accelerate trains, enabling most inter-metro passengers to complete their rail journeys within 12 hours.
Trade reforms: SAARC sans Pakistan has led to clearing of vehicular movement hurdles

SAARC sans Pakistan has done well to clear hurdles on vehicular movement
What does India have to do to get Olympics medals? Find out here

Over a long stretch of 96 years, India has to its credit 9 gold medals, 7 silver, and 12 bronze—a total of 28—at the Olympics. Eight golds came for hockey (the last of them, over a quarter century ago, at the truncated Moscow Olympics). The only gold medal by an individual—a beacon in solitary splendour—was Abhinav Bindra’s, in shooting, at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Craft some USPs to boost exports

India’s exports—now for long on a continuous slippery slope—need a structural change in the ecosystem
Towards a high-speed railway future

c(HSR) doesn’t crowd out other railway projects. Japan’s $12-billion assistance is only for the designated HSR, not transferable to other schemes
Column: Ringing in the year with aplomb and purpose

Following the euphoria of 2014, the Modi aura that diminished in 2015 may well bounce back in 2016
Partnering Africa: India must go beyond transient gains

Africa offers many opportunities to Indian companies in IT, agriculture, mining, infrastructure, services etc. The need is to strike a sustainable relationship.
Making Indian Railways safer

Accidents signify a breakdown in efficiency; railways needs a managerial transformation
The right recipe for Indian Railways

The Railway Board should function like the corporate sector. The IR needs to right-size. It is over-staffed, which has a drag effect on its efficiency, economy and accountability

Horoscope: By Peter Vidal

Today ( 23 Oct )This Week ( 21 Oct - 27 Oct )