BULLET TRAIN FIRST TIME IN INDIA

• India’s first bullet train corridor, between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, could turn out to be the cheapest high-speed train service in the world.
• The Japanese team working on its feasibility study has worked out its “fare box revenue” model, according to which the bullet train fare will be just one-and-a-half times more than the AC-I fares of other trains on the same route.
  
• According to this model, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train fare works out to about Rs 2,800, calculated on the basis of the current AC-I train fare of Rs 1,895. Currently, trains on this route take about eight hours for the 534-km journey. The bullet train is expected to take less than two hours.
• Japan’s Tohoku Shinkansen (Hayabusa trains) charges about Rs 8,000 for a 713-km ride on the Tokyo-Shin-Aomori sector. A second class ticket on China’s Jinghu High Speed Railway for the Beijing-Shanghai route costs over Rs 5,000. In India, initial estimates a few years ago had pegged the fare for this corridor to be in the same range. Officials, however, said the latest study of the possible fare model gives a more realistic picture. 
• The report is likely to be submitted to the Railways Ministry in July. The Japanese team carried out a survey of people travelling on the proposed corridor, asking them how much they would like to pay for a bullet train service with a speed of about 320 kmph. Apart from the complex mathematics of the fare box revenue model, the feedback obtained from the people was also factored in while calculating the likely fare, said sources. As per the team’s estimates, about 40,000 people are going to use the corridor every day by 2023 — when the bullet train service is expected to begin. The AC-1 fares for this sector in 2023 would serve as the reference for the bullet train fares. 
• The study found that pricing the tickets any higher would make the flights a more attractive option, and any lower would not support the maximum revenue generation. By keeping the fares low, the bullet train will be able to steer clear of a fare war with airlines, while also retaining the existing business of higher-class railway travel. The corridor is expected to have around 10 stations, and is supposed to cost Rs 98,000 crore, after factoring in inflation and taxes.
•  Work on the corridor is expected to be completed about eight years after it is commissioned 

Narasimha Rao's life history to be taught in schools

• The state government today announced on the 94th birth anniversary of P V Narasimha Rao that the late former Prime Minister's life history will soon be taught to students in Telangana's schools. 

• "The life history of former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao will be introduced in the syllabus for school students in Telangana state," Karimnagar MP B Vinod Kumar said. 

TELENGANAS iPASS for industries

• Telangana Government, which declared a bold industrial policy on June 12 that promised to clear project proposals within a fortnight, has cleared the names of 17 companies which sought permission to invest in the state within 10 days of applying. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao will sign and release the requisite documents to representatives of these companies Tuesday afternoon.
• Delivering on its assurances and promise that under its novel, innovative and business-friendly industrial policy `Telangna State Industrial Project Approval and Self-Certification System (TS-iPASS), that permissions and licenses would be given within 15 days, and if permission is not given then it is deemed to have been given, the Government cleared the applications of the these 17 companies in record time. These 17 companies will invest Rs 1,500 crores and will create about 4,000 jobs, an official said.
• Some of the companies which have been given clearances are ITC Limited, Anjani Portland Cement Ltd, MSN Life Sciences Private Limited, Sneha Farms Ltd, Aizant Drug Research Solutions, Pioneer Torsteel Mills Ltd, Solithro Private Ltd, Covalent Laboratories Pvt Ltd, EPR Centre for Cancer Research and Bio-Informatics Pvt Ltd, Bhavna Solar, Premier Photovoltaic Pvt Ltd, Usha Ventures Pvt Ltd, Value Labs, Dodla Dairy Ltd, HIL Ltd (Plastics), Duraline India Pvt Ltd (Telecom), Nuzen Industries Pvt LTd. ITC with an investment of Rs 800 crores in a food processing unit in Toopran Mandal in Medak district is the biggest investor among these companies.
  
• According to Telangna State Industrial Project Approval and Self-Certification System, penal action will be taken against government officials if they are found to have delayed the processing of applications. “The process to clear project proposals is quick, transparent and time-bound. For investors, there is a right to clearance clause in the policy and a 15-days timeline to give clearances to mega projects of Rs 200 crores and above, and 30 days for all other projects,’’ says Arvind Kumar, Secretary, Industries.
• The Telangana Government has set aside a land bank of over 1.30 lakh acres of non-agriculture land to be allotted to investors and companies bringing in projects. “Since this land is not suitable for agriculture, there are no hurdles created by anyone over land. The Government has also reserved 10 per cent water from all irrigation sources for industry,’’ an official said. A penalty of Rs 1000 per day would be levied on government officials who delay projects beyond the time limit of 15 days.
• “The fact that the state can be held accountable for delays has given lot of confidence to investors and industrialists. No one expected this kind of a policy could be possible in the country,’’ says IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan who pushed for the penalty clause.

REVIEW OF DR.A.P.J.ABDUL KALAM ON REWRITING HISTORY TEXTBOOKS

• The controversy over rewriting of history textbooks notwithstanding, former President A P J Abdul Kalam says fair research is needed in this regard and any such rework attempt should not be made by "people running the show" but by people of academic excellence. 

• He is also of the view that value-based education and proper parenting can help in curbing crime by juveniles. 

• "History books were mostly written by the rulers who ruled this country. So one must do research, fair research, and find what had historically happened," he says. 

• Books must be well researched and properly written. They should not be written by people who are running the show but by people of academic excellence," the 83-year-old Kalam, who was India's 11th President from 2002-2007, said in an interview. 
• He, however, feels that books related to science and technology need to be updated frequently as new information is "coming everyday". 

• "Science and technology has made great progress. A few decades ago, no one knew about Internet. But now we have to add that. Now a new type of communication is coming - 95 Ghz W band. So the syllabus has to be updated as technology changes, methodology changes," Kalam, who was conferred with Bharat Ratna in 1997, says. 

• He has come up with a new book "Reignited: Scientific Pathways to a Brighter Future", co-authored by his close aide Srijan Pal Singh. The book provides several nuggets of his life besides advice for young people on careers in areas like robotics, aeronautics, neurosciences, pathology, paleontology and material sciences. 

• On curbing crime by juveniles, he says value-based primary education, good parenting and knowledge from teachers are very important. 

• Kalam says that the biggest challenge for the scientific community is earthquake prediction. For this, an integrated team of geologists, material scientists, physicists, and remote sensing satellite experts, rock formation experts and oil exploration experts has to be formed. 

• "Research has to be done using multiple parameters. It has to be a combination of geology, physics, chemistry, mathematics and information technology," he says. 

• "This is a big challenge. But going by the damage caused by earthquakes, research is very much essential. A multi-nation effort is required," Kalam says. 

• Kalam, who came from a poor background, worked as a newspaper boy to complement his father's income. He had some great teachers, who he remembers fondly. 

CONGRESS REPORT ON ONE YEAR RULE OF PM NARENDRA NODIS GOVERNMENT

• In a stinging counter offensive,Congress today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had no work on ground to show and accused him of "murdering democratic institutions" while running "a one-man government".
• Presenting a five-chapter report card on the completion of Modi government, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said "MODI refers to Murder Of Democratic India" as it has bypassed Parliament with its "maximum governance becoming maximum arrogance and minimum government becoming one-man government".
• Calling Modi "Super Gagan Vihari", Congress leaders also attacked the Prime Minister over his foreign visits saying he was only busy polishing his global image.
• The opposition party accused Modi government of playing with national security, saying "reducing defence expenditure, frequent ceasefire violations, Pakistani and Chinese infiltration into Indian territory and no decision over one-rank one-pension scheme show its lack of concern".
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• Questioning the government's move to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France in fly-away condition, Congress leader and former Defence Minister A K Antony wondered whether the Finance Ministry and Defence Acquisition Council were taken on board on the deal.
• Presenting the "report card", Ramesh told reporters in Bengaluru, "Chapter one refers to MODI - Murder Of Democratic India; ...in the last one year he has completely bypassed Parliament, he rarely comes to Parliament, he was not present when constitution amendment bill on GST was voted in Lok Sabha."
• In the last one year, of the 53 bills presented in Parliament, only five had gone to the standing committee, when normally all bills go to it, he said.
• Ramesh described the five chapters of the report card as "murder" of democratic institutions, maximum governance becoming maximum arrogance and minimum government becoming one man government, turnaround becoming U-turns some positive some negative, repackaging of UPA programmes and sharp reduction in allocation for social sector schemes like health, drinking, water and sanitation.
• "This, in short, is what Mr Modi has accomplished in the last one year," he said.
• With Finance Minister Arun Jaitley launching a media blitz over the achievements of the Modi government on its first anniversary, Congress leader Kapil Sibal alleged that he was indulging in "big talk" and was unaware of ground realities.
• "Badi badi baatein karte hain Jaitley sahab...He says they have controlled inflation. I would like to ask Jaitley: Have you been near the first floor of the North Block? Have you been to the market? What will a person who sits in North Block know about market," the former Union minister said in Mumbai.
• They have given the slogan of "saal ek, kaam anek' but in reality, it is "saal ek, baatein anek", Sibal said.
• "All the work they claim to have done is in the air. We don't see that work on ground. Do you see it?" he asked.
• On Modi's foreign tours, he said, "In last one year, Modi was on foreign tour for 53 days and was touring India for 48 days. No Prime Minister had criticised India while on foreign tour but Modi did that."
• "Congress is not opposed to Modi's foreign trips per se, after all in every government Prime Minister is a Foreign Minister in a way - right from Jawaharlal Nehru's time, and Atal Bihari Vajpaee who was Foreign Minister used to be called 'Gagan Vihari Vajpayee', but Mr Modi has become 'Super Gagan Vihari'," Ramesh said.
• In a dig at Modi's remarks against the opposition abroad, former Union minister C P Joshi, in Raipur, said, "We hope that PM comes out of the election mode. Elections are over in the country and there is no election in foreign countries. You (PM) are campaigning in (foreign countries) in such a way...(but) there is no election there to elect a world leader."
• On the USD 6 billion Rafale deal, Antony said in Delhi that neither the Prime Minister, nor the Defence Minister or the Armed Forces could procure any equipment bypassing the Defence Acquisition Council.
• He also sought to know about the technology transfer between Dassault and HAL based on which 108 more aircraft were to be "Made in India".

KCR’s one year rule at a glance

• Telengana’s first Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will celebrate his first year in power on Tuesday, against the backdrop of misreading the mandate and an eccentric of functioning.
• On this day, the CM’s office will begin functioning around noon, review meetings are held when things precipitate, like swine flu or on whim.
• In the past entire year, the only person he attempted to fulfil is the farmer’s loan waiver where he paid up banks Rs.4,250 crore last year with allocations for three more similar annual instalments. The farmers’ disaffection increases when they recall that Rao promised to irrigate every acre of cultivable land. 
  
• The waiver is meagre when one considers that the monthly income of a farmer’s household is just Rs.6,491. Looking it from the other side, 52 per cent of farmers in India are in heavy debt, but in Telangana this figure soars to 83 per cent, according to the National Sample Survey. 
• Integrated Andhra has 17 per cent tenant farmers, which was next to West Bengal in 2002-03. In 2012-13 this figure more than doubled to 36 per cent. Clearly, agriculture is not fetching, and Rao does not deem it fit to review the situation to begin reversing the figures, at least in the medium term. 
• At a recent workshop at the National Institute of Rural Development here an Intelligence officer disclosed that 1,037 farmers have committed suicide in the last two years. Official sources told The Statesman that more than half of them ended their lives in the first 11 months of Rao’s government. 
• This being so, Rao has embarked on two schemes. Mission Kakatiya, which is meant to de-silt centuries old 45,000 tanks. The scheme is well appreciated but the government is unable to shake off allegations that it awarded de-silting contracts to TRS functionaries. 
• The second is the Drinking Water Grid, meant to supply potable water to every household. The scheme is controversial as the original cost of Rs.25,000 crore overnight shot to Rs.40,000 crore without explanation. Doubts are gaining currency about this expenditure as 72 pc of households are already connected with pipelines. 
• These two are intended to dump the premier poll promises of free KG to PG education, three acres of cultivable land to farmers and two bedroom houses for the homeless. 
• Now Mr Rao wants to shift the Secretariat to Bison Polo Grounds as the existing campus “has dreadful vaastu”. If he thinks he got the mandate to shift the Secretariat because of vaastu, he will discover that voters have an unnerving habit to script another story

NOTE FOR VOTE SCAM NEWS

• Voting was scheduled for June 2nd. On the evening of June 1st, 
• we were shown the explosive video of deputy leader of TDP in the Assembly, Revanth Reddy, offering 50 lakhs in cash to Mr. Stephenson, nominated MLA (from the Anglo-Indian quota) and further promising an additional 4.5 crores once voting is completed on the 2nd. Revanth Reddy is a very popular TDP MLA – a loud mouth many a time, but has the gift of oratory and therefore is a big hit in public meetings. This came as a huge shocker to everyone. One couldn’t imagine that he would be so stupid as to go and deliver the cash himself!
• 2 videos have been leaked – one recorded on May 31st – in which Revanth and Stephenson discuss the details of the offer – 5 crores cash, and if TRS government decides to curtail the term of Stephenson, then he will get MLA seat from the AP quota of Anglo Indians (which as far I know, doesn’t even exist). Revanth Reddy also mentions that he will talk to his boss and clear up all things. He also mentions that he will get the boss to talk to Stephenson, should he have any doubts about the deal. The second video, and more incriminating video, is of the evening of June 1st – where Revanth Reddy gives Stephenson a bag of cash amounting to 50 lakhs and promises the additional 4.5 crores the next day.
• A couple of days later, the Home Minister of Telangana says that they even have tapes of Chandrababu Naidu talking to Stephenson. And finally on the evening of June 7th, this (alleged) tape was also leaked. The discussion is a short one – Chandrababu Naidu says – “Our people have briefed me. I am with you. What all they spoke, we will honor. Freely you can decide, no problem. That is our commitment.”
• whatever remaining hell had to break lose, broke lose! The AP government and the TDP party have come out and said that the voice does not belong to Chandrababu Naidu at all. They have now made this into a TS vs AP battle! Some random tapes of a conversation between a DSP and a MLA were released by the AP government on a TV channel. These tapes were supposed to “incriminate” KCR’s son, but they do nothing.
• Chandrababu Naidu’s USP has been that he and his party are epitomes of honesty. One of their strongest campaign points last year was to choose between a “thief” (referring to Jagan Mohan Reddy) and a leader. By getting caught while trying to buy the vote of an MLA – that impression officially lies in tatters now. This was a wrong battle the TDP chose to fight. It was very clear from the beginning that the TDP did not have the numbers to win, instead of staking so much prestige, it would have been good if they lost gracefully and then went to town claiming how a party that won 65 seats was able to gather 85 votes in the Assembly.
• Instead, Revanth Reddy’s ambition coupled with a bad call by Chandrababu Naidu has landed the party in a soup (and perhaps one of their biggest crisis too). Revanth Reddy claims in one of the videos that Naidu agreed to put up a candidate in this election only because he convinced him to do so. Given how the failing was evident, did ego get to Revanth Reddy? Did he want to win at any cost and please the party supremo? On what basis did they count the support of 17 MLAs, when the writing on the wall was so clear!
• Whatever happened in the last one week is quite unbelievable. The stock of TDP is anyway very low in Telangana currently. The events of the last week only add one more nail to their coffin. There might be a minor setback in Andhra Pradesh too, however, elections are 4 years away, the only thing that will matter to the people of AP are execution of TDP promises. The choice the people of AP have is Chandrababu Naidu and Jagan Mohan Reddy (unless Pawan Kalyan decides to contest in 2019 separately). Jagan is accused number 1 in 11 cases. Just yesterday, former APCC chief, Botsa Satyanarayana has joined YSRCP. The image of Botsa is also quite bad when it comes to corruption. Given this choice and the fact that elections are 4 years away, it is unclear how the tapes will impact.
• Chandrababu Naidu is legally safe – even if the conversation is true – it doesn’t reveal anything. He doesn’t take names and numbers, so no charge can be framed against him, no arrests will be made. KCR has scored over the TDP in this round. But we haven’t seen the end of this unfortunate saga yet.
  

•  The Telangana Congress on Monday asked Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu to resign from his post to facilitate a fair probe into the cash-for-vote case.

• Naidu introduced horse-trading of legislators in 1995 when he dethroned the then chief minister N T Rama Rao and he has now been trapped at his own game, said Mohammad Ali Shabbir, Telangana Congress vice-president and leader of the opposition in the state legislative council. "If Naidu still believes in some ethics and morals, he should resign from his post and face the probe," he told reporters. 

• The minister said a resignation would be an opportunity for Naidu to atone for betraying NTR and that he could do so by making NTR's son Balakrishna, a TDP MLA, as the AP chief minister. 

• Meanwhile, the Congress leader also alleged that TDP leaders were giving contradictory statements on Naidu's audio tapes. While Parakala Prabhakar has alleged that the Naidu tape was cooked up, Errabelli Dayakar Rao had tried to defend Naidu, asking what was wrong in seeking vote. However, Ali added that he was not interested in taking sides on the issue.