Interview Discussion Initiative – March 8

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7 responses to “Interview Discussion Initiative – March 8”

1. 

   Goms

   March 9, 2017

   Sure Sir
2. 

   ForumIAS

   March 9, 2017

   Goms… Do participate in today’s discussions as well! And, spread the word.
3. 

   Goms

   March 9, 2017

   Thank yo sir
4. 

   ForumIAS

   March 8, 2017

   Thanks Goms for being so active.. Ask others to join!
5. 

   ForumIAS

   March 8, 2017

   Awesome! Ask people from Mains Marathon to participate here 🙂
6. 

   Ubermensch

   March 8, 2017

   1. The presentation of railway budget as distinct from the general budget is a 93 year old practice introduced by Acworth Committee on the premise that proportion of former’s budget was much higher than latter’s. However, the revenue of railways declined with emergence of road and air transport among other reasons. The argument doesn’t hold valid today. It only increases parliamentary exercise (separate Appropriation bill) and deteriorates financial health of railways by way of annual dividends. Railways is not purely a commercial entity, it serves social obligations too. Hence, it was not wise to work with 20th century practises in 21st century.
   2. Pros – reduced parliamentary exercise; railways to save Rs 10,000 crore annually, improved passenger services; railways no more to be avenue of populism
   Cons – reduced focus and specialization,

   3. Advancing the session will help to bypass the parliamentary exercise of vote on accounts, it will help in timely resource mobilization & capital expenditure right from start of fiscal year
   4. ECI has laid specific guidelines for the Union so that no populist schemes pertinent to the 5 poll bound states are announced. Postponing an exceptionally important exercise of Budget on premise of MCC wasn’t wise, as different parts of country remain poll bound at different times. Under exceptional circumstances, had the budget been delayed and union govt was dissolved, budgetary exercise would be delayed again till new elections disrupting governance in general. Hence, under strict supervision of ECI, it was right not to delay the budget.
7. 

   Goms

   March 8, 2017

   Why has the government merged railway and financial budget:
   NITI Aayog recommended that the railway budget should be merged with the financial budget because the railways has been hostage to populist and economically unliable policies adopted by successive government so NITI Aayog believes that scrapping the railway budget could lay the foundation for overhauling the railways and make it more business oriented commercial body

   What are the pros and cons of it :
   Pros : * It serves the useful purpose of removing the rail budget from the glare of populist politics
   * financial burden of dividened has gone off from the railways so they will now have more resource in hand
   Cons: * The merger may make the railway just another government department. In the process it could also lose its commercial character
   * The move could lead eventually to the corporation of the railways

   Why has the government prepared the budget :
   The budget which includes financial bill had changes in the tax policies and various schemes which affect investor and business people
   To pass appropriation bill to take money from consolidated fund of india these can be addressed only if the budget is presented