Management Aptitude test Feb 2008 results declared.
All India Management Association (AIMA) declared the results of MAT entrance examination which was organized on Feb 3, 2008 today. The MAT 2008 results can be seen at
http://www.aima-ind.org/matresults/mat_result.asp
MAT 2008 results, Management Aptitude Test 2008 results .
Setting the tone for an ‘Election Budget’, railway minister Lalu Prasad is likely to reduce both passenger fares and freight rates, riding a strong revenue growth and reduced operational costs. Rail fares are likely to be cut by 3% to 5% while freight rates for petroleum, steel and iron ore may come down by 4% to 5% due to reclassification of goods.
Since this will be the last full-fledged Railway Budget before the general elections, scheduled for next year, the railway minister is expected to go all out with populist measures, ministry sources said. According to officials at the Rail Bhawan, there will be no deviation from the trend of not hiking freight and passenger rates as the Railways is right on track to meet the twin objectives of reducing operational cost and increasing revenues. Between April 2007 and January 2008, earnings from freight and passenger traffic have grown 11% and 14%, respectively, giving enough cushion for Mr Lalu Prasad to cut rates.
The turnaround time of most trains has been reduced by using the same coaches in more than one sector. The strategy has helped the Railways increase profit without hiking passenger fares or freight rates. A possible cut in passenger fares is likely to cover all categories while short-distance travel charges may see some rationalisation, the sources said.
As in the past three years, the Railways would persist with freight rationalisation to bring down tariffs on steel, cement and petroleum products. “The downward revision in freight rates will happen due to a reduction in the freight determination classes from 210 to 200,” a railway ministry official said.
The railway minister had last year indicated the Rail Budget would be for the aam janata (common man).
He had pointed out that despite the reduction in passenger fares, the railways had earned a profit of Rs 20,000 crore last year by increasing business volumes.
Every year, the Railways go in for freight rationalisation to offer respite to consumers from inflationary pressure. In the 2007 Railway Budget, freight rates for petrol and diesel were brought down by 6%. A proposed cut in freight rates will not result in a revenue loss as the Railways plays the volume game successfully, as in the past.
The focus this year will be to bring down freight rates for heavier commodities such as steel, iron ore and other petroleum products, which are facing pressure from rising costs. For lighter commodities, the Railways has already rejigged the structure by introducing low-rate tariff lines below the lowest freight class comprising 100 commodities.
Rationalisation of freight rates has contributed enormously in Railways’ turnaround. Its total earnings during April 2007 to January 2008 was Rs 57,282 crore compared with Rs 50,765.25 crore during the same period last fiscal, a growth of 12%. The Railways generated Rs 38,748-crore revenues from freight traffic during the period, an 11% year-on-year growth. During the first 10 months of the current fiscal, freight traffic volumes stood at 643 million tonnes, compared with last year’s 593 million tonnes. Earnings from passenger fares were at Rs 16,134 crore (Rs 14,126 crore).
Last year’s Railway Budget had reduced fares for AC-I by 6% in the lean season and 3% in the peak season. Fares in popular trains were lowered uniformly throughout the year by 3%. Peak season AC two-tier fares were reduced by 2% while lean season fares fell 4%. In popular trains, fares were cut across the board by 2%.credits : TOI
In their pre budget memorandum to the Ministry of Railways, Assocham has mooted suggestions that can help step up savings by nearly Rs234 lakh per train p.a
Industry chamber Assocham has mooted a proposal for introduction of End on Generation (EOG) system initially in about 1500 trains in a bid to make railways more efficient in energy savings and to increase their speed. This will enable the railways to save Rs234 lakh per train annually and usher in a second phase of modernization.
In its pre-railway budget memorandum submitted to Ministry of Railways, Assocham president, Venugopal N. Dhoot said that railways currently use self generation system in a number of trains, which need to be replaced with efficient EOG systems.
End on Generation (EOG) is the system used on fully air conditioned Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains. The system comprises two power cars per train. Each power car has two DG sets and each DG set is rated at 300 kW. These are mounted inside the power car or the entire power car coach which is dedicated for these power plants. The power generated by these DG sets is utilized for hotel load of the train.
EOG concept to step up energy efficiency
According to estimates EOG concepts bring in multiple advantages to railways and release hauling capacity of locomotives while saving energy efficiency by over 90%.
Economic benefits for railways on a conservative estimate with introduction of EOG system can be savings in capital investments with building new trains to the tune of Rs93 lakh per train. Recurring returns in energy savings due to increased operational efficiency can be to the tune of Rs130 lakh per train per annum. Reduction of over all rate of the train can bring in savings of Rs11 lakh per train per annum.
Release of traction hauled loads can improve average speed of coaches. There will be no infringement in revenue earning space of SLR coach as DG sets will be mounted under the coach. Indian railways runs about 1500 passenger trains and if this gets applied to all trains, returns will be substantial.
Introduce lighter EOG system in all locomotive hauled mail/express trains
All mail/ express trains would work on the following lines: each SLR coach to be equipped with 1 unit of underslung diesel generator set. Each DG set will be rated between 300 KW to 400 KW depending on the need.
EOG concept will eliminate axle mounted generator and corresponding battery bank and inverter on each coach and replace it with one unit of DG set under the SLR. A 100% back up in the form of second DG set will be used on the second SLR of the train.
SG coaches need an axle mounted generator (1x4.5 kw per standard coach and 2x25 kw per AC coach), corresponding batteries, inverters, pulley, belts, regulator and battery box. The energy to turn the axle mounted generator comes from locomotive. The conversion ratio of usable hotel load to locomotive energy is approximately 1:2. I.E., the system has an efficiency of 50%. This is a huge and recurring wastage and is used on all conventional mail, express and passenger trains. credits: mint
What Probir Ghose wrote on sulekha blog about Indian Railway Budget 2008
The time for the Railway Budget 2008 is fast approaching – by this time next week we would be more knowledgeable on what Laloo-ji has finally given to the commoner. Normally, promises are made left right and centre but very few of these translate into positive action and visible results within the given time frame. He has not increased the train fare as such but there have been discreet increases that add up to substantial amounts given the crores of passengers that travel on the Indian railways. That is neither here nor there – he has to run the establishment and commoners have to bear with him and his railway board members who dream up those wonderful projects. Introduction of Cyber cafés on the railway platforms, providing mobile phone charging points in the train compartments, serving of international brand snacks in the trains, and redesigning the sleeper coaches so that the passengers can maneuver their luggage more easily etcetera are done in keeping with the basic philosophy of stepping ahead with the times. These are in line with the e-ticketing concept.
However, when one comes to discussions on other matters where the Railways need to be more serious are the miserable condition of the toilets in the reserved compartments – these depict the sad state of affairs. Agreed that a majority of people love the open air surroundings during their mandatory morning outings to empty the internal wastes, there is no justification of the dirty and filthy surroundings inside the compartments. The water taps, the wash basins, the mirror and the door locking mechanism are such that these result in avoidance by the travelers. Added to these are the crowds of unreserved persons who occupy the space in front of and around the toilets. The situation is similar in the ordinary sleeper as well as the air conditioned sleeper coaches. And, in order to keep the compartments clean and do regular sweeping, the railways encourage the urchins who keep coming one after another – armed with brooms , these kids are in many cases handicapped – if this is a method of the railways to do their bit for the handicapped, they deserve to be congratulated. That is not usually the case – the children owe their allegiance to other masters who control them from outside. There is no love lost between them – the kids have to count out their earnings to the bosses who hand out the appropriate doles at the end of the day. These might be in cash or in kind – kind is the favored option: especially for the girl kids.
Quite recently, the Railway Minister had taken to task some officers who had not lived upto his expectations down South and had not served him proper food – however, the quality of food that one has become accustomed in the trains is pathetic. The helpless passengers have to grin and bear it all. Due to the large volume of passengers, the catering staff have to cope with tremendous rush – hence, the personal touch that used to be there during the 60s has vanished. Today, they all talk business – the staff has their tasks cut-out: the new recruits move around with the thermos that contains hot white water – the whiteness is courtesy milk. This universal concoction for hot drinks is accompanied with tea bags of unknown brands and a bottle of coffee powder. Depending on the choice of the customer, the outputs of the two main hot drunks of the Indian public are served. Come meal times, the orders are taken several hours in advance and served at times that one does not normally associate with either lunch or dinner.
Then are the Supermen of the Railways better known as the TTEs (Travelling Ticket Examiners). Inside the compartment, they are supreme and are supposed to ensure many important things that must be written down somewhere but that is seldom followed in practice. One presumes that the TTEs should look into the comfort of the passengers who dish out extra money for getting firm reservations. However, the reserved compartments are invariably the place where short distance travelers hop in and squeeze themselves in between the tired travelers. ‘I will go only upto the next stop,’ he pleads – the ‘next stop’ in long distance trains might very well be four hours away! Those who possess valid reservations are, therefore, put to a lot of inconvenience due to the attitude of TTEs who never try to prevent such intrusions. Obviously, the argument gains ground that the TTEs earn money on the sly by permitting such irregularities.
While giving the finishing touches to the 2008 budget proposals, the Railway Minister should spare a thought for its customers and consider methods to eliminate irritants that passengers have to face in their journeys. When one reserves a berth for a long distance journey, he has certain expectations – the railways should reciprocate by making the journey as pleasant as possible for the traveler so that the expectations are fulfilled.
Rail Bhavan in the heart of the national capital wears a busy look as Railway Minister Lalu Prasad prepares to present his fifth successive budget Feb 26, having given ample evidence that passengers will again be spared fare hikes.
"One thing stands clearly proven in these four years: by just increasing fares, you cannot improve the state of railways," the minister told IANS, having turned around the fortunes of Indian Railways - the world's largest railroad network under a single management - in the four previous rail budgets.
"There are many inaccessible remote areas still untouched by the railways after so many years on the plea that these are financially unviable. My government has a social obligation," Lalu Prasad said, even as officials rushed in and out of his well-appointed second-floor room with flagged files.
"Therefore my effort is to see that even if it is considered uneconomical, we have to see how to make this network expansion viable," said Prasad, adding he clearly understood the importance of railways in the country - the only area that has a separate budget outside the union budget.
The network runs more than 11,000 trains every day - 7,000 for passengers - on a network spread over 108,706 track km, carrying over 13 million passengers from as many as 6,853 stations.
Lalu Prasad's confidant and officer on special duty Sudhir Kumar, normally at hand to brief the media about the minister's engagements, is nowhere to be seen and officials said he would remain incommunicado till the D-Day Feb 26.
"He is not sitting here for some time now. He is currently functioning from the budget room. It is barred for outsiders," Kumar's personal assistant said. "He is really busy. He has to implement what the minister wants."
In the four budgets that Lalu Prasad has presented for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government so far, Indian Railways has seen a complete financial transformation. So much so that it has become a case study at major management schools both within and outside the country, with premier institutions like Wharton and the Harvard Business School even inviting the minister as a guest lecturer.
In the last fiscal, for example, the railways saw its earnings from freight and passengers respectively jump 17 percent and 14 percent. The incremental loading of freight was projected to have jumped by 59 million tonnes.
One of the most popular moves initiated by him was to introduce the AC three-tier sleeper on most trains, and this has seen a 20 percent annual growth rate. So has his Garib Rath scheme that addresses the needs of the average passenger.
"I think one area where there will be added focus is public-private partnership, since he has promised to make every aspect of Indian Railways world class, which requires ideas from the private sector," said a former Railway Board member.
"His budget speech may sound populist, but you will perhaps see some initiatives emerging in areas like freight corridors, development of railway land, logistics parks, high-speed trains and upgrade of stations," the former bureaucrat added.
India Rail Budget 2008, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rail BUdget, Budget Highlights
Indo-Asian News Service
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The US Navy has successfully hit a falling spy satellite with a missile fired late Wednesday from a warship in the Pacific Ocean, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed.
The US targeted the satellite because it carries a toxic fuel that could be harmful if the spacecraft drifted back into the Earth's atmosphere and the fuel tank fell into a populated area.
The USS Lake Erie near Hawaii fired an unarmed missile at 10:26 p.m. Wednesday that collided at a speed of 27,000 km per hour with the satellite 247 km above the Pacific.
The successful hit will likely be viewed as a major success for the sea-based missile defence system, which was built to counter medium-range threats and in testing has been among the Pentagon's most reliable missile defence programmes.
The Pentagon said it should be able to confirm within 24 hours whether the interceptor missile ruptured the fuel tank, holding 453 kg of hydrazine. Officials expect most of the debris to burn up while re-entering the atmosphere.
The Pentagon wanted to avoid the possibility of the satellite's debris from returning to a high orbit and posing a threat to other objects in space.
"Nearly all of the debris will burn up on re-entry within 24 to 48 hours, and the remaining debris should re-enter within 40 days," the Pentagon said.
The US military opened a window beginning Wednesday in hoping to launch a missile to shoot down the satellite, despite earlier concerns about poor weather that caused rough waters around the firing vessel.
The satellite lost communication shortly after it was launched in 2006 and has since wandered aimlessly in orbit. The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the secretive agency that oversees the nation's spy satellites, said the spacecraft hit Wednesday was classified and refused to reveal its construction cost.
A senior defence official had said that once the satellite came within range, the launch window would narrow to "tens of seconds".
The Pentagon estimated that it would have until the end of February to shoot down the satellite but waited to fire until the return of the Space Shuttle Atlantis early Wednesday at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The Pentagon was concerned that once the satellite fell into re-entry in March, it would not be possible for the missile defence system to track it for a missile strike.
President George W Bush's controversial decision to proceed with the intercept has prompted complaints from China and Russia, who argue it marks a step toward weaponisation of space and a broader mission for the US missile-defence system. The sea-based Aegis version of missile defence was the system deployed by the Navy to strike the satellite.
Last year, China used a land-based missile to shoot down one of its old weather satellites, which was in much higher orbit than the US satellite, generating strong international criticism including from the United States.
Thousands of pieces of debris from the destroyed Chinese satellite remain in orbit and have to be monitored.
The mission to shoot down the satellite was seen as so crucial that the order to fire came from Defence Secretary Robert Gates, not a uniformed military commander.
DPA
