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In India, railways were built through private enterprise as well as state agency after
  • a)
    1860
  • b)
    1880
  • c)
    1900
  • d)
    1915
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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In India, railways were built through private enterprise as well as st...
After 1880, railways were built through private enterprise as well as through state agency. By 1905 nearly 45,000 kms of railways had been built.
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In India, railways were built through private enterprise as well as st...
Introduction:
The construction of railways in India was a significant development during the British colonial period. The railways played a crucial role in connecting different regions of the country and facilitating transportation and trade. The construction of railways in India involved both private enterprises and state agencies. Option 'B' (1880) is the correct answer as it marks a significant period when private enterprise started taking an active role in railway construction.

Private Enterprise in Railway Construction:
Before the 1880s, railway construction in India was primarily carried out by state agencies like the East India Company and later the Indian Railways Department. However, after the 1880s, private companies were granted concessions to build and operate railways in India. This marked a shift towards involving private enterprise in railway construction.

Participation of Private Companies:
The participation of private companies in railway construction gained momentum during the late 19th century. These companies were granted concessions and licenses by the British government to build and operate railways in specific regions. They played a crucial role in extending the railway network to various parts of India.

Benefits of Private Enterprise:
1. Capital Investment: Private companies brought in substantial capital investment for railway construction. They had the financial resources to undertake large-scale projects and develop railway infrastructure.

2. Technical Expertise: Private companies often had access to advanced technology and expertise in railway construction. They introduced modern engineering techniques and equipment, leading to efficient and faster construction of railway lines.

3. Employment Opportunities: Railway construction by private companies created employment opportunities for the local population. This contributed to economic development and improved living standards in the regions where railways were built.

4. Increased Connectivity: The involvement of private companies in railway construction led to increased connectivity between different parts of India. It facilitated the transportation of goods, raw materials, and people, thus boosting trade and economic growth.

5. Revenue Generation: Private companies operated the railways as profit-oriented enterprises. The revenue generated from ticket sales and freight charges contributed to the overall economic development of the country.

Conclusion:
The construction of railways in India involved both state agencies and private enterprises. While state agencies initially played a dominant role, private companies started actively participating in railway construction from the 1880s onwards. This shift towards private enterprise brought in capital investment, technical expertise, employment opportunities, increased connectivity, and revenue generation. The railways built through private enterprise played a crucial role in transforming India's transportation infrastructure and fostering economic growth.
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Passage - 2Net profits are only 2.2% of their total assets for central public sector undertakings, lower than for the private corporate sector. While the public sector or the State-led entrepreneurship played an important role in triggering Indias industrialization, our evolving development needs, comparatively less-than-satisfactory performance of the public sector enterprises, the maturing of our private sector, a much larger social base now available for expanding entrepreneurship and the growing institutional capabilities to enforce competition policies would suggest that the time has come to review the role of public sector.What should the portfolio composition of the government be? It should not remain static all times. The airline industry works well as a purely private affair. At the opposite end, rural roads, whose sparse traffic makes tolling unviable, have to be on the balance-sheet of the State. If the government did not own rural roads, they would not exist.Similarly, public health capital in our towns and cities will need to come from the public sector. Equally, preservation and improvement of forest cover will have to be a new priority for the public sector assets.Take the example of steel. With near-zero tariffs, India is a globally competitive market for the metal. Indian firms export steel into the global market which demonstrates there is no gap in technology. Indian companies are buying up global steel companies, which shows there is no gap in capital availability. Under these conditions, private ownership works best.Private ownership is clearly desirable in regulated industries, ranging from, finance to infrastructure, where a government agency performs the function of regulation and multiple competing firms are located in the private sector. Here, the simple and clean solution - government as the umpire and the private sector as the players is what works best. In many of these industries, we have a legacy of government ownership, where productivity tends to be lower, fear of bankruptcy is absent, and the risk of asking for money from the tax payer is ever present. There is also the conflict of interest between government as an owner and as the regulator.The formulation and implementation of competition policy will be more vigorous and fair if government companies are out of action.Q.The author prefers government as the umpire and private sector as players because

Passage - 2Net profits are only 2.2% of their total assets for central public sector undertakings, lower than for the private corporate sector. While the public sector or the State-led entrepreneurship played an important role in triggering Indias industrialization, our evolving development needs, comparatively less-than-satisfactory performance of the public sector enterprises, the maturing of our private sector, a much larger social base now available for expanding entrepreneurship and the growing institutional capabilities to enforce competition policies would suggest that the time has come to review the role of public sector.What should the portfolio composition of the government be? It should not remain static all times. The airline industry works well as a purely private affair. At the opposite end, rural roads, whose sparse traffic makes tolling unviable, have to be on the balance-sheet of the State. If the government did not own rural roads, they would not exist.Similarly, public health capital in our towns and cities will need to come from the public sector. Equally, preservation and improvement of forest cover will have to be a new priority for the public sector assets.Take the example of steel. With near-zero tariffs, India is a globally competitive market for the metal. Indian firms export steel into the global market which demonstrates there is no gap in technology. Indian companies are buying up global steel companies, which shows there is no gap in capital availability. Under these conditions, private ownership works best.Private ownership is clearly desirable in regulated industries, ranging from, finance to infrastructure, where a government agency performs the function of regulation and multiple competing firms are located in the private sector. Here, the simple and clean solution - government as the umpire and the private sector as the players is what works best. In many of these industries, we have a legacy of government ownership, where productivity tends to be lower, fear of bankruptcy is absent, and the risk of asking for money from the tax payer is ever present. There is also the conflict of interest between government as an owner and as the regulator.The formulation and implementation of competition policy will be more vigorous and fair if government companies are out of action.Q.According to the passage, rural roads should be in the domain of public sector only. Why?

Passage - 2Net profits are only 2.2% of their total assets for central public sector undertakings, lower than for the private corporate sector. While the public sector or the State-led entrepreneurship played an important role in triggering Indias industrialization, our evolving development needs, comparatively less-than-satisfactory performance of the public sector enterprises, the maturing of our private sector, a much larger social base now available for expanding entrepreneurship and the growing institutional capabilities to enforce competition policies would suggest that the time has come to review the role of public sector.What should the portfolio composition of the government be? It should not remain static all times. The airline industry works well as a purely private affair. At the opposite end, rural roads, whose sparse traffic makes tolling unviable, have to be on the balance-sheet of the State. If the government did not own rural roads, they would not exist.Similarly, public health capital in our towns and cities will need to come from the public sector. Equally, preservation and improvement of forest cover will have to be a new priority for the public sector assets.Take the example of steel. With near-zero tariffs, India is a globally competitive market for the metal. Indian firms export steel into the global market which demonstrates there is no gap in technology. Indian companies are buying up global steel companies, which shows there is no gap in capital availability. Under these conditions, private ownership works best.Private ownership is clearly desirable in regulated industries, ranging from, finance to infrastructure, where a government agency performs the function of regulation and multiple competing firms are located in the private sector. Here, the simple and clean solution - government as the umpire and the private sector as the players is what works best. In many of these industries, we have a legacy of government ownership, where productivity tends to be lower, fear of bankruptcy is absent, and the risk of asking for money from the tax payer is ever present. There is also the conflict of interest between government as an owner and as the regulator.The formulation and implementation of competition policy will be more vigorous and fair if government companies are out of action.Q.The portfolio composition of the government refers to

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In India, railways were built through private enterprise as well as state agency aftera)1860b)1880c)1900d)1915Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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