The Acworth Committee was a British committee that was set to investig...
The Acworth Committee Overview
The Acworth Committee, established in 1920, was tasked with investigating the financial management of the Indian Railways. Its recommendations significantly influenced railway policy in India.
Key Recommendations of the Acworth Committee
- Consolidation and Nationalization
The committee recommended that the Indian Railways should be consolidated and nationalized to improve efficiency and accountability in management. This aimed at creating a more unified system.
- Separation of Railway Budget
It advocated for the separation of the railway budget from the general budget. This was intended to provide transparency and allow for better financial planning and operational management.
- Encouragement for New Technology
The committee emphasized the need for the railways to invest in new technologies. This recommendation aimed to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and service quality.
Why Privatization Was Not Recommended
- Privatization Concerns
The Acworth Committee did not recommend privatization of the railways. Instead, it recognized the strategic importance of rail transport in India and the need for government oversight. Privatization was seen as potentially detrimental to the public interest, especially in a country where railways were crucial for economic development and connectivity.
- Focus on Public Ownership
The focus remained on public ownership to ensure that the railways could serve the broader needs of society, rather than being driven solely by profit motives.
Conclusion
Thus, option 'D' regarding privatization is correct, as it was not part of the Acworth Committee's recommendations, emphasizing the need for greater government control and improvement in management practices within the existing public framework.
The Acworth Committee was a British committee that was set to investig...
Key Points
- The Acworth Committee was a British committee that was set up in 1920 to investigate the financial management of the Indian Railways. The committee's main recommendations were:
- Consolidation and nationalization of the Indian Railways: The committee recommended that the Indian Railways should be consolidated into a single, unified system, and that it should be nationalized, i.e., owned and operated by the government.
- Separation of the railway budget from the general budget: The committee recommended that the railway budget should be separated from the general budget, so that the railways could have more autonomy in financial matters.
- Investment in new technology: The committee recommended that the railways should be encouraged to invest in new technology, in order to improve efficiency and safety.
- The Acworth Committee's recommendations were implemented in 1924, and they had a significant impact on the development of the Indian Railways.
- The consolidation and nationalization of the railways led to improved efficiency and coordination, and the separation of the railway budget from the general budget gave the railways more autonomy in financial matters.
- The investment in new technology also helped to improve the railways, and made them safer and more efficient.