Author: Explains

Why in news?

In February 2018, Richard Branson’s Virgin Hyperloop One signed an agreement with the Maharashtra government to build a Hyperloop between Mumbai and Pune to reduce travelling time.

Hyperloop: Fifth mode of transportation

• A Hyperloop is a proposed mode of passenger and/or freight transportation which has a sealed tube or system of tubes through which a pod may travel free of air resistance or friction conveying people or objects at high speed while being very efficient.
• The idea was first mooted by Elon Musk,CEO of SpaceX and tesla, who gave a white paper on it in the year 2013.
• The Hyperloop concept has been explicitly “open-sourced” by Musk and SpaceX, and others have been encouraged to take the ideas and further develop them.

Expected Benefits

• Speed: Because of sealed environment which offer little or no resistance, the pod can reach a speed up to 1,000 kph which is much faster than bullet train and even commercial aircraft.
• Economical: Hyperloop requires relatively less ground to construct and if it uses its own solar panels are used to generate electricity, the fare can be much cheaper as compared to bullet trains or aircraft.
• Environmental friendly: A greater benefit is that Hyperloop would run completely on electricity eliminating or reducing the need for fossil fuels and minimising greenhouse gases emission.
• Less prone to human errors: As the system is fully automated and sealed, the human related error can be averted.
• Less Land Intensive: In an already land-scarce country like ours, hyperloop will be a boon as the availability of land availability will not be an issue because steel tubes will be either erected on a column or tunnelled underground.
• One of its biggest advantages is that it can draw energy from any source including solar panels, windmills and even nuclear reactors.

Challenges

• Some experts are skeptical, saying that the proposals ignore the expenses and risks of developing the technology and that the idea is “completely impractical”.
• Claims have also been made that the Hyperloop is too susceptible to disruption from a power outage or terror attacks to be considered safe
• High speed of capsule (almost at speed of sound) may cause dizziness to the passengers travelling due to vibration and jostling.
• In India where the funds for infrastructure are already thin,whether lakhs of crore can be spent for experimental transportation technology need to be considered more.

Conclusion

With the rising population and increasing congestion, Transport Oriented Development(TOD) is the need of the hour in which hyperloop like transportation can play a major role. However, much is needed to be done before it can become a reality.

Why in News?

The government of India recently decided to build a high-speed rail (HSR) corridor between Mumbai and Ahmadabad at a cost of Rs 97,636 crore with Japanese financial and technical assistance.

What do we understand by High-Speed Rail?

1. High-speed rail is a type of rail transport that operates significantly faster than traditional rail traffic, using an integrated system of specialized rolling stock and dedicated tracks.
2. High-speed rail is a type of rail transport that operates significantly faster than traditional rail traffic, using an integrated system of specialized rolling stock and dedicated tracks.
3. While there is no single standard that applies worldwide, new lines in excess of 250 kilometres per hour (160 mph) and existing lines in excess of 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph) are widely considered to be high-speed, with some extending the definition to include lower speeds in areas for which these speeds still represent significant improvements.
4. The first such system began operations in Japan in 1964 and was widely known as the bullet train. High-speed trains normally operate on standard gauge tracks of continuously welded rail on the grade-separated right-of-way that incorporates a large turning radius in its design.

Global Practice of High-Speed Rail

1. Shinkansen has emerged as an invaluable part of Japan’s mobility and economy.
2. With already a 22,000-km sprawling high-speed PDL (passenger dedicated lines) network, longest for any country.
3. China is set to extend it to 30,000 km by 2020 when its total rail routes aggregate to 200,000 km.
4. Less than a decade ago, China had no HSR; now its high-speed trains move twice as many passengers as its airlines, and the demand keeps growing.

High-Speed Rail in India

1. India has one of the Largest rail Networks in the world, but as of now it does not consist of any line classed as (HSR), which allows an operational speed of 200 km/h or more.
2. The current Fastest Train in India is the Gatimaan Express that runs with a top speed of 160 km/h, with an average speed of above 100 km/hr between Delhi and Agra.
3. The first Proposed High-speed Train in India would run some 500 kilometres (310 miles) between India’s financial capital Mumbai and the western city of Ahmadabad, at a top speed of 320 km/h.
4. Under the Japanese proposal, construction is expected to begin in 2017 and be completed in 2023. It would cost about 980 billion (US$15 billion) and be financed by a Low-interest loan from Japan.
5. Recently Government has introduced Tejas Express which is India’s first semi-high speed full AC train fleet introduced by Indian Railways, featuring newer modern onboard facilities.

Why there is a need of High-Speed Rail in India

1. As a McKinsey report suggests, by 2025, the number of households earning Rs.2,00,000-Rs10,00,000 annually will have risen to 583 million from the current 50 million. More intensive urbanization, as well as rising incomes, would lead to higher travel propensity.
2. It is inconceivable that the Railways would continue to deny itself a peep into the rapid technological and commercial transformation railway systems world over experience.
3. Concerns over depleting fossil fuel reserves, climate change, overcrowded airports, delayed flights and congested roads have conspired against the HSR technology alternative.
4. Energy-efficient and environmentally benign, a high-speed electric train emits an eight and a fifth of carbon dioxide as against automobiles and aeroplanes per passenger km, respectively. A double-track rail line has more than thrice the passenger carrying capacity of a six-lane highway while requiring less than half the land.

The advantage of High-Speed Rail

1. It will bring down the transportation time and cost to lowest in the world. It will bring-in massive efficiency in Indian economy.
2. It will build a local base for the next generation of the railway locomotives for export.
3. Indian logistics cost will significantly come down, as of now it is thrice of China
4. It will make Indian exports and manufacturing cost competitive. Indian Human Resource coupled with Japanese skill and technology will make India a manufacturing hub of the world.
5. It will accelerate scientific research within the country in high-end material science and magnetic science.
6. The bullet train will not only bring about economic transformation but will also lead to the social transformation of the country.
7. India will have strong integration across regions, bringing down the regional differences and increasing people-to-people contact.

Other advantages

• Cheap:

The negotiated terms — the rate of interest of 0.1 per cent per annum and tenure of 50 years with 15 years grace — is the best till now for any project financed through a bilateral/ multilateral agency in India.

• Speed: 

1. High speed is one of the biggest reasons for the proposal of this idea when it was first initiated in India. Major cities connecting with towns of economic growth face the problem of fast transportation.
2. This would save time and boost businesses amongst the connected cities. Reduction in commuting time is greatly required in Mumbai and other metro cities where a lot of time is consumed in the process.

• Promotes Make in India:

The assistance programme involves a transfer of technology and a Make in India component, which will have long-term benefits for Indian manufacturing.

• HSR’s unblemished safety record is an important benefit:

With a 2,500-km network, providing high frequency, up to 14 trains per hour, the Shinkansen ever since its inception in 1964 has maintained a unique record of no fatal accident. The TGV has been running without any accidents for the last 30 years, and more.

Challenges /Criticisms

1. A project report by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad estimates that at least 1 lakh passengers at fares approximately Rs. 1,500 per 300 km would be required daily for the project to break even. The cost of airfare between the two cities is around Rs. 2,500. With comparable fare to airways, the project doesn’t seem to serve the purpose.
2. The complexity of the project also arises due to a variety of socio-economic implications like land acquisition, rehabilitation, and environmental concerns.
3. Bullet train project in India would be a massively expensive involving enormous public expenditure that India cannot afford as a huge public investment is needed in social infrastructure and poverty eradication.
4. With a majority of Indian population travelling in sleeper class or lower class for thousands of kilometres the project will be benefiting only international corporates, local contractors and a small number of aspirational elites indulging in luxury travel.
5. With the advent of new technologies like Hyperloop Transportation Technologies which propose to make travel as fast as 760 miles per hour, investing a humongous capital on bullet train seems a cursory and outdated.
6. Bullet trains require seamless straight tracks on a flat terrain. Though France managed it in the existing tracks itself, if new lands need to be acquired, it can come only at an expensive compensation in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad industrial cluster. It will also demand huge political will.
7. Considering the existing scenario of the quality of O&M in Indian railways, the maintenance of this new elephant will pose many challenges even if it is privatized. Fencing all along the track and over bridges at all the line crossings will cost too dearer.
8. The power demand will be more too. It will require the infrastructure of existing railway stations from where bullet train will pass to be upgraded as per the specifications which again will cost enormously.

Conclusion: 

1. The issues in developing an HSR network in India are complex. Given that India is a developing country, the primary concern is whether the funds for such a project could be better utilized in other domains, including in upgrading conventional rail.
2. However, the Japanese funding to the tune of 80% of the project cost may not be available for other uses.
3. The complexity of the project also arises due to a variety of socio-economic implications like land acquisition, rehabilitation, and environmental concerns.

Why in News?

Union Ministry of Human Resource has prepared draft Higher Education Commission of India Bill, 2018 to repeal of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956 and for the establishment of the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) with focus on improving academic standards and the quality of Higher Education

Why the need for HECI (Higher Education Commission of India?

1. The need for a single regulatory body arose largely in the context of multiple bodies set up over the years trying to cope with the ever-increasing complexity of the sector
2. The heavy hands of multiple regulators (like the UGC and All India Council for Technical Education), together with the empowerment of professional bodies (like the Bar Council of India and Council of Architecture) have not yielded the desired dividends
3. Mushrooming of institutions and a steady decline of standards in most of them have not done much good to the image of the government and the architecture of regulation
4. National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in its assessment report pointed out that 68% of institutions in India are of middle or poor quality.
5. Nearly 35% of professor posts and 46% of assistant professor posts out of total sanctioned strength remain vacant across the country.
6. India barely spends 2.5% of its budgetary allocations on education. This is far below the required amount needed to upgrade the infrastructure at public institutes.
7. There is a wide gap between industry requirements and curriculum taught at colleges. This also renders graduates unemployable lacking in specific skill-sets.
8. The multiplicity of regulatory bodies and regulatory standards has prevented foreign educational institutions from opening campuses in the country.
9. India has barely 119 researchers per million of the population as compared to Japan which has 5300 and US which has 4500. Besides, in US 4% of science graduates finish the doctorate, in Europe, this number is 7%, but in India barely 0.4% of graduates finish the doctorate

Principles of HECI

HECI is in accordance with the commitment of Government for reforming the regulatory systems that provide for more autonomy and facilitate holistic growth of the education system which provides greater opportunities to the Indian students at more affordable cost. The transformation of the regulatory set up is guided by the following principles:

1. Less Government and more Governance: Downsizing the scope of the Regulator. No more interference in the management issues of the educational institutions.
2. Separation of grant functions: The grant functions would be carried out by the HRD Ministry, and the HECI would focus only on academic matters.
3. End of Inspection Raj: Regulation is done through transparent public disclosures, merit-based decision making on matters regarding standards and quality in higher education.
4. Focus on academic quality: HECI is tasked with the mandate of improving academic standards with a specific focus on learning outcomes, evaluation of academic performance by institutions, mentoring of institutions, training of teachers, promote the use of educational technology etc.
5. Powers to enforce: The Regulator will have powers to enforce compliance with the academic quality standards and will have the power to order the closure of sub-standard and bogus institutions. Noncompliance could result in fines or jail sentence.

Highlights of the Higher Education Commission of India Bill, 2018

1. The focus of the Commission will be on improving academic standards and quality of higher education, specifying norms for learning outcomes, lay down standards of teaching/research etc.
2. It will provide a roadmap for the mentoring of institutions found failing in maintaining the required academic standards.
3. It shall have the power to enforce its decisions through legal provisions in the Act,
4. The Commission shall have the power to grant authorization for starting of academic operations on the basis of their compliance with norms of academic quality.
5. It will also have the powers to revoke authorization granting to a higher education institution where there is a case of wilful or continuous default in compliance with the norms/regulations.
6. It will also have the power to recommend the closure of institutions which fail to adhere to minimum standards without affecting students’ interest.
7. The Commission will encourage higher education institutions to formulate a Code of Good Practices covering promotion of research, teaching and learning.

Issues in HECI Bill

1. Bill seems to implicitly open the door to foreign degree-granting institutions as long as they meet the specified norms.
2. With its mandate of improving academic standards with a specific focus on learning outcomes, evaluation of academic performance by institutions, training of teachers, the HECI is likely to overregulate and micromanage universities.
3. The nature of the structure of the commission and its advisory council shows that they are bound to have more “government” in decision-making processes rather than academics.
4. The move to replace the UGC with the HECI points to the Centre’s aim to restrict the role of the States in matters relating to education.

What corrective measures can be taken before its enactment?

1. It must phase out the current system of compartmentalizing research in research councils and education in HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) while promoting greater cooperation in research among HEIs, industry and government.
2. Ministry must also create a national research foundation, which would b adequately funded and charged with the responsibility to make research a central feature of our leading universities.
3. It must make explicitly about flexibility inherent in the credit system would allow institutions to align their systems to a three-year bachelor’s degree as in the UK or a four-year bachelor’s degree as in the US.
4. A separate body is required to assume the function of providing education grants to HEIs.
5. HECI also needs to clear about the accreditation process in Higher Education Institution.

Way forward

1. A complete revamp is needed to meet the present demand and address the future challenge that India is about to face.
2. To reap the diverse culture demographic dividend and to maintain peace and social harmony among them quality education with values are the necessary area to focus.