12 February 2014 Current Affairs

Interim Railway Budget 2014-15

Union Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge presented the Interim Rail Budget 2014-15 in Parliament on 12 February.The budget is for the first four months of the of the fiscal year 2014-15 that begins in April 2014. Kharge’s maiden rail budget comes just months away from the general elections.
Highlights Of Interim Railway Budget 2014-15 :-
* Loading target of 1101 Million Tonnes ;  Gross Traffic Receipts targeted at 160775 crore Rupees with Passenger Earnings (45255 crore Rupees), Goods (105770 crore Rupees),  Other Coaching & Sundry Earnings (9700 crore Rupees);  Ordinary Working  Expenses placed at 110649 crore Rupees, higher by 13589 crore Rupees;  The entire Dividend of 9117 crore Rupees to General Exchquer will be paid;  and Operating Ratio budgeted at 89.8%;  90.2% Operating Ratio in 2012-13 and Operating Ratio likely to be 90.8% in 2013-14.
* Annual Plan for 2014-15 envisaged at 64305 crore rupees with a Budgetary Support of 30223 crore Rupees , Internal Resources of 10418 crore Rupees and Extra Budgetary Resources of 19805 crore Rupees.
* No change in passenger fares and freight charges.
*  Independent Rail Tariff Authority set up to advice on fares and freight.
*  73 new trains to be introduced .These include 17 premium trains, 39 express trains, 10 passenger trains, 4 MEMU and 3 DEMU.
* Three trains will be extended and frequency of three other trains will be increased.
* 19 new lines to be taken up for survey in fiscal 2014-15- Surveys for doubling five existing lines will also be taken up during the year.
* Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh to be brought on railway map.

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Karnataka Won Irani Cup

Karnataka won the Irani Cup for the fifth time on 12 February after defeated Rest of India in the final held at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.Karnataka defeated Rest of India by an innings and 222 runs to win the trophy. Karnataka last won the Irani Cup in 1998 at the same venue under Venkatesh Prasad.