Academic literature on the topic 'Golden Quadrilateral Project (India)'

Abstract A significant amount of resources is spent every year on the improvement of transportation infrastructure in developing countries. In this paper, we investigate the effects of one such large project, the Golden Quadrilateral in India. We do so using a model of internal trade with variable markups. In contrast to the previous literature, our model incorporates several channels through which transportation infrastructure affects welfare. In particular, the model accounts for gains stemming from improvements in the allocative efficiency of the economy. We calibrate the model to the Indian manufacturing sector and find real income gains of 2.7%. We also find that allocative efficiency accounts for 7.4% of these gains. The importance of allocative efficiency varies greatly across states, and can account for up to 18% of the overall gains in some states. The remaining welfare gains are accounted for by changes in labor income, productive efficiency, and average markups that affect states’ terms of trade.

The COVID-19 pandemics have affected every aspect of the human race and the world economy. The disease has been contaminated in almost every part of India. A threat for poor standards induced premature mortality from cardiovascular disease and respiratory diseases. Amongst the huge-reaching implications of the continuing COVID-19 outbreak, a significant enhancement in air quality was detected all around the globe after lockdowns enforced in several cities in India. The lockdown influenced the environment’s pollution level and improved air quality quickly due to very few human activities. The present work scientifically analyses the air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and SO2) with meteorological parameters in the golden quadrilateral cities. The purpose of this paper is to review the analysis of air quality of golden quadrilateral cities (Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai). Data of air quality parameters are collectively taken from different locations from different regions of Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai before lockdown and during the lockdown and compared the data of both periods. Comparison pre-lockdown and 2019 with respect to lockdown and 2020 respectively show a huge reduction in amounts of pollutants. Our objective is to find the implication of different lockdown measures on air quality levels in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai particularly this investigation is focused on PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2 which is directly transmitted by human action and formed through a chemical reaction in the atmosphere as well as quantify the short-range and long-range health impact.

AbstractThe Golden Langur Conservation Project in Assam, India, was initiated to involve local NGOs and communities in protecting the Endangered golden langur Trachypithecus geei and its habitat on a regional basis within a complex political situation. Since langurs are leaf eaters they are dependent on forests. The Project area, once dominated by militant action and ethnic violence, is in a densely populated area and formerly suffered much illegal deforestation and accompanying reduction in the golden langur population. The Project began with two NGOs and evolved into the formation of a forum of five NGOs focusing on a large proportion of the golden langur range in Assam, and eventually included > 11 newly formed community-based organizations. Each NGO focused on nearby Reserve Forests and their resident langur populations and adjacent human communities. The community-conservation tools used included (1) initial local community awareness campaigns, (2) formation of local Forest Committees and Self Help Groups, (3) a major regional awareness campaign about the golden langur and its forested habitat in the Manas Biosphere Reserve, and (4) creation of a number of village-based Forest Protection Forces. The Golden Langur Conservation Project has resulted in an increase in the total Indian population of golden langurs, control of illegal logging and poaching in two isolated Reserve Forests by formation of a protection force of surrounding village groups, and curtailing illegal logging and increasing forest protection in the Reserve Forests of the Manas Biosphere Reserve by the formation of 10 tribal, government-sanctioned volunteer Forest Protection Forces. The Project created an atmosphere of community awareness of the golden langur and its forests and community interest within the region, with communities taking responsibility for protection of regional forests.

The essay calls for a re-imagining and reshaping of colonial constructs. It concisely encapsulates the history of the Grand Trunk Road (GT Road), from the 16th century when it was referred to as ‘Sadak-e-Azam’ to the late 19th century, when the road was completed under the administration of Lord William Bentinck and was renamed as ‘The Grand Trunk Road’ to contemporary times when it connects multiple cities with National Highways as part of the Golden Quadrilateral project and remains a ‘continuum’ that covers a distance of over 2,500 kilometres. While highlighting its importance in terms of its criticality as a geopolitical/strategic connect, the essay concludes on the note that there is much more to the GT Road than being a mere logistical, infrastructural tool. It serves as a political and cultural connect as well as embodies a way of life and these historic and organic connections require reinforcement. The essay underlines the symbolic value of the GT Road, while it comprises the mainstay of commerce in the subcontinent but, at the same time is significant in terms of rearranging social and political hierarchies, in other words, it constitutes an intrinsic part of the broader narrative of the south Asian space.

Comics and graphic fiction in India have treaded on a fluctuating journey of sorts. The decade of the 90's was definitely a golden decade for comics and graphic fiction in India. Raj Comics as a torchbearer of sorts in graphic fiction in India can be studied to ascertain the issues with gender and violence in graphic fiction. The Raj Comics universe with its ensembled superhero universe is a big sample space for scholarly study in the finer aspects of graphic fiction. The study can also be vital in terms of psychographics and demographics of the Hindi heartland as the Raj Comics found its true footing in Hindi speaking states. The influence of Amar chitra katha can be seen on many comics of the era as the graphic artists often hopped from one project to other, simultaneously illustrating several works of graphic fiction at a time. An interesting observation is the depiction of female gender in graphic fiction in India. To add to it the visual depiction of violence within the realm of visual aesthetics of violence is also a worthy study in the direction of scholarly study of the comics and graphic fiction narrative in India.

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was launched in 2015 when 51 agreements and MoUs (Memorandums of Understanding) worth USD 46 billion were signed between China and Pakistan. This grand-scale bilateral project is a flagship constituent of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). CPEC started with the goal of modernizing Pakistan’s road, rail, air, and energy transportation systems and enhancing connectivity between its Gwadar and Karachi ports to the Chinese province of Xinjiang and beyond. For Pakistan, CPEC not only meant an opportunity to address its existing challenges like the energy crisis but also a golden moment to emerge as a hub for economic activities in the region. This article discusses comparatives in Geo-Strategic countries, which can suggest the future course of CPEC projects. India, Russia, and Iran have agreed in 2000 to construct a route between Mumbai and St-Petersburg through Tehran and Moscow to facilitate the movement of energy resources from Central Asia. Likewise, China-Pakistan Corridor will increase economic activity between both countries and the region. This Corridor may also be beneficial to “String of Pearls” that China’s “culture” to save its sea lives of communication catering to protect oil and gas supplies, which are emerging from the Gulf of Persia, Middle East, and China. Investors will take advantage of various economic-related activities to promote the agriculture industry, tourism, construction activities, vehicle industry, information technology, etc. Corridors will fulfil the energy resource needs of many countries through the Caspian Sea and Central Asian Republics. However, this project is facing internal and external threats, Pakistan is facing terrorist attacks, and the Chinese province Xinjiang is facing threats. Serious security threats to this project are likely to emanate from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. The Uighur terrorists have a close relationship with the Taliban in FATA, which is a serious and adverse threat to Chinese interests in Pakistan. This thesis is an effort to find reasons and suggest suitable measures for the Government to sort out challenges to avoid delays in the implementation and completion of the project.

Reverse mortgage has always been viewed as a product meant exclusively for the elderly with financial hardship. However, there is a brighter side to it too. This article attempts to project reverse mortgage as a financial planning tool through a case study analysis. Using the coordinated strategy, this case explores how the line-of-credit option in reverse mortgage can meet the cash needs of a retiree during market downturns, allowing his portfolio to stay invested. The suggested strategy is a direct attack on investment risks, especially, sequence of return risk. Using this strategy, the depreciated assets are allowed to recover their original value and appreciate, ensuring better returns and longevity of investments. Dilemma: Is reverse mortgage a sustainable retirement plan? How can it be used as a financial planning tool to fund retirement? With the increasing proportion of elderly population in India (projected to be 19% by 2050), reverse mortgage has emerged as an efficient option to fund retirement days. Seeing its success in foreign countries, the dilemma, is: Is it an adequate solution to fund retirement in India? Theory: The premise of the present research is based on a coordinated strategy, used by Sacks and Lafaye (2016) where it is proposed that the client, using the line of credit option in reverse mortgage, would borrow only during market downturns, thereby leaving their market investments untouched and maximizing their gains. Basis of the Case: Phenomena-based case: financial planning for a retiree. Type of the Case: This is basically an applied decisional case, attempting to determine where reverse mortgage is an effective retirement plan or not. Protagonist Present: Mr Rajesh Sharma and Mr Anand Malhotra. Findings: After 20 years into retirement. Mr Rajesh Sharma who does not choose reverse mortgage ends up exhausting his complete investment portfolio value in the 19th year of his retirement life. Thus, he is in financial distress and has no resort to meet his financial needs except to fall back upon his children. On the contrary, Mr Anand Malhotra who opts for the line of credit option in reverse mortgage has positive net worth at the end of 20 years that can ensure a comfortable future for him. Discussions: The case recommends utilising reverse mortgage as financial planning tool for the elderly. Mr Rajesh Sharma is in financial distress and has no resort to meet his financial needs except to fall back upon his children. Mr Anand Malhotra by making the smart choice of reverse mortgage, ensured that his portfolio stayed invested longer, providing it sustenance and longevity. By opting for reverse mortgage, Mr Anand Malhotra not only shielded his investments from unnecessary withdrawals, but the option also gave him the confidence to tide over his financial exigencies The case concludes that reverse mortgage can provide greater probability of the investments/savings to survive the retirement period, coupled with a high probability of greater net worth at the end of the period. It can be safely concluded that reverse mortgage is definitely a golden walking stick for the elderly. If the government and the lending institutions take cognizance of this aspect of reverse mortgage and market it accordingly, it can turn out to be a vanguard product for the Indian elderly.