Indian Politics and Internal News

[KimExit]

Indian Railways on track to achieve 100% electrification with Rs 6500 cr dedicated budget in 2024-25​

Indian Railways on Thursday (April 4) highlighted that a dedicated budget of Rs 6,500 crore as allocated in 2024-25 can help achieve complete electrification of the rail network. According to senior railway officials, the railways has achieved as much as 95 per cent electrification of Broad Gauge.

Railway officials emphasise that the nation is making notable strides towards a sustainable future by rapidly electrifying its vast network. According to the data, Indian railways electrified 7,188 kilometers during the fiscal year 2023-24, marking a historic accomplishment with immense potential for the nation’s economic and environmental well-being.

“With a massive push in electrification projects, Indian Railways has achieved nearly 95% electrification of its Broad Gauge (BG) network. 21 States and UTs have seamless traction facility which is a significant achievement for Indian Railways, the national transporter of India,”

 

[KimExit]

I can also agree with this to some extent.

However the fact that India is so large and a lot of the population live well away from major cities Like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata etc will mean that they won't get the best infrastructure.

This happens in all countries where the more dense population wise a country is, the more "per-capita" infrastructure is available.

Not at all saying that the infrastructure in a lot of India is not good and should be 'world-class" in 5-10 years just like BD.

PS - The urban population in 2023 in India was 37% when compared to 40% for BD, despite the fact that India has had higher GDP per capita for around 50 years now and so has higher wealth than BD.

5G Coverage in India

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Discover detailed mobile internet coverage maps for all operators. Check 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and fiber availability in your area and worldwide.

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4G Coverage in BD (5G is almost non existent)

Explore Mobile Internet Coverage with nPerf Maps

Discover detailed mobile internet coverage maps for all operators. Check 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and fiber availability in your area and worldwide.

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[UKBengali]

5G Coverage in India

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Discover detailed mobile internet coverage maps for all operators. Check 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and fiber availability in your area and worldwide.

www.nperf.com

4G Coverage in BD (5G is almost non existent)

Explore Mobile Internet Coverage with nPerf Maps

Discover detailed mobile internet coverage maps for all operators. Check 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and fiber availability in your area and worldwide.

www.nperf.com

Ok, India wins here for sure but does the vast majority of the public need or even want 5G?

It is not that BD "lacks" in cellular coverage and the speeds offered in BD are more than ample for even 4K video streaming in most situations.

In the UK 5g speeds are like 3-4 times faster than 4G and so for most users you won't even notice the difference.

 

[Krptonite]

I can also agree with this to some extent.

However the fact that India is so large and a lot of the population live well away from major cities Like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata etc will mean that they won't get the best infrastructure.

This happens in all countries where the more dense population wise a country is, the more "per-capita" infrastructure is available.

Not at all saying that the infrastructure in a lot of India is not good and should be 'world-class" in 5-10 years just like BD.

PS - The urban population in 2023 in India was 37% when compared to 40% for BD, despite the fact that India has had higher GDP per capita for around 50 years now and so has higher wealth than BD.

I think we can both agree that development in the subcontinent is a complex and multifaceted issue. It's not a one-size-fits-all situation, but rather a spectrum with pockets of world-class development alongside areas that are still struggling.


Historically, the region has faced significant challenges with poverty, and I think that's created a bit of a bias against recognizing the rapid progress that's been made in recent years.


But the numbers don't lie – Bangladesh, in particular, has made some incredible strides in investing its economic growth into infrastructure development. And I think it's reasonable to acknowledge that, while there's still work to be done, the country is heading in the right direction.

 

[KimExit]

Ok, India wins here for sure but does the vast majority of the public need or even want 5G?

It is not that BD "lacks" in cellular coverage and the speeds offered in BD are more than ample for even 4K video streaming in most situations.

In the UK 5g speeds are like 3-4 times faster than 4G and so for most users you won't even notice the difference.

Pretty much all Indians get 5G coverage as default as long as they have a 5G compatible phone.

The idea of "need" does not even arise.

This from multiple vendors like Airtel and Jio.

Nor do we pay anything "extra" for 5G.

Water supply and sanitation in India - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Access to Water in India is 97.7%
Access to basic Sanitation in India is 97.7%

Water supply and sanitation in Bangladesh - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Access to Water in Bangladesh 87 %
Access to basic Sanitation in India is 61 %

 

[BananaRepublic]

Pretty much all Indians get 5G coverage as default as long as they have a 5G compatible phone.

The idea of "need" does not even arise.

This from multiple vendors like Airtel and Jio.

Nor do we pay anything "extra" for 5G.

Water supply and sanitation in India - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Access to Water in India is 97.7%
Access to basic Sanitation in India is 97.7%

Water supply and sanitation in Bangladesh - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Access to Water in Bangladesh 87 %
Access to basic Sanitation in India is 61 %

Internet access is really important.

Given India’s lack of urbanisation - mobile coverage is extremely important.

India is miles ahead of any developing country (even some developed ones) in Internet access and usage.

The amount of self help and educational stuff uploaded by Indians on sites like YouTube - is astonishing!

Some of it is excellent.

This will power India’s development.

Bangladesh has a massive handicap in this regard. Combined with lack of English and Internet usage - they are at a disadvantage in self help and online education.

Whilst Indians can utilise the full gamut of the English world - most Bangladeshis are stuck with, largely poor quality, Bengali stuff.

India is also miles ahead in digitisation - especially in financial services.

Btw, @UKBengali, India is in the approved list for “work from abroad” - Bangladesh is not!

@SoulSpokesman whilst India is well behind BD on basic stuff like roads, electricity, water access - India is miles ahead on Rail, Air and Internet access.

@Joe Shearer in summary, India is miles ahead for middle and upper class people. Whilst Bangladesh is a haven for the poor and lower middle class.

Overall, I think it is easier to close the gap for the upper strata than the lower strata.

Whilst Pakistan is a paradise for the landowners and military bots living in Islamabad. By far the safest, cleanest and most advanced city in South Asia. Better than most western capitals!

 

[UKBengali]

Internet access is really important.

Given India’s lack of urbanisation - mobile coverage is extremely important.

India is miles ahead of any developing country (even some developed ones) in Internet access and usage.

The amount of self help and educational stuff uploaded by Indians on sites like YouTube - is astonishing!

Some of it is excellent.

This will power India’s development.

Bangladesh has a massive handicap in this regard. Combined with lack of English and Internet usage - they are at a disadvantage in self help and online education.

Whilst Indians can utilise the full gamut of the English world - most Bangladeshis are stuck with, largely poor quality, Bengali stuff.

India is also miles ahead in digitisation - especially in financial services.

Btw, @UKBengali, India is in the approved list for “work from abroad” - Bangladesh is not!

@SoulSpokesman whilst India is well behind BD on basic stuff like roads, electricity, water access - India is miles ahead on Rail, Air and Internet access.

@Joe Shearer in summary, India is miles ahead for middle and upper class people. Whilst Bangladesh is a haven for the poor and lower middle class.

Overall, I think it is easier to close the gap for the upper strata than the lower strata.

Whilst Pakistan is a paradise for the landowners and military bots living in Islamabad. By far the safest, cleanest and most advanced city in South Asia. Better than most western capitals!

I really think you are overdoing this "English" thing.

World is turning multi-polar and enough educated young BD'shis speak English to a standard that they can easily sell goods and services abroad.

Yes India started earlier but real growth is organic(like BD) and not trying to dump your population overseas and working in outsorced centres. Those can only take you so far and is at the whim of the policies of other countries.

 

[BananaRepublic]

I really think you are overdoing this "English" thing.

World is turning multi-polar and enough educated young BD'shis speak English to a standard that they can easily sell goods and services abroad.

Yes India started earlier but real growth is organic(like BD) and not trying to dump your population overseas and working in outsorced centres. Those can only take you so far and is at the whim of the policies of other countries.

Language is so important, buddy!

As for dumping your population - are you kidding me?!!!

Bangladesh is almost entirely reliant on remittances as a source of forex.

Speaking English is the difference between getting a job as a labourer or a job as a supervisor.

Goto any luxury hotel / restaurant in the Middle East. Indians do the front of house jobs whilst Bangladeshis are doing the laundry and room cleaning!

And in terms of lifelong learning - using the internet is a game changer. But without English - you are nowhere.

 

[AjayGhatak]

Ok, India wins here for sure but does the vast majority of the public need or even want 5G?

5G is not really for people.

 

[Joe Shearer]

Some of it is excellent.

Sadly, India on the Internet reminds me of the old, old Punch cartoon.
A needy curate having breakfast with his Bishop is told rather condescendingly that he has probably got a bad egg. He springs to the defence of the Right Reverend and says that parts of it are excellent.

 

[Joe Shearer]

I really think you are overdoing this "English" thing.

World is turning multi-polar and enough educated young BD'shis speak English to a standard that they can easily sell goods and services abroad.

Yes India started earlier but real growth is organic(like BD) and not trying to dump your population overseas and working in outsorced centres. Those can only take you so far and is at the whim of the policies of other countries.

I disagree.

There are two sharply different reasons for furthering the use of English.

The first is that we need access to international markets. If not English, it has to be French, accessing, besides Metropolitan France, Francophone Africa and parts of Canada; Spanish, that brings in South America (minus Brazil), Central America and North America; Arabic, giving access to the entire Middle East and some of North Africa, and Chinese, selectively useful throughout Asia, even apart from access to the massive Chinese economy.

We already have a head-start; it would be a pity to give it up.

The second reason is a sadly dismal one.

Hindi is being used, weaponised, to extend the domination of the most backward and regressive elements in Indian politics, broadly, the BIMARU states and their political leaders, who are the sorriest scum to afflict South Asia. Allowing Hindi to grow unchecked will lead to weakening that major section of the Indian citizenry who are striving to go ahead.

 

[BananaRepublic]

I disagree.

There are two sharply different reasons for furthering the use of English.

The first is that we need access to international markets. If not English, it has to be French, accessing, besides Metropolitan France, Francophone Africa and parts of Canada; Spanish, that brings in South America (minus Brazil), Central America and North America; Arabic, giving access to the entire Middle East and some of North Africa, and Chinese, selectively useful throughout Asia, even apart from access to the massive Chinese economy.

We already have a head-start; it would be a pity to give it up.

The second reason is a sadly dismal one.

Hindi is being used, weaponised, to extend the domination of the most backward and regressive elements in Indian politics, broadly, the BIMARU states and their political leaders, who are the sorriest scum to afflict South Asia. Allowing Hindi to grow unchecked will lead to weakening that major section of the Indian citizenry who are striving to go ahead.

You have to look at three things when it comes to choosing a second language:

1. Does it enhance your access to life long learning - virtually everything worth learning is published in English. French, Spanish and Chinese are close second. But Arabic is far behind. Best universities by a mile.

2. Size of the market = if you look at GDP of each language - English probably covers 2/3 of global GDP.

3. Opportunities for employment - here there’s no contest. Arabic probably is second due to Middle East.

Bengali is such a fringe language when it is evaluated against the above - if that’s your only language - you might as well hang a millstone round your neck!

 

[Joe Shearer]

You have to look at three things when it comes to choosing a second language:

1. Does it enhance your access to life long learning - virtually everything worth learning is published in English. French, Spanish and Chinese are close second. But Arabic is far behind. Best universities by a mile.

2. Size of the market = if you look at GDP of each language - English probably covers 2/3 of global GDP.

3. Opportunities for employment - here there’s no contest. Arabic probably is second due to Middle East.

Bengali is such a fringe language when it is evaluated against the above - if that’s your only language - you might as well hang a millstone round your neck!

Please forgive me for the syrupy sentimentality of this response.
It is a millstone that I gladly carry.
However, neither my daughter nor my grandson read and write in it. My son-in-law, probashi though he is, speaks a stilted variety that he tries hard to inculcate to his son.
So although my Iyengar wife speaks Bengali (due to a childhood spent in Bengal) with total command and control, it looks like we will no longer in future be Bengali speaking.

 

[BananaRepublic]

Please forgive me for the syrupy sentimentality of this response.
It is a millstone that I gladly carry.
However, neither my daughter nor my grandson read and write in it. My son-in-law, probashi though he is, speaks a stilted variety that he tries hard to inculcate to his son.
So although my Iyengar wife speaks Bengali (due to a childhood spent in Bengal) with total command and control, it looks like we will no longer in future be Bengali speaking.

You are being sentimental like my mum.

Who spent her precious time and put up with our ire - to teach us to read Bangla.

The only upside is that I can read your witty one liners and feel smug

 

[KimExit]

@SoulSpokesman whilst India is well behind BD on basic stuff like roads, electricity, water access - India is miles ahead on Rail, Air and Internet access.

World bank report - electricity coverage reached 92.2 per cent in Bangladesh, 97.2 per cent in India, 73.9 per cent in Pakistan.

Water Access -
Access to Water in India is 97.7%, Access to Water in Bangladesh 87 %
Access to basic Sanitation in India is 97.7% , Access to basic Sanitation in Bangladesh is 61 %

Roads -
India

[td]Highways > Total > Per capita[/td][td]3.32 km per 1,000 people[/td]
Bangladesh

[td]Highways > Total > Per capita[/td][td]1.64 km per 1,000 people[/td]

India Transport Facts & Stats

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