News in Numbers | Isro to launch 101 foreign satellites next week
In other news, Facebook workers will get 20-day paid leave to bereave a family member
Rs16,200 crore
What is it? The detected amount of black money stashed away by Indians in foreign accounts, following revelations by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
Why is it important? Demonetisation revived questions about efforts to recover illegal funds squirrelled away in accounts abroad. The government shared the total illegal money tracked so far, even though it could not estimate the total quantity.
Tell me more: Finance minister Arun Jaitley mentioned the government could track Rs8,000 crore worth of credits in offshore accounts by Indians named in the ICIJ report, while in about two years through systematic investigations, it could bring to tax Rs8,200 crore in black money deposited abroad in secret bank accounts in HSBC.
96%
What is it? The record disposal rate of grievances of the income tax department.
Why is it important? The I-T department proved to be more technologically savvy than many of its peers. It has redressed over 20,000 complaints last year since the launch of its ‘e-nirvan’ service for taxpayer grievances.
Tell me more: The number of resolved complaints between July and September 2016 were 9,444, while in October-December 2016, they were 11,345, making the organisation the most efficient on the government’s Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System.
101
What is it? The number of foreign satellites Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) will launch next week (15 February), mounted on its trusty PSLV-C37 rocket.
Why is it important? As private companies increase their play in space exploration around the globe, costs will play a crucial part as government funding won’t remain the main source. Isro, even though a government agency, has one of the lowest price tags for services that other countries can avail. Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s Falcon-9 satellite launch can cost $60 million, low by global standards, but Isro’s PSLV can be launched at one-third the cost.
Tell me more: In addition to three Indian satellites mounted on the rocket, the 101 foreign nano-satellites, taking up 600 kg on the rocket, will earn the space agency half of the total cost for the launch. Isro has been earning foreign exchange by accommodating other countries and till July 2015, it had earned Rs637.35 crore. In June 2016, it launched another 17.
20
What is it? The number of days of paid leave Facebook workers will get to bereave a family member
Why is it important: This comes at a time when conversations on paid leave in the US are mostly around births, and not deaths. Only 60% of private companies in the US give paid leaves for mourning, and only for a few days, Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO wrote on the social networking site. Given the influence Facebook has, it could lead to other companies following its footsteps
Tell me more: Facebook employees will have 20 days to mourn the death of an immediate family member, and 10 to mourn the death of an extended family member. They will also have up to six weeks to take care of a sick relative (and three days off in case of short-term illnesses).
$11 million
What is it? Infosys chief executive officer Vishal Sikka’s salary, including variable component.
Why is it important? The founders of Infosys have reportedly raised concerns over the remuneration of the offshoring giant’s first non-promoter CEO, besides the severance packages given to Rajiv Bansal, former chief financial officer, and David Kennedy, former compliance officer, and the appointment of Punita Sinha, wife of Union minister Jayant Sinha, as an independent director.
Tell me more: Vishal Sikka’s $11 million package is linked to Infosys achieving $20 billion revenue target. Bansal received a severance package of Rs17.38 crore in 2015, while Kennedy received $868,250 when he quit end of last year.
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