Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ Politics / Policy/  News in numbers: Scientists discover 211 new species in the Eastern Himalayas
BackBack

News in numbers: Scientists discover 211 new species in the Eastern Himalayas

It includes 133 plants, 39 invertebrates, 26 fish, 10 amphibians, one each of reptile, bird and mammal

This undated handout photograph released by The World Wildlife Foundation shows a blue snakehead fish in the eastern Himalayas. Photo: AFPPremium
This undated handout photograph released by The World Wildlife Foundation shows a blue snakehead fish in the eastern Himalayas. Photo: AFP

7,500 km

What is it? The length of highways at risk of remaining incomplete or being abandoned due to losses, according to ratings firm Crisil. It pertains to build-operate-transfer (BOT) highway projects awarded to private developers between 2009-10 and 2011-12.

Why is it important? This highlights the issues that plague the sector: land acquisition issues, weak financial health of the sponsors, aggressive bidding and lower toll revenue growth. Infrastructure woes would only make it more difficult as India tries to revive its economy. This also puts additional stress on banks that have significant exposure to the road sector. Remember, banks are already struggling with rising bad loans.

Tell me more: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has awarded 210 BOT projects covering 20,000 km, of which 38 projects covering nearly a fourth of the total length have been terminated. Only 80 projects spanning over 6,050 km are currently operational. Between 1 April and 31 July this year, the NHAI has awarded BOT projects spanning 873 km and EPC (engineering, procurement construction) projects covering 627 km.

4

What is it? The number of times the salaries of Delhi legislators is proposed to go up, according to an independent committee set up by the Delhi Assembly Speaker. In absolute terms, it would increase from 82,000 to 3.2 lakh a month.

Why is it important? If the committee’s recommendations are accepted by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, the state’s MLAs could be counted among the richest in India. Assam’s legislators get paid the highest— 60,000 basic salary a month. It would be interesting to see what Kejriwal does given the party calls itself the “common person’s" party and the moral high ground it takes on various issues.

Tell me more: The recommendations include an increase in constituency allowance from 18,000 per month to 50,000, communication allowance from 8,000 to 10,000, conveyance allowance from 6,000 to 30,000, daily allowance of 1,000-2,000 a day when the assembly is in session, a 70,000 allowance for office assistants and a one-time furnishing office allowance of 1 lakh.

450 crore

What is it? The amount Infibeam wants to raise to expand its business through an initial public offer (IPO).

Why is it important? It is the first e-commerce firm to be cleared by the market regulator for public listing in India. Some experts and investors have asked if there is an e-commerce bubble in India. Skyrocketing valuations, the ease with which e-commerce companies have been able to raise money, absence of a proper business model, high cash burn rates and no profitability are worrying. This would be a good test to gauge the broader investor appetite for this sector.

Tell me more: Infibeam, which runs infibeam.com and BuildaBazaar.com, wants to set up a cloud data unit and 75 logistics centres. Unlike its peers such as Flipkart or Snapdeal, Infibeam has not taken the typical private equity investment route.

211

What is it? The number of new species discovered by scientists from various organisations in the Eastern Himalayas between 2009 and 2014, according to conservation group WWF.

Why is it important? The volume and variety of species discovered (133 plants, 39 invertebrates, 26 fish, 10 amphibians, one each of reptile, bird and mammal) highlights the fact that this region is one of the most biologically diverse in the world. The region includes Bhutan, north-east India, Nepal, the far north of Myanmar and southern parts of Tibet.

Tell me more: Some of the striking discoveries include a sneezing monkey during rains because it has an upturned nose and a blue ‘dwarf’ walking snakehead fish, which can survive on land for up to four days breathing atmospheric air. However, due to development and inadequate measures towards the protection of environment, only 25% of the “original habitats remain intact" and hundreds of species living in the region fall under the category of globally-threatened species.

130 bps versus 50 bps

What is it? Deposit rate cuts versus lending rate cuts. The average cut in one-year deposit rates by banks since January 2015 compared to the cut in lending rates, according to India Ratings. This is when the central bank has cut policy rates by a cumulative 125 basis points (bps).

Why is it important? It shows banks give importance to self-interest. Banks can make more money when it reduces deposit rates—and pay less to depositors— without proportionally cutting the lending rates.

Tell me more: Based on a 10-year study of the policy cycle and the banks, India Ratings says that it appears that in most cases when policy rates are reduced, deposit rates have come down quicker than lending rates and the quantum of the former has also been higher.

howindialives.com is a search engine for public data

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Politics News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
More Less
Published: 07 Oct 2015, 12:24 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App