15 numbers that framed 2015

By Ravi Seth


1 alleged killing of a cow in Dadri led to a lynching and mindless violence followed by nationwide debates

2 pieces of legislation the government couldn’t pass — the GST and land Bills — because of insufficient strength in the Upper House, a situation that isn’t changing anytime soon

Rs 4.31 crore paid by Surat-based Dharmanandan Diamonds for India’s most talked about suit — the bandhgala with the words Narendra Damodardas Modi woven in as pinstripes

6.9% growth recorded for 2013-14 (revised upwards from 4.7%) under a new GDP measuring scale, in line with international norms, though many refused to give the new methodology a clean chit. Later, IMF forecast India will grow faster than China in FY16/17

10 years at the most for your diesel vehicle in Delhi/NCR, after which it will have to be junked/sold elsewhere. NGT’s April ban spotlighted issue of pollution, broadcast countrywide wakeup call. Led to more action later by the Delhi government and the SC

14th Finance Commission hiked the states’ share of central taxes by an unprecedented 10 percentage points, from 32% to 42%, giving them greater freedom to spend money

16 years is now the minimum age above which juveniles could be tried as adults for heinous offences like rape and murder. Bill passed by both LS & RS

26 countries visited by PM Modi this year, two of them twice. Visits were regularly panned by Opposition, and on social media

25 basis points - The first interest rate cut in almost two years in January that started an easing cycle leading to more cuts later in the year

33-35% cut in energy intensity below 2005 levels (by 2030) promised by India as its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution

49% of rural households show signs of poverty, according to SocioEconomic and Caste Census; 51.14% have ‘manual casual labour’ as the source of income

Rs 64.4 crore - That was Nestle’s first quarterly loss in 15 years after the food safety regulator ordered a recall of Maggi on account of excess lead in some tested samples. Maggi is now back on shelves

95% & 73% - Proportion of seats that BJP/partners lost in Delhi and Bihar assembly polls, respectively. Wins for rivals dim Modi aura, serve as reality check.

855-point decline in Sensex on Jan 6 is the index’s sharpest fall in more than five years. But three weeks later, the index touched record high (till date) of 29,681.77

23 lakh applications were received in response to a UP government advertisement for posts of of 368 peons. Some 255 applicants were PhDs