Formed

Formed: By the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), a task force on corporate governance to be headed by former Cabinet Secretary and India’s Ambassador to the US, Naresh Chandra. The task force would look at issues emerging out of the Satyam episode and make its recommendations.

Surge: In tourist arrivals in 2008, to 5.37 million, around 5.7 per cent higher when compared to 5.08 million the previous year, according to data from major airports in India. In December, India saw 5.22 lakh foreign tourist arrivals, marginally higher than the 5.21 lakh FTAs in November.

Increased: The GSM subscriber base, to 257 million, with an addition of 8 million during December 2008. This is a positive growth from the 7.62 million subscribers added in November, excluding Reliance Telecom. Bharti Airtel, the country’s largest telecom operator, added over 2.7 million subscribers, taking its user base to more than 85 million.

Upped:The promoters of Reliance Industries Ltd. have increased their stake in the company to more than 49 per cent at the end of quarter ending Dec., from 45 per cent in Sept. RISE: In factory output, which rose 2.4 per cent in November 2008, after a disastrous minus 1.2 per cent growth in October.

Ranked: IBM as the leader in the global patents’ race, with 4,186 patents in 2008 in the US. It is followed by Samsung with 3,515 and Canon with 2,114 patents.