Important Facts for Prelims (30th January 2019)

• 30 Jan 2019

National Statistical Commission (NSC)

• NSC was set up by the Government through a resolution in 2005.
• The setting up of the NSC followed the decision of the Cabinet to accept the recommendations of the Rangarajan Commission, which reviewed the Indian Statistical System in 2001.
• NSC is the apex advisory body on statistical matters as it was constituted to evolve policies, priorities, and standards in statistical matters.
• The NSC has four Members besides a Chairperson, each having specialization and experience in specified statistical fields.

Domestic Council for Gems & Jewellery

• Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced the formation of a Domestic Council for Gems & Jewellery to bring the industry’s domestic business stakeholders under one umbrella so that they could evolve a unified approach to promote growth in the sector.
• This Council will help in tapping new opportunities in the already existing large domestic market.
• The basic objective of the government is making this unorganized sector, organized and structured so that additional jobs can be created.

Golden Langur

• Recently, the Assam State Zoo, Guwahati welcomed the birth of a baby Golden Langur at langur breeding facility.
• The Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi entrusted the state zoo with the project for the conservation breeding of golden langur in Assam in 2011.
• Gee’s golden langur (Trachypithecus geei), or simply the golden langur, is an Old World Monkey found in a small region of western Assam, India and in the neighboring foothills of the Black Mountains of Bhutan.
• It is one of the most endangered primate species in India.
• It is listed in Appendix I of CITES, as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Central Zoo Authority

• Central Zoo Authority is a statutory body whose main objective is to enforce minimum standards and norms for upkeep and health care of animals in India zoos.
• Zoos are regulated as per the provisions of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and are guided by the National Zoo Policy, 1992. The Wild Life Protection was amended in 1991 to establish the Central Zoo Authority.