May

19,
2018
DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY ON OFFICIAL STATISTICS (NPOS)
In May 2018, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) released the
Draft National Policy on official Statistics (NPOS).
Background:

 In 2016, Union Cabinet of India adopted the ‘United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official
Statistics’ so as to improve the quality of Official Statistics.
 To give effect to the Principles, a draft National Policy on Official Statistics (NPOS) has been brought
out which has now been placed in the public domain for receiving feedback.

Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics?

Background:
 In 1992, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) adopted the fundamental
principles of official statistics in the UNECE region.
 The United Nations Statistical Commission adopted these principles in 1994 at the global level.
 The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) endorsed the Fundamental Principles of Official
Statistics in 2013; and in January 2014, they were adopted by General Assembly.
Objective:
 The adoption of these Principles will bring professional independence, impartiality, accountability
and transparency in methods of collection, compilation and dissemination of official statistics.

COAL INDIA LIMITED (CIL)

In May 2018, Anil Kumar Jha was appointed as the Chairman-cum-Managing Director
(CMD) of Coal India Limited.
About:

 CIL is a state-owned coal mining company which contributes to over 80% of the coal production in
India.
 Administration: Government of India owns CIL and controls the operations of CIL through Ministry
of Coal.
 Status: In 2011, CIL was conferred the Maharatna status by the Union Government of India.
 HQ: Kolkata.
 Established in: 1975.

PARCEL CARGO EXPRESS TRAIN (PCET)

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 May
19,
2018
In May 2018, Northeast Frontier Railway started operating on lease a Parcel Cargo Express
Train (PCET) on fortnightly basis, connecting North-eastern Region (NER) of the country to
the West Coast.
About:

 The route of this PCET is New Guwahati in Assam to Kalyan in Maharashtra with stoppages at New
Jalpaiguri, Kalumna Goods Shed.
 This would enable farmers of NER to market their products at the retail markets in Mumbai,
Bengaluru, Nagpur, Pune etc.
 Significance:
o The step is in line with the Government’s priority to provide connectivity to Northeast
region and empowering local industries of this region particularly.
o A single PCET can carry consignment equivalent to 52 nos. of trucks. This will ensure less
Carbon Emission.

AYUSH
In May 2018, The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) adopted the
word ‘AYUSH’ in Hindi and English languages for scientific and technical purposes.
The decision follows a proposal from the Ministry of AYUSH in this regards.
About:

 As approved by the Commission, the word ‘Ayush’ will have the meaning “Traditional and Non-
Conventional Systems of Health Care and Healing which include complementary systems of
medicine namely Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, Homoeopathy etc.
 Significance:
o This decision will give a boost to India’s efforts to find a place for the Indian Systems of
Healthcare in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) of the World Health
Organization (WHO).
o The Indian systems finding a place in ICD will lead to their international acceptance,
increased rigor of research in them and their over-all development.

Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT)?

 CSTT was set up in 1960 by a resolution of Government of India under Article 344(4) of the
Constitution of India.
 It evolves and defines scientific and technical terms in Hindi and all Indian languages.

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