Current Affairs Questions

Explanation :

GEAC is constituted under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 and functions in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

Responsibility of GEAC:

• The committee is responsible for appraisal of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle and proposals relating to release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials.
• GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Source: www.geacindia.gov.in

Explanation :

• NSC was set up in 2005 following the recommendations of the Rangarajan Commission, which reviewed the Indian Statistical System in 2001. The NSC has four Members besides a Chairperson, each having specialization and experience in specified statistical fields.
• It is an autonomous institution (and does not come under CSO/ NSSO). The main purpose of setting up NSC was to act as a bridge between CSO, NSSO and different state and central government departments in relation to collection of data.
• It is generally said that NSC is not that effective as it is not a statutory body and previously there have been demands to make it a statutory body which would lend it more teeth.