Question map
Consider the following statements : 1. The Standard Mark of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes. 2. AGMARK is a quality Certification Mark issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Explanation
The correct answer is option A (1 only).
**Statement 1 is correct:** Since 2009, India has required BIS-ISI certification for automobile tyres.[1] BIS licence for the use or apply Standard Mark is given for products made in a manufacturing premise and meeting all relevant Indian standard requirements.[2] This confirms that the BIS Standard Mark is indeed mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes in India.
**Statement 2 is incorrect:** AGMARK is NOT issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). AGMARK is actually a quality certification mark issued by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (DMI), which operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. It is used to certify agricultural products like food grains, honey, ghee, and other commodities in India. FAO is an international organization under the United Nations and does not issue AGMARK certification.
Therefore, only statement 1 is correct, making option A the right answer.
SourcesPROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewStatement 2 is a classic 'Authority Swap' trap solvable via basic NCERTs (Class VII/X). Statement 1 relies on the 'Safety Logic'—items risking human life (tyres, cylinders, cement) always have mandatory BIS certification. You didn't need to memorize the tyre list, just the safety principle.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Directly states a legal requirement specific to tyres: India has required BIS-ISI certification for automobile tyres since 2009.
- Mentions relevant Indian Standards (IS numbers) that apply to different vehicle tyre categories, tying BIS certification to tyres/tubes.
- Explains how BIS licensing and the Standard Mark are applied to products, indicating a regulatory framework for mandatory certification.
- States that standards may be certified 'voluntarily or mandatorily,' supporting that some products (like tyres per passage 5) fall under mandatory certification.
Explains BIS's role: it formulates standards and runs a Product Certification Scheme; presence of the BIS Standard (ISI) mark indicates conformity to Indian standards.
A student could use this to check whether tyres and tubes are listed under BIS's mandatory product certification schedule or only eligible for voluntary certification.
States that ISI mark (BIS mark) is generally present on automotive tyres, listing tyres among typical items with that mark.
Combine this with knowledge of product-specific mandatory lists (e.g., government notifications) to test if presence is mandatory or common but voluntary.
Presents the exact claim (as statement 1) in a multiple-choice question, implying the claim is contested and worth verification.
Use this to motivate checking authoritative sources (BIS Act/notifications) because appearance in an MCQ suggests the statement may be false or debated.
Notes that certain labeling schemes recognize products meeting BIS quality requirements, showing BIS standards are used as criteria for other mandatory/voluntary labels.
A student could examine whether tyres/tubes are referenced in such labeling schemes or in government lists that make marks compulsory.
Mentions that tyres and tubes are significant industrial products in India, implying regulatory interest and potential for product-specific standards.
Combine this industrial context with BIS's mandate to see that tyres are plausible candidates for standardization and thus check if any mandatory orders apply.
Explicitly defines AGMARK as a certification mark enforced in India and administered by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection under India's Ministry of Agriculture.
A student can extend this by noting AGMARK is a national Indian body/act–based scheme, making it unlikely to be an FAO-issued mark.
States AGMARK (Ag for agriculture) is the certification mark for agricultural products like vegetables, fruits, cereals, etc., implying a product-level national certification role.
Combine with knowledge that FAO is an international UN body to question whether FAO issues product certification marks for a single country's agricultural products.
Explains that logos like ISI and Agmark are issued by organisations that monitor and issue certificates to producers who follow certain quality standards.
Use this pattern to check which specific organisation issues Agmark (i.e., look for the national issuing authority versus an international body like FAO).
Describes FAO's activities such as publishing the FAO Food Price Index, showing FAO's role in global monitoring and data rather than issuing national product marks.
A student can infer FAO's typical functions (global indices, standards guidance) and compare them with the national, legally enforced nature of AGMARK to judge plausibility.
Gives FAO's definition of food security, illustrating FAO's policy/technical role internationally rather than acting as a national certification authority.
Combine this with the fact AGMARK is enforced by an Indian act (snippet 2) to conclude the responsibilities differ and that FAO is unlikely to be AGMARK's issuer.
- [THE VERDICT]: Mixed Bag. Statement 2 is a Sitter (NCERT Class VII/X). Statement 1 is Logical/Applied (Safety = Mandatory).
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Consumer Protection & Quality Control Orders (QCOs) under the Indian Economy syllabus.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize mandatory BIS items: Cement, LPG Cylinders, Food Colours, Electrical Irons, Toys (recent). Contrast marks: FPO (Processed Fruit), Ecomark (Environment), Hallmark (Gold/Silver), Silk Mark (Silk Board).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When studying a body (BIS/AGMARK), ask 3 questions: 1. Which Ministry? 2. Is it Statutory? 3. Is certification Voluntary or Mandatory? (Hint: Safety/Health = Mandatory).
References define BIS as the national standards body and describe the Standard/ISI mark as indicating conformity to Indian standards.
High-yield for UPSC: knowing BIS's role clarifies who sets product standards and what the ISI/Standard mark signifies. This links to questions on regulatory institutions, consumer protection, and quality standards; useful for both polity and economy papers. Learn by mapping BIS functions and common examples of marked products.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) > p. 326
- Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 12: Understanding Markets > Let's see what each of these labels mean: > p. 269
Evidence states the BIS runs a Product Certification Scheme and that presence of the Standard mark indicates conformity to the relevant Indian standard.
Understanding certification schemes helps answer questions on voluntary vs statutory standards, implementation of standards, and policy on product safety; it enables analysis of regulatory effectiveness and consumer protection policy questions.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) > p. 326
One reference lists automotive tyres among items generally bearing the ISI/BIS mark, linking the mark to the product class in question.
Knowing typical sectors/products where BIS marking appears (e.g., electricals, construction, tyres) helps quickly eliminate or support options in MCQs and frame answers about industry regulation, standards applicability, and consumer safety.
- Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 12: Understanding Markets > Let's see what each of these labels mean: > p. 269
References identify AGMARK as a certification mark for agricultural products in India and describe its administering office and legal basis.
High-yield for UPSC: knowing the issuing authority and legal framework for major Indian certification marks helps answer questions on agricultural marketing, standards and regulatory institutions. It connects to governance of agriculture, Ministry roles, and statutory acts — useful for both prelims factual questions and mains institutional analysis.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > AGMARK > p. 326
- Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 12: Understanding Markets > Let's see what each of these labels mean: > p. 269
Evidence groups ISI, Agmark and Hallmark as labels that assure quality and are issued/monitored by Indian organisations.
Important for prelims and ethics/governance mains: distinguishes types of domestic quality marks, their consumer-protection role, and why some certifications are mandatory. This helps answer questions on consumer rights, standardisation policy and regulatory overlap.
- Understanding Economic Development. Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: CONSUMER RIGHTS > ISI and Agmark > p. 84
- Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 12: Understanding Markets > Let's see what each of these labels mean: > p. 269
The references mention FAO in a global food context while other references name national bodies (e.g., Directorate of Marketing & Inspection) as AGMARK's administrator — highlighting different scopes.
Useful to contrast international organisations and national regulatory instruments in answers: clarifies which functions are global (data, guidelines) versus legally enforceable national certification. Helps tackle comparative institutional questions and avoid attributing national schemes to international agencies.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Food Security > p. 334
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > AGMARK > p. 326
Gold Hallmarking (BIS) became mandatory in 2021 for specific districts. Also, 'Jaivik Bharat' is the logo for organic food, regulated by FSSAI, not BIS. Know the difference between 'Codex Alimentarius' (FAO/WHO guidelines) and 'FSSAI' (Indian Law).
Apply the 'UN Functionality Test'. UN bodies (FAO, WHO, ILO) generally release reports, indices, and guidelines. They do NOT issue physical certification stickers for domestic products in specific countries. Statement 2 violates this administrative logic.
Mains GS-3 (Food Processing & Economy): Standardization (SPS Measures) is crucial for boosting agricultural exports. Lack of compliance with global standards (like Codex) is a non-tariff barrier for Indian farmers.