Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
The Standard Mark of the Bureau of Indian Standards is mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes.
AGMARK is a quality certification mark issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is correct.
Specified categories of pneumatic tyres and tubes sold in India are required to conform to the applicable Indian Standards and carry the BIS Standard Mark.
Under the applicable Quality Control Order for automotive vehicles, tubes and pneumatic tyres prescribed for two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger cars and commercial vehicles fall within mandatory BIS certification.
The BIS Standard Mark is commonly known as the ISI Mark. It indicates that the product:
Conforms to the relevant Indian Standard.
Is covered by the BIS conformity-assessment process.
Satisfies prescribed quality and safety requirements.
Has been manufactured under a valid BIS licence.
Tyres are directly connected with vehicle safety. A substandard tyre may overheat, suffer tread separation or burst suddenly. Mandatory quality control is therefore imposed on this product category.
Statement 2 is incorrect.
AGMARK is not issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization. In India, the AGMARK system is administered by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Its statutory basis consists of:
The Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937.
General Grading and Marking Rules and commodity-specific rules framed under the Act.
AGMARK certifies the grade and quality of agricultural produce. Its coverage may include foodgrains, pulses, spices, edible oils, ghee, honey and other agricultural commodities.
FAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations working globally on food, agriculture and nutrition. It is not the authority issuing India’s AGMARK certification.