2017 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2017 · GS Paper I

Question 32: Economy and Social Development

Consider the following statements :

  1. 1.The Standard Mark of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes.
  2. 2.AGMARK is a quality Certification Mark issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

The BIS Standard Mark (ISI mark) is compulsory for a list of products notified by the Government, and automotive tyres and tubes are among them, so Statement 1 is right. AGMARK is a certification mark for the quality of agricultural produce under the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937, issued under the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection of the Government of India, not by the FAO, so Statement 2 is wrong. Remember: AGMARK is the Indian government's farm-produce quality mark, while the ISI mark is BIS's.

  • 1. The BIS Standard Mark is mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes.
  • 2. AGMARK is certified by India's Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, not the FAO.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: The BIS Standard Mark is mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (c) goes: it includes 2.

    What you needed to know: AGMARK is certified by India's Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, not the FAO.

Only (a) is left. This one needs every statement.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Right: BIS marking is mandatory for tyres and tubes; AGMARK is not an FAO mark.
  • (b) Wrong: AGMARK is issued in India, not by the FAO.
  • (c) Wrong: statement 2 is false.
  • (d) Wrong: statement 1 is correct.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.