UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — HC seeks Centre, FSSAI’s reply in Fortune refined oil row

Q1. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Chairperson of the Food Authority is a person who—

  • A. is, or has been, a Judge of a High Court, appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India
  • B. is nominated from among the eminent food technologists and scientists who are members of the Food Authority, and holds executive charge of it
  • C. holds, or has held, a position not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of India, and is appointed by the Central Government
  • D. holds, or has held, a position not below the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India, and is elected by the members of the Food Authority

Q2. Of the seven members of the Food Authority who represent Central Government Ministries/Departments under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, six are drawn from those dealing with Agriculture, Commerce, Consumer Affairs, Food Processing, Health and Small Scale Industries. The seventh is drawn from the Ministry/Department dealing with:

  • A. Rural Development
  • B. Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • C. Science and Technology
  • D. Legislative Affairs

Q3. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the maximum penalty to which a person who publishes, or is a party to the publication of, an advertisement falsely describing a food is liable, is:

  • A. Rupees three lakh
  • B. Rupees ten lakh
  • C. Rupees five lakh
  • D. Rupees fifty lakh

Q4. Section 24 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 bars any person from adopting an 'unfair or deceptive practice' for promoting the sale, supply, use and consumption of articles of food. Which one of the following does the section itself treat as such a practice?

  • A. Selling an article of food whose nature, substance or quality is below the standard specified in the regulations, whatever be the representation made about it
  • B. Importing or distributing an article of food without holding a valid licence granted by the licensing authority under the Act
  • C. Making any statement, whether orally or in writing or by visible representation, which falsely represents that the foods are of a particular standard, quality, quantity or grade
  • D. Offering an article of food at a price lower than that notified by the Commissioner of Food Safety in order to capture a larger share of the market

Q5. Under FSSAI's norms governing claims on food packaging, an edible oil may carry a 'cholesterol free' claim only if its saturated fat content does not exceed:

  • A. 1.5 g per 100 ml
  • B. 2 g per 100 ml
  • C. 0.5 g per 100 ml
  • D. 3 g per 100 g

Q6. In the Fortune Soya Health Refined Soyabean Oil matter, FSSAI's communication of 17 July to the Commissioners of Food Safety of all States and Union Territories required them to:

  • A. recall and destroy existing stocks of the listed products and arrange refunds to purchasers through the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions
  • B. ensure that the products described as 'non-compliant products' are not manufactured, distributed, marketed or sold within their respective jurisdictions
  • C. suspend the manufacturing licences of the food business operators concerned pending completion of adjudication by the Adjudicating Officer
  • D. refer the products described as non-compliant to the Central Consumer Protection Authority for action against misleading advertisements

Q7. The challenge by AWL Agri Business Limited to FSSAI's prohibitory action on 'Fortune Soya Health Refined Soyabean Oil' is pending before which one of the following, which has held that the plea cannot be said to lack territorial jurisdiction?

  • A. The Gujarat High Court at Ahmedabad, within whose territory the petitioner company has its registered office
  • B. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, which entertains complaints of misleading claims of national dimension
  • C. The Delhi High Court, before which the Centre and FSSAI have been directed to file their responses within four weeks
  • D. The Food Safety Appellate Tribunal, which hears challenges to prohibitory orders passed by the food regulator

Q8. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, an appeal against an order rejecting an application for the grant of a licence lies, in the first instance, to:

  • A. the Commissioner of Food Safety of the State concerned
  • B. the Food Safety Appellate Tribunal constituted under the Act
  • C. the Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
  • D. the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission of the State concerned

Q9. Under FSSAI's fortification standards, fortified edible oil is required to be fortified with how many micronutrients?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Five

Q10. Consider the following statements regarding the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA): 1. It was established in 2020 under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. 2. It may impose a penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh on a manufacturer, advertiser or endorser for a misleading advertisement, and up to Rs 50 lakh for every subsequent contravention. 3. It may prohibit the endorser of a misleading advertisement from making any endorsement for up to three years for a first contravention, extendable to five years for a subsequent contravention. 4. It functions as the appellate authority over the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in matters concerning misleading advertisements. Which of the statements given above are NOT correct?

  1. It was established in 2020 under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
  2. It may impose a penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh on a manufacturer, advertiser or endorser for a misleading advertisement, and up to Rs 50 lakh for every subsequent contravention.
  3. It may prohibit the endorser of a misleading advertisement from making any endorsement for up to three years for a first contravention, extendable to five years for a subsequent contravention.
  4. It functions as the appellate authority over the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in matters concerning misleading advertisements.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2, 3 and 4

Q11. Consider the following statements comparing AWL Agri Business Limited with its predecessor entity: 1. Adani Wilmar Limited was renamed AWL Agri Business Limited in 2025, following the Adani group's exit from the company's shareholding. 2. After the transaction accompanying the renaming, Wilmar International, and not the Adani group, holds the larger shareholding in the company. 3. The renaming was accompanied by the retirement of the Fortune brand, whose entire edible oil portfolio was rebranded under the AWL name. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Adani Wilmar Limited was renamed AWL Agri Business Limited in 2025, following the Adani group's exit from the company's shareholding.
  2. After the transaction accompanying the renaming, Wilmar International, and not the Adani group, holds the larger shareholding in the company.
  3. The renaming was accompanied by the retirement of the Fortune brand, whose entire edible oil portfolio was rebranded under the AWL name.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3