The “Eco Mark” Scheme was launched in 1991 to encourage consumers to buy products of less harmful environment impact. Which one of the following consumer products is not notified under this Scheme?

The correct answer is D (Drugs and Antibiotics). The Eco-Mark scheme was launched by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1991 and is administered through the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). It certifies consumer products that cause less harm to the environment across their life cycle, and it works on a notified list of product categories.

• Soaps and detergents are among the early notified categories, so this is wrong.
• Paper and plastics were also part of the original notified list, so this is wrong.
• Cosmetics and aerosols were notified too. Aerosol products were covered because of ozone-depleting propellants, so this is wrong.
• Drugs and antibiotics were not notified. Medicines are regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs Controller framework, and are not covered under Eco-Mark.

The core concept is the distinction between voluntary eco-labelling for consumer goods and the regulatory regime for pharmaceuticals. This links to Mains GS-III on environment and sustainable development, and to the wider policy debate on green labelling versus standards. The list of notified products has expanded since 1991, so check the current BIS list if a question is framed in the present tense.

Trap: aspirants often assume that every consumer product can carry an eco-label. Check the notified list, not the general idea of green products.