State Food Safety Index

About the Index

The State Food Safety Index has been developed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to measure the performance of states on various parameters of Food Safety.
This index is based on performance of State/ UT on five significant parameters – Human Resources and Institutional Data having 20% of the weightage, Compliance with 30% weightage, Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance being given 20% weightage, Training and Capacity Building having 10% weightage and Consumer Empowerment being given 20% weightage.
The Index is a dynamic quantitative and qualitative benchmarking model that provides an objective framework for evaluating food safety across all States/UTs.
The Index is prepared for three categories – large states, small states and Union Territories to ensure comparability among similar entities.

Why in News?

Highlights of the Index

Tamil Nadu has topped the State Food Safety Index this year, followed by Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Among the smaller States, Goa stood first, followed by Manipur and Sikkim. Among the Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh secured first, second and third ranks respectively.
This was the fourth State Food Safety Index award, which was started in 2018-19 with the aim of creating a competitive and positive change in India’s food safety ecosystem.

The government also launched the AyurvedaAahar logo, which contains the initials of Ayurveda and Ahara, the first in Devanagri and the second in English, with five leaves symbolising five elements of nature.
This logo will help in easy identification of ayurvedic foods.

About FSSAI

It is an autonomous statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is the administrative Ministry of FSSAI.
FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.

Reference

Today Current Affairs Upsc Exam Syllabus & Previous Yearpaper.