UPSC Science and Technology – Chapter 21: Intellectual Property Rights (20 MCQs)

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UPSC Science and Technology – Chapter 21: Intellectual Property Rights (20 MCQs) – 20 questions, subject: Science & Technology. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

In India a patent is granted for:

Correct Answer: B [20 years from the date of filing]

Explanation:

Section 53 of the Patents Act, 1970 fixes the patent term at 20 years from the date of filing the application.

2.  

Copyright in a literary work in India lasts for:

Correct Answer: D [the author's life plus 60 years]

Explanation:

Under the Copyright Act, 1957, copyright in a literary work lasts for the author's lifetime plus 60 years.

3.  

India's first registered geographical indication was:

Correct Answer: B [Darjeeling tea]

Explanation:

Darjeeling tea was the first product registered under the GI Act, 1999, in 2004-05.

4.  

Which section of the Patents Act prevents "evergreening"?

Correct Answer: D [Section 3(d)]

Explanation:

Section 3(d) bars patents on new forms of known substances without enhanced efficacy, which stops evergreening.

5.  

Novartis AG v. Union of India (2013) concerned a patent on:

Correct Answer: A [imatinib (Glivec)]

Explanation:

The Supreme Court in 2013 refused Novartis a patent on the beta-crystalline form of imatinib mesylate (Glivec) under Section 3(d).

6.  

India's first compulsory licence (2012) was granted to:

Correct Answer: C [Natco Pharma]

Explanation:

In March 2012 the Controller of Patents granted Natco Pharma India's first compulsory licence for Bayer's sorafenib (Nexavar).

7.  

Plant varieties in India are protected under the:

Correct Answer: C [PPVFR Act, 2001]

Explanation:

The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001 registers new, farmers' and extant plant varieties.

8.  

The Madrid Protocol, which India joined in 2013, provides for:

Correct Answer: B [the international registration of trademarks]

Explanation:

The Madrid Protocol (1989) is the system for international registration of trademarks; India joined it in 2013.

9.  

The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library was set up by CSIR and the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (now the Ministry of AYUSH) in:

Correct Answer: A [2001]

Explanation:

The TKDL project was approved and begun in 2001 as a CSIR collaboration with the Indian Systems of Medicine department.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. A patent requires novelty, an inventive step and industrial application.
2. Copyright arises automatically when a work is created.
3. A trademark can be renewed only once.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2 are true; statement 3 is false because a trademark can be renewed every ten years without limit.

11.  

Assertion (A): India's generic-drug industry grew rapidly before 2005.

Reason (R): The Patents Act, 1970 allowed only process patents for medicines.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

With only process patents for medicines, Indian firms could legally make patented drugs by new processes, so generics grew.

12.  

The TRIPS Agreement is administered by:

Correct Answer: C [the World Trade Organization]

Explanation:

TRIPS is Annex 1C of the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO, and its TRIPS Council oversees it.

13.  

The Berne Convention (1886) deals with:

Correct Answer: A [copyright]

Explanation:

The Berne Convention, 1886 protects literary and artistic works, that is, copyright.

14.  

The nodal department for the National IPR Policy, 2016 is:

Correct Answer: B [Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade]

Explanation:

The National IPR Policy, 2016 names DPIIT (then DIPP) the nodal department, with CIPAM driving its implementation.

15.  

The head office of India's Patent Office is located at:

Correct Answer: D [Kolkata]

Explanation:

The Patent Office has its head office in Kolkata, with branches at Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.

16.  

The WIPO treaty adopted in May 2024 requires patent applicants to:

Correct Answer: A [disclose the origin of genetic resources and traditional knowledge used]

Explanation:

The May 2024 WIPO treaty obliges patent applicants to disclose the origin of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. National IPR Policy
2. Patents Act, 1970
3. TRIPS Agreement comes into force
4. Paris Convention

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [4-2-3-1]

Explanation:

1883, 1970, 1995, 2016.

18.  

A US patent on the wound-healing use of which substance was revoked in 1997 after India's challenge?

Correct Answer: A [Turmeric]

Explanation:

The US patent on turmeric for wound healing was revoked in 1997 after CSIR showed it was known traditional knowledge.

19.  

The Doha Declaration (2001) on TRIPS dealt mainly with:

Correct Answer: C [public health and access to medicines]

Explanation:

The 2001 Doha Declaration affirmed that TRIPS should be interpreted to protect public health and promote access to medicines.

20.  

Approval for intellectual property rights on inventions based on Indian biological resources is given by the:

Correct Answer: B [National Biodiversity Authority]

Explanation:

Section 6 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 makes the National Biodiversity Authority the approving body for such IP rights.

➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U17 · Science and Technology (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-science-technology

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