1. Which of the following is required for a crop variety to be eligible for registration under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001?
a) The variety must be a transgenic variety
b) The variety must be novel, distinct, uniform, and stable
c) The variety must have been grown in India for at least 10 years
d) The variety must be approved by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Answer: b) The variety must be novel, distinct, uniform, and stable
Explanation: The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act requires a variety to meet the criteria of being novel, distinct, uniform, and stable (NDUS) in order to be eligible for registration.
2. What is the primary purpose of crop variety registration under intellectual property rights (IPR)?
a) To grant exclusive ownership of genetic material to the breeder
b) To provide protection for the geographical origin of the crop variety
c) To ensure the variety’s protection and recognition for its uniqueness
d) To make the variety freely available for public use
Answer: c) To ensure the variety’s protection and recognition for its uniqueness
Explanation: Crop variety registration under IPR is aimed at providing protection for the unique traits of the variety and recognizing the breeder’s rights, which can lead to benefits like market recognition and commercialization.
3. Under the PPV&FR Act, who can file for the registration of a new plant variety?
a) Only governmental agencies
b) Only individual farmers
c) Any breeder, including farmers, institutions, and organizations
d) Only multinational seed companies
Answer: c) Any breeder, including farmers, institutions, and organizations
Explanation: The PPV&FR Act allows breeders, including farmers, institutions, and organizations, to file for the registration of new plant varieties, provided the varieties meet the required criteria.
4. Which of the following is NOT a criterion for the distinctness of a crop variety under IPR law?
a) The variety must differ from any known variety in its characteristics
b) The variety must be capable of growing in multiple climates
c) The variety must be stable over generations
d) The variety must be uniform in its characteristics
Answer: b) The variety must be capable of growing in multiple climates
Explanation: The distinctness criterion focuses on the uniqueness of the variety’s traits in comparison to existing varieties. It does not require the variety to grow in multiple climates, although stability and uniformity are essential.
5. What is the role of the National Seed Certification Authority (NSCA) in crop variety registration?
a) To grant exclusive patents for crop varieties
b) To monitor the quality and standardization of registered varieties
c) To conduct research on new crop varieties
d) To enforce geographical indications for specific varieties
Answer: b) To monitor the quality and standardization of registered varieties
Explanation: The NSCA is responsible for ensuring that crop varieties conform to the standards of quality, purity, and labeling as prescribed by regulatory bodies, but it does not grant patents.
6. Which of the following types of intellectual property rights is granted to breeders for new plant varieties?
a) Copyright
b) Trademark
c) Patent
d) Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR)
Answer: d) Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR)
Explanation: Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR) are granted under the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) system and national laws like the PPV&FR Act. These rights allow breeders exclusive control over the commercialization of a variety.
7. What is the duration of protection granted to a registered plant variety under the PPV&FR Act for a breeder?
a) 10 years
b) 15 years
c) 18 years
d) 25 years
Answer: b) 15 years
Explanation: Under the PPV&FR Act, a plant variety is granted protection for 15 years for most crops, although the duration may differ for certain crops like trees or vines, where protection may be extended to 18 years.
8. Which of the following is a key provision of the Plant Variety Protection and Farmers’ Rights Act regarding farmers’ rights?
a) Farmers have the right to receive royalties from the commercialization of the varieties they developed
b) Farmers can save, use, and sell seeds of registered varieties without restriction
c) Farmers must pay a license fee to the breeder for every seed they plant
d) Farmers cannot save or exchange seeds from registered varieties
Answer: b) Farmers can save, use, and sell seeds of registered varieties without restriction
Explanation: The PPV&FR Act recognizes farmers’ rights, including the right to save, use, exchange, and sell seeds of registered varieties. This provision balances breeders’ rights with the rights of farmers to freely use the varieties.
9. What does the term “novelty” mean in the context of crop variety registration under IPR law?
a) The variety must be in commercial use for at least 10 years
b) The variety must be genetically modified
c) The variety must not have been previously registered or known to the public
d) The variety must exhibit desirable traits only in specific environmental conditions
Answer: c) The variety must not have been previously registered or known to the public
Explanation: Novelty refers to the requirement that the variety must be new and not previously known, used, or registered anywhere. It must not have been disclosed to the public prior to registration.
10. What is the role of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FR Authority) in India?
a) To enforce patent law for agricultural products
b) To manage seed commercialization for agricultural crops
c) To oversee the registration of plant varieties and protect breeders’ and farmers’ rights
d) To regulate the prices of seeds in the market
Answer: c) To oversee the registration of plant varieties and protect breeders’ and farmers’ rights
Explanation: The PPV&FR Authority is responsible for implementing the provisions of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, overseeing the registration of plant varieties, and safeguarding the rights of breeders and farmers.
11. Which of the following best describes the concept of “farmer-breeder” in the context of intellectual property rights?
a) A farmer who breeds and registers new plant varieties for commercial purposes
b) A farmer who can freely exchange and use registered plant varieties without any legal restrictions
c) A breeder who must pay farmers for their traditional knowledge of crop breeding
d) A farmer who uses IPR protection to prevent others from using their own saved seeds
Answer: a) A farmer who breeds and registers new plant varieties for commercial purposes
Explanation: A “farmer-breeder” refers to farmers who engage in breeding activities and may develop new varieties, which can be registered under IPR laws to gain recognition and protection for their innovations.
12. Which of the following best describes the concept of “farmers’ privilege” under the PPV&FR Act?
a) Farmers can only use seeds from varieties that are not registered
b) Farmers are prohibited from saving seeds of registered varieties
c) Farmers can save, use, exchange, and sell seeds of registered varieties for non-commercial purposes
d) Farmers must pay breeders a fee for each use of the registered variety
Answer: c) Farmers can save, use, exchange, and sell seeds of registered varieties for non-commercial purposes
Explanation: Farmers’ privilege allows farmers to save, use, exchange, and sell seeds of registered varieties without paying royalties to the breeder, as long as these activities are for non-commercial purposes.
13. Which of the following is a potential disadvantage of crop variety registration under IPR law?
a) It limits the commercialization of varieties to specific markets
b) It restricts farmers’ ability to freely exchange seeds
c) It encourages farmers to develop non-commercial crops
d) It provides no incentive for the development of genetically modified crops
Answer: b) It restricts farmers’ ability to freely exchange seeds
Explanation: One potential disadvantage of IPR protection is that it may restrict farmers’ ability to freely exchange seeds of registered varieties, as the breeder has exclusive rights to the variety.
14. Which of the following is an example of “farmers’ rights” under the PPV&FR Act?
a) Farmers can receive financial compensation from seed companies for crop innovations
b) Farmers can claim patent rights on genetically modified seeds
c) Farmers can challenge the registration of new varieties if they are based on traditional knowledge
d) Farmers can exchange and sell seeds of any registered variety without restriction
Answer: c) Farmers can challenge the registration of new varieties if they are based on traditional knowledge
Explanation: Under the PPV&FR Act, farmers’ rights include the ability to challenge the registration of new varieties if they are based on the farmer’s traditional knowledge, ensuring protection of indigenous agricultural practices.
15. In the context of crop variety protection, what is the concept of “distinctness” of a variety?
a) The variety must be able to withstand all types of climate
b) The variety must differ from other known varieties in at least one key characteristic
c) The variety must produce higher yields than all other varieties
d) The variety must be genetically identical to its parent