1. What is the primary purpose of crop variety registration?
a) To ensure the variety is free from pests and diseases
b) To provide legal protection and recognition to the variety
c) To guarantee the highest yield potential of the variety
d) To ensure the variety is genetically modified
Answer: b) To provide legal protection and recognition to the variety
Explanation: The primary purpose of crop variety registration is to ensure that the new variety is officially recognized and protected under national or international legal frameworks, which can prevent unauthorized use and encourage further breeding.
2. Which of the following international agreements governs the protection of new plant varieties?
a) Paris Convention
b) International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) Convention
c) TRIPS Agreement
d) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Answer: b) International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) Convention
Explanation: The UPOV Convention is the primary international agreement that provides a legal framework for protecting new plant varieties through plant breeders’ rights (PBR). It ensures that breeders can benefit from their innovation.
3. In the context of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), what is the significance of Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR)?
a) They allow breeders to prevent the use of a plant variety by others
b) They grant breeders exclusive rights to all plant materials worldwide
c) They allow farmers to freely exchange seeds
d) They ensure the protection of genetic resources and biodiversity
Answer: a) They allow breeders to prevent the use of a plant variety by others
Explanation: Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) are a form of intellectual property that grants the breeder exclusive rights to a new plant variety, preventing others from reproducing, selling, or using the variety without permission for a specified period.
4. Which of the following is NOT a requirement for a plant variety to be eligible for registration under the UPOV convention?
a) Novelty
b) Distinctness
c) Uniformity
d) Ability to grow in diverse environments
Answer: d) Ability to grow in diverse environments
Explanation: To be eligible for registration under UPOV, a plant variety must be novel, distinct, and uniform, but it is not required to grow in all environments. The emphasis is on its distinctiveness, uniformity, and stability.
5. What does the term “distinctness” refer to in the context of crop variety registration?
a) The variety must be genetically identical to existing varieties
b) The variety must be easy to grow
c) The variety must differ clearly from other existing varieties in at least one characteristic
d) The variety must have a high yield potential
Answer: c) The variety must differ clearly from other existing varieties in at least one characteristic
Explanation: “Distinctness” means that the new variety must be distinguishable from all other known varieties based on one or more key characteristics, such as color, shape, size, or other traits.
6. Which of the following is the primary basis for the granting of Plant Variety Protection (PVP) rights under intellectual property laws?
a) The variety’s commercial success in the market
b) The variety’s ability to survive in extreme environmental conditions
c) The variety’s novelty, distinctness, uniformity, and stability (NDUS criteria)
d) The variety’s aesthetic value and popularity
Answer: c) The variety’s novelty, distinctness, uniformity, and stability (NDUS criteria)
Explanation: The granting of Plant Variety Protection (PVP) rights is based on the NDUS criteria: novelty (new variety), distinctness (unique from other varieties), uniformity (consistent characteristics), and stability (trait consistency over generations).
7. What is the role of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) in India regarding crop variety registration?
a) To monitor the commercialization of plant varieties
b) To ensure that genetic resources are shared fairly with the country of origin
c) To provide patents for new plant varieties
d) To regulate the testing of genetically modified varieties
Answer: b) To ensure that genetic resources are shared fairly with the country of origin
Explanation: The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) in India is responsible for implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and ensuring that genetic resources are used fairly and equitably, particularly when accessed for crop variety development.
8. Which of the following best describes the concept of “farmer’s rights” in the context of crop variety protection?
a) Farmers are prohibited from using protected plant varieties
b) Farmers have the right to save, use, exchange, and sell farm-saved seeds
c) Farmers are granted exclusive rights to develop new plant varieties
d) Farmers are only allowed to use varieties developed by commercial breeders
Answer: b) Farmers have the right to save, use, exchange, and sell farm-saved seeds
Explanation: Farmer’s rights refer to the rights of farmers to save, use, exchange, and sell seeds of protected plant varieties without infringement, in line with the recognition of their contribution to the development and preservation of plant genetic resources.
9. In India, which act governs the protection of plant varieties and farmers’ rights?
a) The Patents Act, 1970
b) The Seeds Act, 1966
c) The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001
d) The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
Answer: c) The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001
Explanation: In India, the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001, governs the registration of new plant varieties, the protection of plant breeders’ rights, and the recognition of farmers’ rights related to seed use and exchange.
10. What is the duration of Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) for most agricultural crops under UPOV guidelines?
a) 10 years
b) 15 years
c) 20 years
d) 25 years
Answer: c) 20 years
Explanation: Under UPOV guidelines, the duration of Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) for most agricultural crops is typically 20 years. However, for trees and vines, it can extend up to 25 years.
11. Which of the following is true regarding the “novelty” requirement for crop variety registration?
a) The variety must have been commercially available for more than five years
b) The variety must not have been previously sold or used for commercial purposes
c) The variety must have been developed in a laboratory setting only
d) The variety must be genetically modified
Answer: b) The variety must not have been previously sold or used for commercial purposes
Explanation: Novelty refers to the requirement that the crop variety has not been sold or used for commercial purposes before the application for registration. It must be new and not previously known or marketed.
12. In the context of Intellectual Property Rights, what is the difference between a patent and Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR)?
a) A patent grants exclusive rights over a plant variety, while PBR grants rights over inventions
b) A patent is granted for new inventions, whereas PBR is for new plant varieties that meet specific criteria
c) A patent is granted for an indefinite period, while PBR is granted for a limited period
d) A patent allows for the use of genetic resources, while PBR restricts it
Answer: b) A patent is granted for new inventions, whereas PBR is for new plant varieties that meet specific criteria
Explanation: Patents are granted for inventions that meet criteria of novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability, while Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) are granted for new plant varieties that meet specific requirements of distinctness, uniformity, and stability.
13. Which of the following is a key challenge in the registration of new crop varieties under IPR frameworks?
a) Determining the environmental impact of the new variety
b) Meeting the distinctness, uniformity, and stability (NDUS) criteria
c) Ensuring the variety is compatible with genetic modification
d) Limiting the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
Answer: b) Meeting the distinctness, uniformity, and stability (NDUS) criteria
Explanation: One of the main challenges in crop variety registration is ensuring that the new variety meets the NDUS criteria—distinctness, uniformity, and stability. These standards are critical for the variety’s registration and legal protection.
14. Which of the following statements is true regarding the impact of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) on small-scale farmers in developing countries?
a) IPR enhances the access of small-scale farmers to improved seeds without restrictions
b) IPR may limit small-scale farmers’ ability to save, exchange, or sell seeds of protected varieties
c) IPR allows farmers unlimited access to genetic resources for breeding purposes
d) IPR prevents farmers from participating in seed exchange programs
Answer: b) IPR may limit small-scale farmers’ ability to save, exchange, or sell seeds of protected varieties
Explanation: While IPR protects breeders’ rights, it may restrict small-scale farmers’ ability to save, exchange, or sell seeds of protected varieties, potentially impacting their traditional practices and access to seeds.
15. Which of the following is an example of a “farmer’s privilege” under Plant Breeders’ Rights?
a) Farmers are allowed to develop new plant varieties from protected varieties
b) Farmers can freely market any protected variety without permission
c) Farmers can exchange seeds of protected varieties without restrictions
d) Farmers can save seeds of protected varieties for their own use
Answer: d) Farmers can save seeds of protected varieties for their own use
Explanation: The “farmer’s privilege” allows farmers to save seeds of a protected variety for their own use, though they may not be able to sell or distribute the seeds without the breeder’s consent.