Ans: D

Exp:

The mandate of the Department of Biotechnology is as follows:

• Promote large-scale use of Biotechnology
• Support R&D and manufacturing in Biology
• Responsibility for Autonomous Institutions
• Promote University and Industry Interaction
• Identify and Set up Centres of Excellence for R&D
• Integrated Programme for Human Resource Development
• Serve as a Nodal Point for specific International Collaborations
• Establishment of Infrastructure Facilities to support R&D and production
• Evolve Bio Safety Guidelines, manufacture and application of cell-based vaccines
• Serve as the nodal point for the collection and dissemination of information relating to biotechnology.

Ans: A

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: CSIR was set up in 1942 under the Societies Registration Act XXI  of 1860 as a National R&D organization for scientific and industrial research for India’s economic growth and human welfare.

Statement 2 is incorrect: CSIR can promote Industrial research and innovation in the biotech sector. It has filed about 229 Indian patents and 202 foreign patents during 2021-22. CSIR has a patent portfolio of 1,132 unique patents in force, out of which 140 patents have been commercialized. CSIR also has 2,587 in-force patents granted abroad in multiple countries.

Ans: B

Exp:

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), is responsible for the approval of proposals related to the release of genetically engineered organisms and products into the environment, including experimental field trials. GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

Ans: A

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: A patent is an exclusive right for an invention provided by the law for a limited time to the Patentee. An invention relating either to a product or process that is new, involving inventive steps and capable of industrial application can be patented in India.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Copyright does not protect brands or names, short word combinations, slogans, short phrases, methods, plots or factual information. Copyright also does not protect ideas or concepts. Copyright is mainly used to protect the creativity of writers, artists, designers, dramatists, musicians, architects and producers of sound recordings, cinematograph films and computer software.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Trademarks are mostly used by individuals and commercial and non-commercial entities to protect brand names, business names, slogans and more. An idea, concept, or software cannot be trademarked. However, a unique name given to a software idea or concept can be trademarked.

Ans: C

Exp:

Option (a) is correct: A compulsory license is a provision under the Indian Patent Act which grants power to the Government to mandate a generic drug maker to manufacture inexpensive medicine in the public interest even as a patent in the product is valid. 

Option (b) is correct: Generally, compulsory licenses are only considered in certain cases of national emergency and health crisis. 

Option (c) is incorrect: At any time after the expiration of three years from the date of the grant of a patent, any person interested may make an application to the controller for the grant of a compulsory license.