UPSC CSE Prelims

Correct Option: C Explanation: Section 3(j) of India’s Patents Act excludes plants and seeds and essentially biological propagation processes. In 2019 an Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) existed; consequently only statement 3 is correct. Statement / Pair Analysis: 1 (Incorrect): Essentially biological processes for producing plants and seeds are excluded from patentability. 2 (Incorrect): The IPAB existed in 2019; it was abolished later in 2021. 3 (Correct): Plant varieties cannot be patented under the Patents Act; protection exists under separate plant-variety legislation. Option-wise Analysis: A (Incorrect): It includes false item 1 (Essentially biological processes for producing plants and seeds are excluded from patentability). B (Incorrect): It includes false item 2 (The IPAB existed in 2019; it was abolished later in 2021). C (Correct): Includes all and only the true statements/pairs. D (Incorrect): It includes false item 1 (Essentially biological processes for producing plants and seeds are excluded from patentability); includes false item 2 (The IPAB existed in 2019; it was abolished later in 2021). Review Note: Date-sensitive: IPAB existed at the time of the 2019 exam and was abolished by 2021 reforms.