UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre studying take-over of foreign drug firms

Q1. The committee whose 1975 report recommended nationalisation of multinational pharmaceutical units operating in India and a leading role for the public sector in drug production was chaired by:

  • A. Justice Jaisukhlal Hathi
  • B. Justice Rajinder Sachar
  • C. R.A. Mashelkar
  • D. Pranab Mukherjee

Q2. The legislative framework that enabled the rapid growth of India's domestic generic pharmaceutical industry by recognising only process patents (and not product patents) for drugs was introduced by which one of the following?

  • A. The Patents and Designs Act, 1911
  • B. The Patents Act, 1970
  • C. The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
  • D. The Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005

Q3. With reference to the evolution of India's pharmaceutical patent regime, consider the following statements: 1. The Patents Act, 1970 recognised only process patents for pharmaceutical substances, with protection limited to seven years. 2. The Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005 reinstated product patents for pharmaceuticals to bring India into compliance with the TRIPS Agreement. 3. The Hathi Committee (1975) recommended extending the duration of pharmaceutical product patents from seven to fourteen years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Patents Act, 1970 recognised only process patents for pharmaceutical substances, with protection limited to seven years.
  2. The Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005 reinstated product patents for pharmaceuticals to bring India into compliance with the TRIPS Agreement.
  3. The Hathi Committee (1975) recommended extending the duration of pharmaceutical product patents from seven to fourteen years.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. At the Union level, the nodal agency responsible for pharmaceutical policy, pricing of medicines and promotion of the drugs industry in India is:

  • A. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • B. The Department of Health Research under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • C. The Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
  • D. The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers