UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — APEDA Facilitates First Export of GI-Tagged Joha Rice from Assam to the United Kingdom and Italy
Q1. As per APEDA, its scheduled agricultural and processed food products are currently exported to more than how many countries/territories worldwide?
Q2. With reference to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), consider the following statements:
1. It was established under an Act passed by Parliament in 1985 (Act 2 of 1986).
2. It functions administratively under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
3. It replaced the erstwhile Processed Food Export Promotion Council.
4. It is headquartered in New Delhi.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It was established under an Act passed by Parliament in 1985 (Act 2 of 1986).
- It functions administratively under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- It replaced the erstwhile Processed Food Export Promotion Council.
- It is headquartered in New Delhi.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 only
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 4 only
Q3. The Geographical Indication (GI) tag conferred on Joha rice essentially confers which one of the following?
- A. A collective right indicating that the goods originate from a defined territory, with a given quality or reputation attributable to that origin
- B. An exclusive, patent-like monopoly to a single registered proprietor to manufacture the product anywhere in India
- C. A perpetual trademark over the brand name under which the rice is marketed abroad
- D. A copyright over the traditional cultivation methods used by Joha farmers
Q4. With reference to the GI status of Joha rice and how a GI differs from related IP rights, consider the following statements:
1. A GI identifies goods as originating from a definite geographical territory, whereas a trademark identifies the goods or services of a particular enterprise.
2. Joha rice was registered as a GI in 2017 under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
3. Unlike a patent, a GI grants its holder a time-bound exclusive monopoly to manufacture the product.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A GI identifies goods as originating from a definite geographical territory, whereas a trademark identifies the goods or services of a particular enterprise.
- Joha rice was registered as a GI in 2017 under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
- Unlike a patent, a GI grants its holder a time-bound exclusive monopoly to manufacture the product.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. Consider the following districts of Assam:
1. Nagaon
2. Sivasagar
3. Majuli
4. Cachar
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as major Joha rice producing districts?
- Nagaon
- Sivasagar
- Majuli
- Cachar
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q6. Joha rice in Assam is primarily cultivated during which one of the following rice-growing seasons?
- A. Ahu (autumn)
- B. Sali (winter)
- C. Boro (summer)
- D. Bao (deepwater)
Q7. Consider the following countries:
1. United Kingdom
2. France
3. Italy
4. Germany
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as the destination(s) of the maiden 25 MT consignment of GI-tagged Joha rice exported in March 2026?
- United Kingdom
- France
- Italy
- Germany
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 1, 3 and 4
- D. 2 and 4
Q8. The first export of GI-tagged Joha rice to the UK and Italy was facilitated by APEDA in collaboration with which one of the following?
- A. Department of Agriculture, Government of Assam
- B. Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER)
- C. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
- D. Spices Board of India
Q9. In the context of APEDA-facilitated North-East export firsts, the term 'Bao-dhaan' refers to which one of the following?
- A. An iron-rich red rice of Assam grown in the Brahmaputra valley
- B. An aromatic short-grain Joha rice of upper Assam
- C. The King Chilli of Nagaland
- D. A Burmese grape ('Leteku') of Assam
Q10. Among the following APEDA-facilitated North-East agricultural export firsts, which product was the first to be exported to London?
- A. Nagaland King Chilli 'Raja Mircha'
- B. Assam red rice 'Bao-dhaan'
- C. Assam Joha rice
- D. Assam Tezpur litchi
Q11. With reference to GI/ODOP-linked agri-exports promoted by APEDA, consider the following statements:
1. The One District One Product (ODOP) initiative operates under the Districts as Export Hubs initiative.
2. GI registration in India is granted under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
3. APEDA functions as the Secretariat for the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
4. ODOP products are selected exclusively by the Union Ministry of Commerce with no role for States/UTs.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- The One District One Product (ODOP) initiative operates under the Districts as Export Hubs initiative.
- GI registration in India is granted under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
- APEDA functions as the Secretariat for the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
- ODOP products are selected exclusively by the Union Ministry of Commerce with no role for States/UTs.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 3
Q12. Under the WTO TRIPS Agreement, the 'enhanced' (additional) level of geographical-indication protection under Article 23 currently applies to which one of the following categories of products?
- A. Wines and spirits
- B. All agricultural products
- C. Foodstuffs and handicrafts
- D. Rice and tea