[Mission 2022] Insta– QUED ( Questions from Editorials. ) 11 October 2021

Solution: d)

What types of inventions are not patentable in India?

An invention may satisfy the condition of novelty, inventiveness and usefulness but it may not qualify for a patent under the following situations:

1) an invention which is frivolous or which claims anything obviously contrary to well established natural laws;

2) an invention the primary or intended use or commercial exploitation of which could be contrary to public order or morality or which causes serious prejudice to human, animal or plant life or health or to the environment;

3) the mere discovery of scientific principle or the formulation of an abstract theory or discovery of any living thing or non-living substance occurring in nature;

4) the mere discovery of a new form of a known substance which does not result in enhancement of the known efficacy of that substance or the mere discovery of any new property or new use for a known substance or of the mere use of a known process, machine or apparatus unless such known process results in a new product or employs at least one new reactant;

Explanation: For the purposes of this clause, salts, esters, ethers, polymorphs, metabolites, pure form, particle size, isomers, mixtures of isomers, complexes, combinations and other derivatives of known substance shall be considered to be the same substance, unless they differ significantly in properties with regards to efficacy;

5) a substance obtained by mere admixture resulting only in the aggregation of the properties of the components thereof or a process for producing such substance;

6) the mere arrangement or re-arrangement or duplication of known devices each functioning independently of one another in a known way;

7) a method of agriculture or horticulture;

8) any process for medicinal, surgical, curative, prophylactic (diagnostic, therapeutic) or other treatment of human beings or any process for a similar treatment of animals to render them free of disease or to increase their economic value or that of their products;

9) plants and animals in whole or any part thereof other than microorganisms but including seeds, varieties and species and essentially biological processes for production or propagation of plants and animals;

10) a mathematical or business method or a computer program per se or algorithms;

11) a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work or any other aesthetic creation whatsoever including cinematographic works and television productions;

12) a mere scheme or rule or method of performing mental act or method of playing game;

13) a presentation of information;

14) topography of integrated circuits;

15) an invention which, in effect, is traditional knowledge or which is an aggregation or duplication of known properties of traditionally known component or components;

16) inventions relating to atomic energy;

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Solution: a)

Inflation is the increase in the prices of goods and services over time. Inflation is generally controlled by the Central Bank and/or the government. The main policy used is monetary policy – set by Central Banks.

Increasing in the GST rates on commodities reduce demand, leading to lower economic growth and lower inflation.

Transfer payments are the receipts which the residents of a country get for ‘free’, without having to provide any goods or services in return. Thus, increasing transfer payments increases spending capacity and lead to increase in demand. Thus, it further increases inflation.

Increase in government stimulus packages increases spending capacity and lead to increase in demand. Thus, it further increases inflation.

Solution: c)

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. The covenant commits its parties to respect the civil and political rights of individuals, including the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process and a fair trial.

• The ICCPR is part of the International Bill of Human Rights, along with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
• The ICCPR is monitored by the United Nations Human Rights Committee.
• China has signed the Covenant but not ratified it.

Solution: d)

In 2013, the Supreme Court, in a landmark verdict, introduced ‘None of the Above’ or NOTA to allow voters to cast a “negative vote” to reject all candidates as unworthy.

The court held that the right to vote as well as the right to say “none of the above” constituted a basic right of the voters, and said the option would foster “purity” and “vibrancy” in elections. It also expressed hope that NOTA would force political parties to choose better candidates, and negative voting would lead to systematic change in polls.

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Solution: d)

The Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) is an international and multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to advance the responsible and human-centric development and use of artificial intelligence. Specifically, GPAI brings together leading experts from science, industry, civil society, and governments to “bridge the gap between theory and practice” through applied AI projects and activities. The goal is to facilitate international collaboration, reduce duplication between governments, and act as a global reference point on discussions on responsible AI.

The OECD hosts a dedicated secretariat to support GPAI’s governing bodies and activities.

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